Intl content creators explore Datong, witness digital preservation of ancient architecture

From July 17 to 20, a delegation of international visual creators and bloggers from nine countries, including the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, and Russia, visited the Yungang Grottoes and the Hanging Temple in Datong, Shanxi province, to learn about ancient architecture and achievements in digital preservation.

The Yungang Grottoes were first carved during the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534), making them China's first large-scale royal grotto complex built after the introduction of Buddhism. The site was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2001. Local authorities have advanced digital conservation efforts and research on Yungang studies ever since.

Fabio Nodari, an Italian photographer, visited Shanxi for the second time. In his view, the Yungang Grottoes exemplify the integration of multiple ethnic groups and diverse cultures. "The statues' facial features, costumes, and decorative patterns contain a wealth of foreign cultural elements, which are blended with Chinese artistic styles — making the site unique among China's art treasures," he said.

Digital technology is now widely used in the preservation of ancient architecture in Shanxi. Visitors can visualize the grotto statues with VR headsets.

On July 17, the delegation also visited the Hanging Temple, which has a history of more than 1,500 years, and watched the large-scale cliff light show Why Hanging Temple Endures.

Veldesen Yaputra, a blogger from Indonesia, said after the show: "Digital technology allows us to recreate historical scenes from a thousand years ago, and also helps audiences truly appreciate the process by which ancient craftsmen created architectural miracles."

The tour group recorded their visits via short videos, photography, and paintings to share Shanxi's stories with audiences at home and abroad. Their works are part of Discovering Shanxi's Ancient Chinese Architecture, a visual journey through cultural heritage recently launched by China Daily and Shanxi Daily.

Li Jialu contributed to this story.