Experts stress the use of digital tools for heritage preservation

Experts from China and ASEAN nations urged greater use of digital tools to preserve not just historic sites and artifacts but the living memories, knowledge and experiences that give them meaning, during a forum on July 30 in Guiyang, Southwest China's Guizhou province.

For decades, built heritage preservation has largely focused on historic buildings, sites and physical structures.

"The key is to think about the people, not the objects," said Kang Jian, a researcher in architecture and acoustics, at the ASEAN-China Symposium on Digital Information System and Sustainable Renewal of the Built Heritage.

Organized by Tianjin University, the event was held as part of the 2026 China-ASEAN Education Cooperation Week.

University leaders, scholars, cultural professionals, and diplomats gathered to explore how digital technologies can strengthen heritage preservation, cultural exchange and educational ties between China and ASEAN countries.

Hadi Tjahjono, director of the Education, Culture and Tourism Division at the ASEAN-China Centre, notes that China and ASEAN nations share deep historical traditions and face similar challenges in safeguarding cultural heritage. University partnerships, he says, can drive joint research, academic exchanges and new talent training.

Participants agreed on leaning on digital tools as a way to fully document heritage, train preservation experts, and draw younger generations into cultural traditions.

Kang describes how technology is shifting the focus of heritage work beyond the purely visual to include sound. His team has recorded soundscapes from historic places such as Lhasa, Xizang autonomous region, capturing temple bells, chanting, footsteps, and everyday activities to build a digital archive.

The goal is to preserve not isolated sounds but the relationship between sounds and their surroundings.

"We always appreciate heritage with our eyes, but we also have ears," Kang says. He cautions that as cities modernize and grow more alike, their distinctive natural soundscapes may vanish. "If you close your eyes, it can be difficult to distinguish one city from another."

Zhang Jie of Tsinghua University emphasizes digital methods that reconnect fragmented urban heritage with contemporary life. Specializing in urban preservation and renewal, he proposes using digital systems to map scattered heritage elements and adapt them to present-day needs.

In Jingdezhen, the historic porcelain "capital" of China, many traditional workshops and buildings remain.

"We input these heritage elements into a computer system to create a digital map that helps identify which areas require preservation and which need renewal," Zhang says. Renovating old workshops and attracting young artists from China and abroad has injected fresh energy into these historic spaces.

Digital innovation can also expand the reach of cultural heritage. Irene M Han, deputy ambassador of Indonesia to China, stresses that technology should link traditions to future generations.

"Technology should not replace civilization; it should extend civilization," she says, citing the power of films, animations and digital art in sharing cultural stories with global audiences.

From digital preservation efforts in China to creative industries across ASEAN, participants agree technology is opening new channels for cultural dialogue.

Since its launch in 2008, the China-ASEAN Education Cooperation Week has drawn more than 54,000 participants from over 8,000 institutions across nearly 90 countries and regions.

The event has also supported the creation of 17 overseas education and training bases in ASEAN nations by Guizhou, while the province has welcomed more than 20,900 students from ASEAN countries.

Contact the writers at liuboqian@chinadaily.com.cn