The cultural dialogue between China’s Liangzhu and Rome represents a significant initiative in fostering cross-civilizational understanding through the lens of ancient urban heritage. This event was timed with Hangzhou Liangzhu Day, and it brought together over 110 experts to examine parallels between these two UNESCO-recognized sites — Liangzhu’s 5,000-year-old hydraulic city planning and Rome’s legendary engineering feats.

Beyond academic exchange, the cultural dialogue served as a platform for practical collaboration, particularly in applying digital preservation technologies like VR to protect fragile artifacts while improving public accessibility. Italian delegates notably praised China’s conservation achievements at Liangzhu, signaling growing international recognition of Eastern archaeological methodologies. The discussion’s emphasis on technological solutions was important as it addresses universal challenges in archaeology — how to study delicate sites without physical intrusion.

Image Credit: Xinhua Silk Road