Across 5,000 years: Liangzhu, where civilizations connect

Visitors from the Netherlands, the United States, Australia, Pakistan, and Egypt explored the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City and Liangzhu Museum in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, during the fourth Liangzhu Forum held from Oct 18 to 20.

During the visit, they learned about the civilization's achievements and continuity, as well as how digital technology is creating new ways to showcase and protect cultural heritage.

Bronwyn Campbell, senior curator of provenance at the National Gallery of Australia, said: "It's quite exciting to see a site like this where you see a sort of continuity of culture."

At Liangzhu Museum, the visitors tried smart guide glasses combining augmented reality and artificial intelligence technologies. The glasses can recognize exhibits, provide explanations and answer visitors' questions.

Liangzhu culture, a late Neolithic archaeological culture around Taihu Lake in the lower Yangtze River region, dates back approximately 5,350 to 4,500 years.

The Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City, located in Hangzhou's Yuhang district and discovered 90 years ago, serve as a major center of this culture and provide important evidence of China's 5,000 years of continuous civilization. On July 6, 2019, the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.