The China State Cultural Relics Administration recently hosted its first equipment exhibition, held in Chongqing to spotlight how preservation science is applied to cultural ruins in China’s southwest. The event underscored a shift from viewing relics solely as artifacts in museums to emphasizing the tools, devices, and systems that empower conservation work on site and in digital spaces.
The exhibition demonstrates how cutting-edge technology can safeguard China’s cultural treasures for future generations. Rather than traditional cases alone, the focus turns to the hardware and software that support ongoing preservation, monitoring, and documentation of heritage assets.
Visitors are invited to explore replicas of archaeological sites and engage with Dunhuang murals through augmented reality experiences. The program also showcases technologies that protect sites remotely, reducing the need for constant on-site supervision while expanding access to heritage education.
Zhou Yang, who helped organize the event and serves as deputy director of the National Silk Museum of China, highlighted the event’s broader capabilities. He spoke about an air-ground cooperative detection system used to monitor abandoned archaeological sites in the wild and noted a recent milestone when a Deep Sea Warrior submarine established a permanent seabed mapping base in the South China Sea, describing the moment as spectacular. (Citation: China State Cultural Relics Administration)
Among the discoveries reported by Chinese archaeologists were two shipwrecks found at depths around 1,500 meters. The finds yielded porcelain artifacts and wooden dating logs dating back to the Ming Dynasty, spanning the reigns of emperors including Zhengde and Hongzhi. The discoveries illustrate how underwater exploration expands access to valuable cultural materials and informs historical understanding. (Citation: China State Cultural Relics Administration)
Inside the exhibition pavilion, attendees can view a smart showcase featuring bronze tableware, jars, a monster, a crane, a lotus flower with a lid and handle. The display employs three-dimensional technology to offer a close, authentic look at these cultural treasures. At a glance, the replicas convey the same presence one might feel in a major national museum, yet they exist in a dynamic, interactive setting. (Citation: China State Cultural Relics Administration)
The organizers emphasized that cultural relics are a vital carrier of national heritage and trust. The question, they note, is how to protect them effectively and how to present their beauty in a way that allows them to endure with dignity. Equipment and technology play a central role in answering these questions, enabling researchers and the public to engage with heritage more deeply. (Citation: China State Cultural Relics Administration)
The exhibition also profiles a wide range of areas connected to heritage work, including archaeology, rock-cut temples, ancient architecture, and museums. It highlights ongoing advances in asset management across China, illustrating how modern tools and methodologies support the preservation of diverse sites for future generations. (Citation: China State Cultural Relics Administration)