Luoyang charts a new path for safeguarding archaeological heritage

JINZHONG, China, Oct. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from China Daily:

The seventh International Ancient Capitals Forum and 2026 Global Mayors Dialogue took place in Luoyang, Henan province, from Friday to Sunday.

The events showcased Luoyang's character, industrial strength and cultural charm, with important releases on topics including the protection of archaeological sites and the creative use of cultural heritage.

Home to abundant historical relics and a growing urban population, the city has in recent years sought to protect and revitalize heritage sites while balancing preservation and utilization.

Through long-term efforts, Luoyang has transformed protected cultural relics into archaeological parks. It has adopted measures including building new urban areas away from the old town and explored tailored plans for individual sites, making progress in bringing its heritage to life.

First carved after Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534) moved the imperial capital to Luoyang, Longmen Grottoes are a world-famous UNESCO World Heritage Site and a treasure trove of stone-carving art.

To better protect and pass on this gem of Chinese culture, the Longmen Grottoes Research Institute conducts conservation and restoration work, technical research, heritage monitoring and digital preservation.

Projects tackling hazards such as water seepage, unstable rock masses and weathering are steadily advancing, gradually forming an overarching conservation framework for the grottoes.

The Sui-Tang Luoyang City site is another typical example. It served successively as the capital or secondary capital of the Sui (581-618), Tang (618-907), Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms (907-960) period and Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) for more than 530 years, representing the pinnacle of ancient Chinese urban planning and architectural craftsmanship.

Around 2005, low-rise dwellings, enterprises and factories dotted the site. Residents hoped for better living conditions, enterprises sought to expand production, while the site required standardized protection and revitalization.

To balance heritage protection with improvements to residents' lives, a total of 973 households, nearly 3,300 villagers and 63 enterprises were relocated from the site between 2007 and 2024. Within its palace core zone, 62 hectares of land were freed up for heritage display.

The city also integrated urban green spaces, ecological zones and water-source reserves in planning and building a nearly 200-hectare botanical garden.