WIC and Dunhuang Academy collaborate to preserve cultural heritage in the digital age

The World Internet Conference (WIC) and Dunhuang Academy joined forces on May 19 to organize a special members' activity day focused on the journey to Dunhuang.

The event included an information meeting for the collection of practice cases on "Jointly Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace."

Representatives attend an information meeting for the collection of practice cases on "Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace” in the Dunhuang Academy on May 19. [Photo/wicinternet.org]

Su Bomin, president of Dunhuang Academy, announced a significant breakthrough in the establishment of key technologies for the collection, processing, storage, and exhibition of cultural relics. The academy has successfully completed the information collection of nearly 300 caves of the renowned Mogao Grottoes. Notably, the "Digital Dunhuang" database, launched in 2016, has gained remarkable popularity, attracting users from 78 countries and accumulating over 16.8 million visits. The Dunhuang Sutra Cave, an archaeological marvel of the 20th century, has unearthed over 60,000 ancient documents and artworks dating back to the 4th to 11th century, offering crucial insight into the history of the medieval world.

Su Bomin, president of the Dunhuang Academy, speaks at the information meeting for the collection of practice cases on "Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace" in the Dunhuang Academy on May 19. [Photo/wicinternet.org]

To extend the reach of Dunhuang's cultural relics to a global audience, President Su introduced the "Digital Sutra Cave" application, which was launched on April 18. This innovative application harnesses virtual reality technology and integrates it with extensive academic research on Dunhuang. It provides users with an authentic experience of the cave while highlighting the invaluable cultural relics it houses. Su emphasized the academy's commitment to leveraging internet technologies to promote Dunhuang's cultural heritage and research findings worldwide.

Su Bomin, president of the Dunhuang Academy, attends the 2022 Release and Presentation of Outstanding Cases of Jointly Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace, a major event of the World Internet Conference (WIC) Wuzhen Summit. [Photo/wicinternet.org]

Liang Hao, executive deputy secretary-general of the WIC, highlighted the Release and Presentation of Outstanding Cases of Jointly Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace as a significant highlight of the WIC Wuzhen Summit. This event has been held annually since 2021, showcasing successful international practices in cyberspace exchanges and cooperation. The "Digital Dunhuang" initiative by Dunhuang Academy was recognized as an exceptional example of online cultural exchanges in 2022. Its integration of digital technology with Dunhuang's artistic treasures has become a shining model for promoting the creative transformation and innovative development of China's traditional culture.

Liang Hao, executive deputy secretary-general of the WIC, speaks at the information meeting for the collection of practice cases on "Jointly Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace" in the Dunhuang Academy on May 19. [Photo/wicinternet.org]

Liang further announced the launch of the collection of practice cases on "Jointly Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace" for 2023. The WIC extended invitations to its members, partners, government departments, international organizations, social groups, and technical communities to actively participate in the initiative. The aim is to provide the 10th Year of the Wuzhen Summit with influential, inclusive, and diverse practice cases that explore ways to build a community with a shared future in cyberspace using digital technology.

During the meeting, heads of WIC departments reviewed the previous collection and release of practice cases and outlined event arrangements for 2023. Representatives from Dunhuang Academy shared their experiences of the "Digital Dunhuang" case, fostering insightful exchanges among participating members.

A view of digital information recording at Mogao Grottoes. [Photo/wicinternet.org]

Throughout the event, representatives from WIC members conducted research surveys on the "Digital Dunhuang" project, which serves as an integrated digital resource protection system for safeguarding the digital resources of large-scale caves. They also discussed the achievements in preserving Dunhuang's cultural heritage and explored ways to ensure its long-term sustainability in the digital age.

Distinguished representatives from various member organizations and cooperation partners attended the meeting, including iQiyi, Didi, TikTok, QAX, the China Center for Information Industry Development (CCID), Sohu, Tencent, Sina, the China Internet Network Information Center, China Unicom, H3C, the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, Guangming Online, and the Asia Digital Art Exhibition. The meeting aimed to foster discussions on the development and exchange of diverse civilizations in the digital era.

Participants of the information meeting for the collection of practice cases on "Jointly Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace" pose for a group picture on May 19. [Photo/wicinternet.org]