Meet China's ancient crafts, modern tech

Modern but inclusive high-tech

While showcasing China's fast-growing high-tech sector, technological innovations displayed at the conference leave none of the country's past behind.

With the 5G network and augmented reality (AR) technology, a "magic mirror" is all the participants need to color up the dusty Buddha figures on the computer screen. The famous thousand-hand goddess of mercy in the form of Tibetan thangka were also brought back to life via a handheld AR device.

Beijing's largest early buddhist statues have long lost their original color due to their age, but now AR devices like the "magical mirror" can help restore their glory at museums. Likewise, incomplete cultural relics, for example the old Summer Palace and ruins of Yuanmingyuan Park, can be restored via virtual technology.

AR technology is also expected to be applied in education in the future, so that more students can vividly see cultural relics in the classroom, said an employee of China Unicom, one of the country's main telecoms operators, which supports the 5G network at the experiencing area.

Some of the country's traditional culture, including the 24 solar terms, the Chinese zodiac, and its world cultural and natural heritage sites, are also on display via the multimedia display. Participants can see the pictures of the sites by completing the jigsaw puzzles on an electronic screen.

Currently, China has 53 world heritage sites, ranking second in the world. China is also one of the countries with the most complete heritage sites in the world.

The photo area, where participants can take pictures with landmarks in Asian countries also attracted long queues. "The diversity of the Asian civilizations can be presented by the composite images of the participants and the sites in different forms of multimedia, combining the traditional physical photo exhibitions at the venues," said Wang Lin, an employee at the VR experience area, where participants can see tourist attractions of major Chinese cities through VR devices.

"On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Chinese and foreign attendees can both taste the country's development and changes, especially the scenery of Beijing via VR technology," Wang said.