Highlighting cultural resources to the next generation

Shan Jixiang, former curator of the Palace Museum, delivered a presentation entitled "The Power of Culture: Activating Cultural Heritage Resources" at a recent event aimed at providing established figures a platform to address the younger generation.

This event was organized by the Beijing working committee on caring for the next generation and the China Soong Ching Ling Science and Culture Center for Young People.

In his current roles as the chairman of the China Cultural Relics Academy and the director of the Academic Committee of the Palace Museum, Shan emphasized that China, with a history spanning more than 5,000 years, possesses a wealth of cultural heritage resources. He underscored the universal nature of cultural heritage, highlighting that it is a shared legacy belonging to all of humanity.

Shan drew from his personal experiences to share insights into the effective utilization of cultural resources. These included Beijing's advancements in seeking world heritage status for the city's Central Axis, initiatives for the environmental enhancement of the Palace Museum's cultural resources, efforts in cultural relic restoration, developments in cultural and creative product innovation and the ongoing process of digital transformation.

Regarding the importance of preserving the cultural relics, Shan expressed the need to seamlessly integrate them into people's everyday lives, allowing the treasures housed in museums to truly resonate with the public.

Furthermore, Shan shed light on the incorporation of technology in safeguarding the cultural heritage of the Palace Museum. The museum's cultural relics hospital boasts 200 heritage doctors and 23 technology laboratories, successfully restoring hundreds of cultural relics. This integration of traditional expertise with cutting-edge technology exemplifies a holistic approach to the protection and preservation of these invaluable cultural treasures.