Camp fosters global passion for ancient structures

TAIYUAN — Amid the scorching summer heat of North China, 17 Chinese and international volunteers huddle beside the gatehouse of an ancient residence in the historic Pingyao county of Shanxi province, carefully restoring bricks under the watchful guidance of seasoned professionals.

From Aug 1 to Wednesday, the Shanghai Ruan Yisan Heritage Foundation, together with Pingyao county, hosted a volunteer camp focused on architectural heritage conservation in Dongquan village, a traditional settlement in northern China.

Over two weeks, the volunteers helped restore the gatehouse and surrounding walls of the centuries-old residence under the guidance of master craftsmen.

They visited the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Pingyao Ancient City, as well as historic landmarks like Shuanglin Temple and Zhenguo Temple. The itinerary included meeting inheritors of local intangible cultural heritage, from traditional puppet performers to artisans of Pingyao's famed lacquerware craft.

Of the 17 participants, six were from France. Leading the French group was 26-year-old Aurore Franche, a model with a deep passion for cultural heritage preservation. She saw it as a tangible link to the past, and joined the program to gain firsthand experience with traditional Chinese craftsmanship.

"Chinese architecture is so beautiful, especially the incredible mortise and tenon structure," she says. "It's amazing how the pieces fit together so securely without glue or nails. That reflects the wisdom of ancient Chinese builders."

Sara Zuniga, a university student from Mexico with a longstanding fascination for history, says her studies are fueled by a desire to understand the brilliance of past civilizations.

"Unfortunately, many of Mexico's historical sites are damaged over time as development progresses. This makes me feel regretful and motivates me even more to protect what remains," she adds.

For Zuniga, China — halfway across the globe — always seemed mysterious and captivating. "Before coming here, my impression of China was limited to what I had seen in films and reports from Western media. I wanted to see this ancient country for myself."

At the restoration site, a young man fluent in Chinese soon caught the attention of fellow volunteers. Herwann Rocrou, 23, an archaeology student from France and an avid Sinology enthusiast, spends his spare time studying Chinese and has traveled to cities such as Shanghai and Suzhou, Jiangsu province. He has also explored ancient Chinese cultures, including the Yangshao culture and the Shang (c. 16th century-11th century BC) and Zhou (c. 11th century–256 BC) dynasties.

He says he joined the Pingyao volunteer program to deepen his understanding of how traditional Chinese architecture is preserved and restored. "I love Chinese history and culture, and it's my dream to one day live in China with my girlfriend."

During the program, international volunteers teamed up with skilled masons in Dongquan village, a nationally recognized historic site.

They also visited ancient structures and relics in Liangcun village and explored Pingyao at night, one of China's best-preserved and inhabited ancient walled cities.

According to Ding Feng, secretary general of the Ruan Yisan Heritage Foundation, the organization has held 48 volunteer camps across Shanxi, Guizhou, Fujian, Yunnan and other provinces since 2010.

More than half of these activities have taken place in Shanxi, a province famous for its ancient architecture and home to over 28,000 historic structures. Nearly 1,000 international volunteers have taken part in the initiative over the past 15 years.

"Our goal is to give the public, particularly young people, more opportunities to get directly involved in heritage protection," Ding says. "By working with their hands, they form a physical connection to traditional architecture, which deepens their emotional ties and sparks greater enthusiasm, initiative, and awareness for preserving cultural heritage."

Xinhua