Shanxi heritage sites open up through digital viewing
AM730 · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
Shanxi’s ancient architecture is gaining a new audience through digital tools that let people explore protected sites in ways physical visits often cannot. Virtual reconstructions, VR viewing and AI-assisted restoration are being used to reveal structure, craftsmanship and imagery at major heritage locations in the province
Key Points
- The Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, also known as the Sakyamuni Pagoda of Fogong Temple, was built in 1056, stands about 67 metres tall, and is described as the world’s tallest and oldest surviving all-wood structure
- Because visitors are no longer allowed to climb the pagoda for conservation reasons, high-precision 3D scanning and modelling have created a digital twin that allows virtual floor-by-floor access
- At the Mahavira Hall of Xiaoxitian in Xi County, more than 1,000 suspended Ming-dynasty sculptures have been turned into interactive digital content viewable from angles normally hidden from ground level
- Digital models can break down dougong bracket sets piece by piece, helping viewers understand how eaves decoration also transfers roof weight through timber members and mortise-and-tenon design
- Shanxi has digitally documented at least 145 key protected heritage units and collections from more than 20 museums, while platforms such as the Shanxi Digital Museum of Cultural Relics and “Yungang in the Cloud” expand access
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong travellers, the project points to a more accessible way to appreciate fragile mainland heritage sites that may be closed, distant or difficult to interpret in person. It also shows how digital archives can support conservation, research and international cultural exchange without moving original artefacts from their locations