Digital guardian of ancient walls: Xi'an City Wall embraces smart preservation

With the theme of "Bridging History through Digitalization, Building Civilization with Intelligence," the 2025 World Internet Conference Cultural Heritage Digitalization Forum aims to showcase innovative models of digital conservation. On Sept 15, the international communication delegation visited the Xi'an City Wall Management Committee Digital Information Center, witnessing the operation of the city wall digital integrated management platform.

Acting as a round-the-clock "digital doctor," the platform has established a comprehensive sensing network covering the entire 13.74-kilometer wall.

Leveraging state-of-the-art technologies such as ground-penetrating radar, laser scanning, and drone photography, the project has identified over 1,300 hidden cavities and 836 weak sections, achieving a major breakthrough in non-destructive cultural relic preservation. The Xi'an City Wall exemplifies how technology can breathe new life into ancient structures while building a sustainable model of digital heritage conservation for the world.