Seeing Shanxi through global eyes

A seven-day program exploring Shanxi province's ancient architecture, organized by Shanxi Daily and China Daily, concluded on July 20 after bringing together more than 10 visual artists and bloggers from nine countries, along with journalists and communication scholars.

The group traveled through Taiyuan, Jinzhong, Xinzhou, Shuozhou and Datong, documenting heritage sites and local life through photos, videos and paintings.

The tour, called Discovering Shanxi's Ancient Chinese Architecture – A Visual Journey Through Cultural Heritage, was part of the "Unity for Prosperity, Heritage for Eternity" International Cultural Heritage Protection Week held from July 15-21.

The itinerary included iconic landmarks such as Jinci Temple, Foguang Temple, the Xuankong Temple, the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, Yungang Grottoes and Huayan Temple. The sites ranged from ancient wooden structures and cliffside architecture to Buddhist cave art.

At Foguang Temple in Xinzhou, participants visited the temple's East Main Hall, built in 857 and regarded as one of China's oldest surviving wooden structures.

The focus on wooden structures continued at the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda in Shuozhou. Built in 1056, it was explored through a digital exhibition that gave participants a closer look at its design and details.

At Yungang Grottoes in Datong, the group toured several caves and observed conservation specialists at work in Caves 33 to 37.

Veldesen Yaputra, an Indonesian artist, said watching the specialists at work helped him appreciate the patience involved in conservation.

At Yuci Ancient City in Jinzhong, Moroccan video content creator Fatima Zahra watched a painter sketch the old buildings as residents and shopkeepers went about their daily lives.

Zahra said the scene showed how historical architecture remained a part of local life.

The itinerary also included a datiehua show in Xinzhou, showcasing the traditional molten iron fireworks performance, and a tour of a daylily production base in Datong, giving participants a broader view of local traditions and livelihoods alongside the architectural heritage.

wangyuchen@chinadaily.com.cn