GLOBALink | Master Of Crafts: Digital protector of Xi'an city wall in NW China's Shaanxi

Source: Xinhua

Editor: huaxia

2026-01-12 16:45:03

XI'AN, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Xi'an City Wall, initially erected some 1,400 years ago -- in 582 A.D., during the Sui Dynasty, now stretches 13.74 kilometers encircling the city of Xi'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province. As one of the largest, oldest and best-preserved ancient urban fortifications in China, it once faced great challenge in preservation and protection, as its interior structure -- mostly tamped earth -- has been eroded by wind and rain throughout the time.

Tourists visit the Xi'an City Wall in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Sept. 12, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi)

Tourists visit the Xi'an City Wall in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Sept. 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Shao Rui)

A tourist poses for photos beside the Xi'an City Wall in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Oct. 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Shao Rui)

A boy runs on the Xi'an City Wall in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Sept. 12, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi)

Nowadays, the problem is largely solved by AI in Xi'an with the wall modeled at centimeter-level precision into a digital twin system through more than 3,000 monitoring points and over 1,300 visual sensors installed along the wall. Currently, this digital twin system, along with other data, restoration records and visitor operation information, is managed by a "super brain" called the "Xi'an City Wall Digital Cabin Comprehensive Management Platform," which anticipates potential risks by tracking subtle signs of structural strain.

Data sensing and monitoring devices are pictured on the Xi'an City Wall in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Sept. 12, 2025. (Xinhua/Shao Rui)

This photo taken on Sept. 10, 2025 shows crack monitors installed on the Xi'an City Wall in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi)

Staff members monitor via a digitalized management platform for the Xi'an City Wall in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Sept. 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Shao Rui)

An inspector measures the length of a crack on Xi'an City Wall in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Sept. 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi)

Tourists try a mixed-reality game themed on city protection on the Xi'an City Wall in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Sept. 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi)

"This 'Digital Cabin,' which fully utilizes existing facility and resources, was finally realized thanks to the support of experts, scholars, and 14 joint laboratories in the field of wall preservation," said Zhao Bin, director of the Xi'an City Wall Digital Industry Innovation Center, who spearheads the execution of the "Digital Cabin."

Zhao Bin, born in 1988 in Huayin of Shaanxi, has been working in the field of culture, tourism, and digitalization for 14 years. After completing his undergraduate studies in 2011, he first worked on brand operations at the Huashan Mountain Scenic Spot. Later, he was engaged in cultural and tourism promotion in Weinan and management of digital assets for cultural and tourism sites in Hangzhou. "In 2023, I returned to Xi'an and participated in the preservation of the city wall, overseeing the implementation of the 'Digital Cabin' project," Zhao Bin said. Through the years, Zhao Bin has successfully promoted the digital transformation of multiple cultural heritage projects.

Zhao Bin is pictured inside the Yongning Gate of the Xi'an City Wall in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Sept. 12, 2025. (Xinhua/Shao Rui)

Zhao Bin (C) communicates with a staff member at the Xi'an City Wall Digital Industry Innovation Center in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Sept. 12, 2025. (Xinhua/Shao Rui)

Zhao Bin introduces digital sensing devices on the Xi'an City Wall in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Sept. 12, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi)

An aerial drone photo taken on March 19, 2025 shows the Yongning Gate of the Xi'an City Wall in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. (Xinhua/Shao Rui)

This file photo taken in February of 2016 shows Zhao Bin working during an opening event of Weinan Museum in Weinan City, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. (Xinhua)

This file photo taken in November, 2024 shows Zhao Bin sharing his experiences and ideas in the protection and revitalization of ancient city walls at a conference of the International Ancient City Walls and Castles Alliance in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua)

This file photo taken in October of 2015 shows Zhao Bin working in Weinan City in northwest China's Shaanxi Province. (Xinhua)

Zhao Bin (L) communicates with colleagues at the Xi'an City Wall Digital Industry Innovation Center in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 5, 2026. (Xinhua)

"After all these years, my deepest realization is that cultural heritage is not just an antique to be displayed. It needs to be brought to life through digital technology," Zhao Bin said, "However, people of this field cannot work by themselves. We need resource integration, bold thinking, and experimentation to truly merge digital technology with cultural heritage." According to Zhao Bin, through collaboration of experts and scholars from various fields, the "Digital Cabin" has been fully upgraded. It not only plays a crucial role in monitoring and providing early warning for cultural heritage preservation, but also leverages its advantages in cultural tourism operations, emergency safety, and flood control.

Zhao Bin walks on the Xi'an City Wall with an exoskeleton robot during the New Year holiday in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 4, 2026. (Xinhua)

Tourists visit a photo exhibition themed on the city wall protection on the Xi'an City Wall in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Sept. 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Shao Rui)

Zhao Bin views cultural and creative products at a cultural and creative store of the Xi'an City Wall in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 4, 2026. (Xinhua)

This file photo taken on Oct. 14, 2024 shows artists performing outside the Yongning Gate of the Xi'an City Wall in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. (Xinhua/Shao Rui)

Zhao Bin tests an AR telescope gadget on the Xi'an City Wall in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 4, 2026. (Xinhua)

Looking ahead, Zhao Bin believes that the digitalization of cultural heritage will evolve from "single-point innovations" to "comprehensive system upgrades." He said he planned to compile the experience of Xi'an City Wall into a replicable model to help more cultural heritage institutions and high-rated scenic areas in China avoid unnecessary detours. "I also hope this 'Chinese solution' can go global, allowing cultural heritage sites in the world to benefit from China's digital technology," said Zhao Bin.