China forum explores ways to combine heritage protection with urban renewal

By Wang Jianing

(CNS Luoyang) -- The seventh International Ancient Capitals Forum opened in the central Chinese city of Luoyang on Saturday, focusing on how to combine cultural heritage protection with urban renewal.

Hosted by the Henan provincial government under the theme "Ancient Capitals, New Vitality", the forum brought together foreign delegates from 12 countries and regions and representatives of 10 historic Chinese capitals.

International delegates shared their countries' approaches to revitalising cultural heritage and said they hoped to learn from China's experience of balancing conservation with urban development.

Tarek Rashed Mohamed, governor of Sohag in Egypt, called for closer exchanges among ancient capitals and greater cooperation with China on heritage protection, archaeological research and urban renewal.

Luoyang served as the capital of 13 dynasties and has numerous archaeological sites, many of them large and clustered together. Its heritage areas account for 52% of its main urban area.

In recent years, archaeological work before construction and conservation plans tailored to individual sites have helped Luoyang create new cultural landmarks, preserve its heritage and develop cultural tourism.

The city recorded 158 million tourist visits in 2025, with tourism revenue exceeding 128.5 billion yuan.

Delegates said Luoyang's efforts to combine conservation with development and innovation with tradition echoed those of many countries seeking to protect ancient civilisations and develop new forms of cultural tourism.

Yangon in Myanmar has compiled a systematic register of historic buildings and installed blue commemorative plaques at 36 important heritage sites.

Uzbekistan has coupled restoration of the Amir Tura Madrasah and the Hassan Murad Kushbegi Mosque with improvements to urban infrastructure.