China Intangible Cultural Heritage: AI-powered museum preserves cultural treasures

Preserving the past through the technology of the future – China's tech giant Baidu has unveiled an AI-powered Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum in Chengdu. Our reporter Tao Yuan takes you to the launch event and has this story.

Following a three-year hiatus, Chinese influencer Li Ziqi has made a surprise come back. She's famous for her videos that capture tranquil village life in southwest China's Sichuan Province.

This time, she's stepped into a new role – as the honorary curator of an artificial intelligence Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum.

LI ZIQI Chinese Social Media Influencer "This Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum has gone through preparations for about six months, and it's still in its early stages. We hope more people can join us to help upgrade and improve it together."

This week, Baidu Baike, China's online encyclopedia, officially launched the AI museum. The initiative uses Baidu's AI technology to bring traditional Chinese crafts to life.

Through AI-generated avatars of heritage artisans, it aims to create interactive experiences for users to engage with intangible cultural heritage in more accessible ways.

RONG WEI General Manager, Baidu Baike "At the Intangible Cultural Heritage Expo, we saw so many children and elderly people having a great time interacting with our model. They were clapping and cheering. It made me realize that knowledge doesn't have to be like a dry textbook. It can be something incredibly engaging, something that makes people go 'wow.'"

The launch event also underscored the importance for more heritage partners to join in on efforts, inviting artisans, scholars, and enthusiasts to contribute ideas and content.

YIN LIPING National Representative Inheritor Chengdu Lacquer Art Intangible Cultural Heritage "This is a great start. For those who previously didn't have the opportunity to experience traditional crafts, they can now give it a try and learn about them."

WANG XIAOFENG President China Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Association "It breaks the barriers of time and space, allowing people to experience the unique charm of intangible cultural heritage anytime, anywhere. This allows more people to discover and connect with these cultural treasures, offering an immersive experience of the beauty of intangible cultural heritage."

Ensuring China's cultural treasures will thrive for generations to come. Tao Yuan, CGTN, Chengdu.