This is the first time Silvia Cristina Singer Sochet, director general of the Interactive Museum of Economics in Mexico, travels to Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang Province; and because of the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu, the city has already left a profound impression on her. "I will tell my family, my colleagues that I am standing here, in one of the places of origin of our civilization," said the director, who saw the dawn of human civilization in her Liangzhu cultural tour with dozens of museum directors from various countries and regions.

Nestled in the serene mountains and waterways of Hangzhou's northwestern outskirts, the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City is a park where a 5,000-year-old civilization known for its remarkable achievements in agriculture, craftsmanship, and social organization is experiencing a revival. This unique heritage site, devoid of concrete skyscrapers or bustling commercial developments, weaves history and ecology into a harmonious symphony of civilization and nature.

On Wednesday, as the third UNESCO High-Level Forum for Museums convened, museum directors and cultural heritage experts from over 60 countries and regions visited the archaeological park and the nearby Liangzhu Museum, which are both core parts of the Liangzhu cultural corridor. Their goal was to explore the innovative strategies of "using nature to safeguard history," a Chinese approach offering valuable guidance for global heritage preservation.

History rooted in nature

When Sochet and other international participants of the forum got off the bus, what lay before them was not the archaeological site they had imagined, characterized by yellow earth everywhere, but a green ecological park with trees and rice and rape fields stretching as far as the eye could see. Visitors strolled along the wooden walkway among the vibrant ridges of the fields, and could easily imagine how the ancient Chinese people had cultivated and lived here thousands of years ago.

Spanning an impressive 14.33 square kilometers, the Liangzhu ruins park connects key historical sites, such as the Fanshan Royal Cemetery and the Yaoshan Altar, through a 7-kilometer waterfront trail.

The discovery of the Liangzhu Ancient City astonished the world, providing concrete evidence of China's 5,000-year-old civilization. Located at the foothills of the Tianmu Mountain range and intersected by the Dongtiao River system, the ancient city was ingeniously constructed with a layout of "mountains on three sides and waterways running through the city." Even today, the park retains its original river channels, allowing visitors to experience its tranquil beauty. Boating along these waterways, one can see lush rice fields swaying on either side, a vivid continuation of the wisdom behind Liangzhu's ancient "wetland city" design.

The tour guide at the ruins told the Global Times that the rice field in the ruins has been all contracted to local producers and in autumn when the rice is ripe, farmers will harvest the rice on the same land where their ancestors once worked.

The park's other highlight is its archaeological experience hall, a thatched-roof structure that combines functionality with historical aesthetics. Here, visitors can engage in hands-on activities such as jade carving, pottery restoration, and ancient artifact replication. These interactive elements not only bring history to life but also foster a sense of personal connection between visitors and the ancient civilization.

"The place is amazing. I just realized that I am walking in a place that is 5,000 years old. It's truly astonishing to think about such a long history of a developed civilization, their interaction with the environment, and how they established their own social rules and structures," Sochet told the Global Times.

Preserving for future generations

The ruins park is just a part of the Liangzhu cultural corridor that is being established, which adds depth and dimension to the preservation and interpretation of the ancient civilization.

This corridor is a cultural and ecological pathway connecting key sites across the relics area, seamlessly integrating history, nature, and modern infrastructure. Stretching across the relics park and surrounding areas, the corridor links archaeological sites, museums, and cultural villages, creating an immersive journey into the past, Shan Qingjuan, who works at the social education department of the Liangzhu Museum, told the Global Times.

Together, the cultural corridor that consists of the heritage site, the museum and more cultural institutes form a holistic cultural experience that seamlessly blends education, recreation, and preservation. This model has inspired discussions among international visitors about how other countries can adopt similar strategies to protect their own heritage sites while promoting public engagement.

"When you come to a place like this, you have to pay respect to the Chinese culture," said Henri Kalama Akulez, a painter, scholar and professor from the Democratic Republic of the Congo who attended the China Academy of Art.

Akulez observed that the city of Hangzhou is rich in history and art, thanks to its numerous cultural destinations and heritage sites. In celebration of the 97th anniversary of the founding of the China Academy of Art, the newly opened Xiao Feng Art Museum in Hangzhou features over 500 paintings by renowned artist Xiao Feng and his wife Song Ren, showcasing the social development of China.

In Liangzhu, the past is not just preserved - it is brought to life, inspiring future generations to cherish and protect the legacy of human civilization. These overseas participants left Liangzhu with a renewed sense of purpose. They recognized the site as a shining example of how cultural heritage can be preserved in harmony with nature, offering lessons that extend far beyond China.