China to Expand AI and Satellite Technology in Cultural Heritage Protection

Beijing, October 01, 2026 : China is set to expand the use of artificial intelligence (AI), satellite remote sensing, drones, 3D modeling and virtual reality to strengthen the protection and preservation of its cultural heritage under a new five-year plan covering 2026 to 2030.

The plan for the protection and transmission of cultural heritage outlines measures to safeguard a wide range of cultural assets, including grottoes, ancient murals, rock art, earthen sites, ancient books and archival materials.

China, which is home to more than 760,000 immovable cultural relics and around 108 million pieces or sets of state-owned movable cultural relics, is increasingly turning to advanced technologies to survey, monitor and protect its extensive heritage resources.

The growing application of AI and other digital technologies is also transforming cultural heritage conservation, with the focus shifting from traditional recording and monitoring toward the early identification and prevention of potential risks.

Satellite remote sensing technology, for example, can monitor environmental changes around heritage sites. High-resolution imagery combined with AI-based recognition systems can help identify unusual activities, including unauthorized construction, while supporting long-term monitoring of risks such as landslides, flooding, wind and sand erosion, and land subsidence.

The 2026-2030 plan outlines 33 major tasks covering cultural heritage protection and transmission, incorporating technological innovation into a broader framework that includes archaeological research, intangible cultural heritage, museums and international cooperation.

It also calls for archaeological work to be carried out earlier in the development process, particularly in areas where construction projects could affect underground cultural heritage.

Under the plan, archaeological surveys will be required ahead of major development projects, alongside measures to ensure the integrated protection of cultural relics and their surrounding historic environments.

The approach reflects China's broader efforts to combine modern technology with heritage conservation, using digital tools to improve monitoring, risk assessment and the long-term preservation of cultural resources.

Source: QNA