New York—A cultural promotion event highlighting Chongqing and the Dazu Rock Carvings, along with an academic forum on the New York exhibition of the UNESCO World Heritage site, was held on August 19 at the Memor Museum in New York City.

Co-hosted by the Memor Museum and the Academy of Dazu Rock Carvings Research in Chongqing, the event brought together experts from China and the United States, including scholars from Columbia University and New York University, to discuss the historical significance, preservation efforts, and global communication of the Dazu Rock Carvings.

Chinese and international scholars and guests at the academic lecture. (Photo/ Dazu District)

At the cultural promotion session, Xiong Zihua, a research curator and head of the Academy of Dazu Rock Carvings, introduced Chongqing's unique cultural and tourism resources to American guests. He highlighted the city's distinctive combination of dramatic landscapes, modern urban development, rich historical heritage, colorful ethnic cultures, and vibrant everyday life.

Describing Chongqing as one of the world's largest inland mountainous cities, Xiong presented its natural scenery, cultural traditions, and contemporary vitality. He also provided an overview of the history of the Dazu Rock Carvings, which originated in the early Tang Dynasty (618–907), flourished during the Song Dynasty (960–1279), and continued to develop through later periods.

The Dazu Rock Carvings include more than 50,000 statues and over 100,000 inscriptions. Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1999, the carvings are valued for their artistic achievements, historical significance, and reflection of cultural exchanges in ancient China.

During the academic forum, Xiong Zihua and Deng Qibing, director of the Archaeological Research Center of the Academy of Dazu Rock Carvings, delivered presentations focusing on digital preservation practices and the cultural significance of the site.

Deng traced the international recognition of the Dazu Rock Carvings, from early documentation by Qing Dynasty scholar Zhang Shu to investigations by Chinese architects and historians in the 20th century, including Liang Sicheng's academic promotion of the site at Princeton University in 1947. He explained how Dazu represents a landmark achievement of China's later grotto art, integrating Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism, as well as artistic expressions that reflect everyday life and human emotions.

Xiong shared Dazu's latest practices in digital preservation and cultural communication. Facing challenges such as the vulnerability of stone heritage, limitations in public access, and the gap between traditional culture and younger audiences, the institute has developed technologies including intelligent monitoring systems, millimeter-level 3D digital archives, virtual tours, mixed-reality experiences, 8K immersive cinemas, and high-fidelity 3D replicas for international exhibitions.

He also highlighted the collaboration between the Dazu Rock Carvings and the popular Chinese video game Black Myth: Wukong as an example of using modern cultural products to expand global interest in traditional heritage.

Before the forum, guests visited the ongoing exhibition "Harmony of the East - World Heritage: Dazu Rock Carvings - An Exhibition of Art and Life Narratives," which presents the heritage site through original works, digital replicas, multimedia installations, and educational programs. The exhibition will run at the Memor Museum until August 30.

Visitors view the exhibition Harmony of the East - World Heritage: Dazu Rock Carvings - An Exhibition of Art and Life Narratives. (Photo/Dazu District）

Located on Madison Avenue in Manhattan's Upper East Side, the Memor Museum is the only Asian culture-focused museum within the Metropolitan Museum of Art Historic District. The exhibition offers visitors in New York an opportunity to explore the artistic achievements of the Dazu Rock Carvings and engage in a dialogue between ancient Chinese civilization and contemporary global audiences.