ZHENGZHOU, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- Standing before the Longmen Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in central China, Aimilia Tziva, deputy mayor of Irakleio, Attica, Greece, was amazed by the Ionic-style capitals that reminded her of Greek architectural traditions.
"We can see now how the cultures are connected," she said.
Tziva was among more than 90 mayors, municipal officials, international organization representatives and experts from over 10 countries who gathered in Luoyang, central China's Henan Province, from Oct. 9 to 11 for the 2026 Global Mayors Dialogue, where participants exchanged views on cultural heritage preservation, industrial upgrading and urban renewal.
During the event, guests visited landmarks including the Sui-Tang Luoyang City National Archaeological Site Park, the Luoyang Museum, and the Longmen Grottoes. Together, these sites offer a glimpse of how Luoyang, a historic capital of 13 ancient Chinese dynasties, is preserving its cultural legacy while integrating it into contemporary urban life.
Luoyang boasts a civilization history of more than 5,000 years, with cultural heritage sites densely distributed across the city and blended into its modern landscape, Yu Jie, secretary of the Party committee of the Longmen Grottoes Academy, said.
The city has long prioritized heritage protection while balancing the preservation of archaeological sites with urban expansion. It has also applied innovative technologies and developed public cultural spaces to make heritage more accessible, fostering closer ties between historic sites and its urban residents, Yu said.
The Sui-Tang Luoyang City National Archaeological Site Park illustrates this approach. At night, reconstructed city gates and palaces are illuminated, offering visitors a glimpse of the ancient capital's grandeur during the Tang Dynasty (618-907).
"It's good, and obviously lots of people want to see it," said Robbie Rodiss, chairman of Durham County Council in Britain. The reconstruction of historic buildings makes scenes from the past tangible, and provides an excellent way to showcase the character of the ancient city, he said.
Tziva particularly appreciated how the city has transformed its ancient history into economic momentum.
At Luoyi Ancient City, a performance depicting a celestial maiden scattering flowers draws dazzling camera flashes from visitors, while tourists in traditional Chinese attire stroll through the historic lanes, creating the impression of traveling back in time.
The integrated cultural tourism district, which combines sightseeing, entertainment, dining, accommodation and shopping, received more than 730,000 visits during China's recent National Day holiday, with daily visitor numbers peaking at 145,000.
This is exactly how to preserve the old-time glamour in modern life, Tziva said.
John Mahu Macharia, director of trade, investment and industrialization of Nakuru County, Kenya, shared Tziva's view.
"Once you preserve such culture, you can imagine the number of tourists that will visit, the number of jobs you are going to create," he said, adding that the trip has shed light on the development of cultures in Kenya.
Julio Cesar Zamora, mayor of Tigre, Argentina, said Luoyang's efforts to preserve historic sites while putting them to contemporary use offer valuable lessons for cities seeking to integrate their cultural legacy into modern development.
During the event, a consensus paper on urban civilization was released, highlighting the core values of sustained preservation and development of traditional cultures. It calls for cities to strengthen their appeal as places to live, work and visit, while fostering innovation and cooperation through dialogue.
Roberto Di Stefano, mayor of Sesto San Giovanni, Italy, said he hoped the event would deepen cooperation among cities in cultural heritage preservation, cultural communication and urban renewal.
Beyond the cultural attractions of Luoyang, China is working to foster innovation in traditional cultural industries while preserving heritage and unlocking its economic potential.
China's cultural industry generated 20.8 trillion yuan (about 3.09 trillion U.S. dollars) in revenue, averaging 8.4 percent annual growth from 2021 to 2025, national data showed.
China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), released in March this year, calls for improving the cultural industry and market systems, upgrading traditional cultural business models, expanding the supply of high-quality tourism products, and promoting deeper integration between culture and tourism. ■
