From 12 to 14 October, the Architectural History Branch Annual Meeting of the Architectural Society of China, 2023, and the Symposium to Commemorate the 1010th Anniversary of the Construction of the Baoguosi Great Hall in Ningbo were held on UNNC campus.

This annual meeting consists of seven major topics, namely new perspectives and new methods for architectural history research, research on wooden architecture in the Tang and Song Dynasties, protection and management of cultural heritage in the new era, cross-border communication and mutual learning of architectural culture, and changing architecture Heritage, rural revitalization and cultural heritage, as well as protection and utilization of historical and cultural districts.

Nearly 300 architectural history experts and scholars from leading universities and institutions, such as Tsinghua University, Southeast University, Tongji University joined the 2-day meeting and sought common development for the protection of cultural heritage and the research of architectural history in the new era.

At the opening ceremony, Professor Tao Wu, UNNC Vice Provost for China Beacons Institute, and Dean of Faculty of Science and Engineering gave a welcome speech. He introduced the achievements and prospects of UNNC's heritage protection. He also affirmed the significance of this meeting to share cutting-edge research results and extend the research collaborations.

In recent years, the Department of Architecture and Built Environment has made outstanding achievements in the research and practice of architectural history and heritage protection in Ningbo. Students from across the Faculty devoted their time and participated in the architecture history research projects funded by UNNC Digital Humanities Lab and the Photogrammetry and BIM Lab.

In the 2023 Maritime Silk Road Culture and Tourism Expo, two ancient buildings’, namely the Jiangbei Catholic Church and the Ninghai Ancient Theater, were presented digitally through technologies such as photogrammetry modeling, laser scanning, and digital restoration. Their contributions with the application of digital technologies to the preservation of ancient architecture showcased the intelligence of Ningbo.

In the future, the University of Nottingham Ningbo China as a fast-growing hub for excellence in research, innovation and knowledge exchange, will continue to support the local historic building protection and the digital management of cultural heritage. Moreover, we also hope to further promote the exchanges of heritage protection and improve the international influence of Ningbo City.