'Wall to Wall' Collaboration

Confucius Institute at Newcastle University Supports Successful UK-China Great Wall Cultural Heritage Conference

On December 4, 2023, a UK-China Great Wall Cultural Heritage Conference was successfully held in Room 2.09, Armstrong Building, Newcastle University. Hosted by "Wall to Wall" project leader David Brough, it gathered experts from the Great Wall of China and the Hadrian’s Wall of UK. The conference aimed to discuss the challenges and experiences in cultural heritage protection and ways to enhance collaboration in this field. To ensure accurate communication, the conference provided continuous Chinese-English translation, facilitating lively exchanges and interactions among the attending scholars. Meanwhile, Confucius Institute at Newcastle University (CI ) played an important role in this collaboration, offering substantial support for the conference and the ongoing development of cooperation.

The second part of the conference focused on practical conservation and innovative methods. Kerry Shaw, the Hadrian's Wall World Heritage Site Programmes Co-ordinator, delved into volunteer work at Hadrian's Wall, highlighting the vital role of volunteers in heritage preservation. Following her, Yao Ma from Tencent Foundation discussed the integration of technology in cultural heritage protection through his speech. He featured a WeChat mini-program offering virtual tours of the Great Wall, especially enhancing young people's exploration and learning about cultural heritage.

Next, Jane Gibson, World Heritage Site Coordinator at Durham Cathedral, explored the current state of cultural heritage protection in the UK and the crucial role of volunteers. She highlighted the enthusiasm of the older generation in the UK for volunteer service and giving back to society. Sharing the example of Durham Cathedral, which attracted over 700 volunteers active in religion, cultural heritage, and tourist guidance, Jane emphasized the importance of engaging young volunteers, inspiring us to consider ways to ignite their passion for heritage preservation, including their involvement in the Great Wall and Hadrian's Wall projects.

Following this, Beijing Great Wall culture researcher Jianlu Qin, presented the services and community initiatives of the Great Wall Station. He emphasized on enhancing the Great Wall study base and construction community model, and the use of traditional military defense heritage. The conference also delved into other key topics, including community involvement in Hadrian's Wall's 1900th Festival by Bill Griffiths from Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums, volunteer activities at Badaling Great Wall by director Dan Li, and the deputy director of excavations at the Vindolanda Trust Marta Alberti discussing her experience at Hadrian's Wall, underscoring the synergy of academic research and cultural heritage preservation.

This conference significantly deepened understanding and enhanced the protection strategies of the Great Wall in China and Hadrian's Wall in the UK. CI played a crucial role as a bridge in cultural exchange and academic cooperation. This successful event marked an important milestone in the collaborative efforts of the UK and China in cultural heritage protection and academic exchange.