09/10/2026
I am now in Luoyang, one of China's GREATEST ancient capitals. Here, history is never just something you read about in a textbook or see in a museum. History is intertwined with everyday life. And I am honestly impressed and touched by that.
🚶♀️Wandering across the city, one thing that has left the deepest impression on me is seeing SO MANY tourists dressed in traditional Chinese attire -- from Hanfu to Tang Dynasty-style costumes. (SEE PIC 2) They visit museums, ancient sites and city streets in these outfits and hairstyles.
At the Luoyang Museum, I saw many young women and their besties lining up to take photos with a pair of painted pottery female figures holding hands as the backdrop. (SEE PIC 3) I think it is such a fascinating kind of immersive travel experience -- almost like a callback from the present to a long-gone past.
🎑And history is everywhere in Luoyang. Known as a city that served as the capital of 13 dynasties, Luoyang is home to a LONG list of historic sites, including the Erlitou ruins, the Han-Wei Ancient City Site, White Horse Temple, and countless unearthed artefacts.
These sites are scattered across the city, so basically, every step you take in Luoyang is a step on the traces of history.
🪨But preserving history is never a one-time job.
I first visited the Longmen Grottoes in 2019. Seven years later, I came back -- and when I compared the photos, I was amazed by how little had changed, and how much the visitor experience had actually improved. (SEE PIC 1)
Of course, seven years is just a blink of an eye for a site that has been here for more than 1,400 years. But this UNESCO World Heritage Site is an outdoor site, constantly exposed to sunlight, rainfall, wind and the elements. The fact that it still looks unchanged -- and even better in some ways -- says a lot about the continuous efforts behind heritage conservation.
🔬I learned that digital monitoring, scientific conservation and new technologies are now being used to help protect this ancient heritage.
🌇Perhaps this is what fascinates me most about Luoyang: the city is not simply preserving history. It is finding ways to make history part of the present.
And starting from October 9, Luoyang is hosting the 2026 GLOBAL MAYORS DIALOGUE, bringing mayors, delegates and guests from China and overseas together to exchange ideas on historic cities and their future.
👩💻I will be here. Stay tuned -- and I will keep you updated from Luoyang!
