Tourists experience the zanhuawei (the floral hair wreath) at the booth. [Photo/Lin Jinfeng]

A cultural market dedicated to the creative revitalization of world heritage sites opened at the Quanzhou Maritime Museum on Dec 12, showcasing cross-cultural exchanges along the Silk Road.

Organized with the help of Chinese National Geography, the "Most Chinese · Culture & Museum Market" forms part of the "Dialogue on World Heritage Revitalization" exchange event. On the event's first day, nearly 60 institutions presented over a thousand cultural creative products, with museum staff sharing the stories behind artifacts and leading interactive workshops.

Dialogue on World Heritage Revitalization coincides with the 12th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. Guests from Morocco, Tunisia, Malaysia, and several leading Chinese museums such as the National Museum of China and Shaanxi History Museum gathered to explore the contemporary vitality of cultural heritage from diverse perspectives and engage in in-depth dialogues on key topics.

Participants discussed new models for the sustainable development of heritage sites, discussed interdisciplinary approaches using digital tools to support heritage revitalization, and shared innovative cases empowering cultural dissemination.

Rashid Tabeeb, vice-president of Ez-zitouna University in Tunisia, praised Quanzhou's approach to integrating heritage into modern life. "Cultural heritage connects civilizations," he said, "We look forward to deeper cooperation with Silk Road partners in preservation and exchange."

The event runs until Dec 14 and is free to the public, offering visitors an immersive experience of both maritime and overland Silk Road cultures.

Tourists experience the zanhuawei (the floral hair wreath) at the booth. [Photo/Lin Jinfeng]