HANGZHOU, China, June 10 — On the afternoon of June 10, the "Liangzhu Civilization: A Dialogue with the World" International Youth Cultural Experience Event, hosted by the Hangzhou International Communication Center, took place in Hangzhou. Chinese and international youth representatives from Zhejiang University of Media and Communications and Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics gathered to experience the unique charm of Liangzhu culture. Through expert presentations, interactive dialogues, and hands-on workshops, participants engaged in a cultural dialogue spanning five millennia, fostering mutual understanding and cultural exchange.

A central feature of the event, the "Liangzhu Civilization: A Dialogue with the World" themed photo exhibition, was opened to the youth representatives. Through detailed visual materials, the exhibition systematically displayed landmark archaeological discoveries—including the ruins of the Liangzhu ancient city, jade ritual systems, ancient water conservancy systems, and early rice agriculture—vividly reconstructing the social and daily life of the Liangzhu people from 5,000 years ago.

During the academic sharing session, Chen Minghui, Director of the Prehistoric Archaeology Department at the Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, delivered a keynote speech titled "China and the World in the Liangzhu Era." Drawing from archaeological discoveries at the Liangzhu ancient city ruins, Chen explained Liangzhu's vital role in the origin of Chinese civilization and explored how the heritage of Liangzhu can serve as a bridge to promote cross-cultural dialogue and mutual learning among diverse civilizations. Following the lecture, Chinese and international youth representatives actively engaged in a Q&A session, discussing the unique value of Liangzhu civilization and strategies for its global communication.

To build a sustainable platform for cultural exchange, the event featured the launch of "Source of Civilization, Promise of the Future," a dual-track project combining cultural experiences with high-level dialogues. Representatives from the organizers, archaeological community, and local universities jointly initiated the project on stage.

According to the organizers, the Hangzhou International Communication Center has previously hosted the inaugural "Liangzhu Civilization: A Dialogue with the World" international youth exchange activity, establishing a solid foundation for cross-national youth dialogue. The newly launched "Source of Civilization, Promise of the Future" initiative represents an upgrade of this platform, aimed at expanding the network of young international communicators. Designed to support global cultural exchange and introduce Chinese civilization to a wider international audience, the project uses structured cultural experiences and academic dialogue to encourage international youth to transition from "witnesses of civilization" to "co-builders of civilization." Moving forward, the project plans to leverage regular youth exchange mechanisms and international media networks to promote Liangzhu culture globally, exploring new avenues for intercultural mutual learning.

The event emphasized active participation and deep dialogue among international youth. Fatah, a youth representative from Afghanistan, hand-drew a map of global civilizations during the session. Following the lecture, he engaged in an in-depth discussion with Chen on topics such as the origins, evolutionary paths, and future prospects of Chinese and Western civilizations. This cross-cultural dialogue highlighted the thoughtful engagement of contemporary international youth with multicultural mutual learning and the concept of building a shared future for humanity.

To make cultural heritage more tangible, the event featured interactive workshops showcasing intangible cultural heritage and creative cultural products. International youth representatives tried their hand at making traditional gold foil paintings and crafting custom Liangzhu-themed jade fridge magnets. By drawing the iconic deity mask patterns and coloring miniature jade cong (ritual tubes), the participants experienced the exquisite craftsmanship and historical depth of Liangzhu culture firsthand, turning abstract cultural symbols into personal, tangible memories.

The event broadened the cultural horizons of the international youth participants and offered a practical model for deepening international cultural cooperation. The Hangzhou International Communication Center plans to continue leveraging its platform to regularly promote Liangzhu culture globally, inviting more young people from around the world to explore Liangzhu, experience China, and understand Chinese civilization.