French IT graduate finds his way to preserve, invigorate China's heritage

Alexandre Guery, a 27-year-old tech blogger from France, shared his stories of traveling with global youth in China, during which he recognized the pivotal role of technology in preserving and invigorating cultural heritage.

Being a participant of "Youth Power", organized by China Daily and focusing on the interests and ideas of Generation Z (those born after 1995 and into the 2000s), Guery acquired the opportunity to gather with young people from all around the world, go on trips to different places in China and have in-depth dialogues on global issues.

During his two-year stay, the city of Zhengzhou, Henan province, with its museum housing invaluable artifacts and ancient relics, left a deep impression on Guery. This glimpse into China's long history made Guery think about how to preserve the ancient civilization and promote these priceless treasures.

As a master's graduate in information technology from ESIEA, Guery was keen on advanced technology and proposed it as a feasible solution in the digital age, since it could not only assist in the exterior maintenance and restoration work of historical sites and artifacts, but also inject momentum into traditional arts, crafts and culture.

Guery introduced the Shanghai-based developer's Genshin Impact as an example of successful innovation and described it as "a bridge to share Chinese culture".

"In Genshin Impact's virtual world, I saw many foreigners, from Europe, Asia or America, discovering Chinese culture for the first time," said Guery.

The Chinese-made open-world role-playing game Genshin Impact was listed among the top downloads upon release in 2020. The success of the game can be partly attributed to the fascinating Chinese culture it embraces, such as shadow puppetry, Beijing Opera and celadon wares, and partly attributed to its global vision, as it also integrates elements of European, African and various other cultures in scene construction and character design.

"This fusion shows how modern technology and creative minds can create tools that connect cultures and have a significant impact faster than ever before," he said.

Li Menghan contributed to this story.