The Shanxi exhibition "Awaken the Future: Treasures and Suspended Sculptures of Xiaoxitian Temple" was recognized as one of the "Typical Cases on Protecting and Promoting the Diversity of Cultural Expressions in the Digital Environment" recently unveiled at the Creativity 2030 • 5th International Forum.

Co-hosted by the UNESCO International Centre for Creativity and Sustainable Development and the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia, the forum brought together leaders from international organizations, experts, scholars, and entrepreneurs from more than 10 countries, as well as representatives from governments, enterprises, institutions, and universities across nearly 20 cities in China.

Digital restoration of the main hall at Xiaoxitian Temple. [Photo/Shanxi News Network]

The case selection process evaluated projects based on five criteria: innovation, influence, sustainability, international adaptability and balance, and replicability. From 146 submissions across 13 countries, 40 exemplary cases were chosen, showcasing a variety of pathways for digital technology to empower the preservation, innovation and development of traditional culture.

As part of the Shanxi Culture Relics Bureau's "Walking Shanxi" series exhibitions, the Xiaoxitian exhibition systematically displays the precious cultural heritage of Xiaoxitian Temple in Xixian county, transforming immovable suspended sculpture art into interactive, tourable digital content, and highlighting the high-precision digital revitalization results of Xiaoxitian's suspended sculptures.

A visitor interacts with the suspended sculptures using VR equipment. [Photo/Shanxi News Network]

The exhibition opened at the National Museum of Classic Books in Beijing on Dec 22, 2025, and will run until May 8, 2026. Afterward, it will embark on a nationwide tour, with its next confirmed stop at the Changsha Museum.