Conservation Science in Cultural Heritage, Vol. 24 (2024)

The Grand Canal and the Danube are renowned waterways worldwide, symbolizing the cultural heritages of the East and the West, respectively. China's Grand Canal is the world's longest existing canal and the largest in scale, representing a significant cultural gene pool of the Chinese nation. The Danube, on the other hand, stands as Europe's second-longest river, distinguished as the river flowing through the most countries globally. It has cultivated a diverse culture in the Danube basin, such as the establishment of Lepenski Vir, the oldest permanent settlement far from the Mediterranean in Europe. As two waterways with profound histories, both harbor rich and varied cultural legacies, playing an indelible role in civilizational interactions and societal evolution. In the modern era, methods of cultural heritage preservation and utilization are undergoing profound changes alongside technological advancements. New preservation and inheritance methods characterized by digitization, informatization, and intelligence have garnered much attention. The integration of artificial intelligence and other novel technologies and methodologies has become a vital force and determinant in rejuvenating cultural heritage. Against this backdrop, this article aims to examine the current state of digital revitalization designs for cultural heritages along the ancient waterway basins in China and Europe, taking China's Grand Canal and Europe's Danube as examples. The Grand Canal and the Danube Basin not only possess unique cultural features but also confront their respective challenges, including urban development, threats from natural environments, and societal transformations. Therefore, by contrasting the digital revitalization status of cultural heritages between the two waterways, we can draw valuable lessons, enhancing the effectiveness of cultural heritage protection, hoping that these legacies continue to thrive and flourish in the future. This research will deepen people's understanding of cultural heritages in the Sino-European regions, promote international cultural exchanges, and offer opportunities for communities in both areas. Using digital design as a tool encourages cultural inheritance, the growth of the tourism sector, and societal engagement. It places cultural heritage preservation within a global context, providing a theoretical foundation for its sustainable development.