REVITALIZING INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE IN THE GRAND CANAL'S ANHUI SECTION: PATHWAYS AND DIGITAL STRATEGIES

The Anhui section of the Grand Canal is rich in intangible cultural heritage (ICH). However, the tacit and fragmented nature of these resources makes it difficult to present their cultural meanings comprehensively. Building on an examination of the forms of ICH-related knowledge and the current state of digital development in the region, this paper explores the mechanisms through which artificial intelligence (AI) can facilitate the revitalization of ICH and proposes pathways for digital preservation. The study argues that the structural challenges facing digital preservation in the region arise from the combined effects of four factors, which include intelligent recognition, knowledge reconstruction, collaborative innovation, and value conversion, rather than from a mere lack of technology. The central task of digital preservation is to shift its focus from documentation and display toward knowledge reconstruction and intelligent services, thereby making digital technologies a form of infrastructure underpinning the systematic safeguarding and living transmission of ICH.