China is combining artificial intelligence and biological conservation to protect the Great Wall, deploying robotic inspectors and algae-based restoration methods at vulnerable sites such as the Shanhaiguan Pass in Hebei Province.
A newly introduced four-legged inspection robot, equipped with high-definition cameras, lidar, and smart sensors, can detect cracks, missing bricks, and structural weaknesses, sending real-time alerts to conservation authorities. Hebei, home to some of the most intact sections of the 21,000-kilometre UNESCO World Heritage Site, has become a center for heritage tech innovation, already using drones since 2017 to survey remote or cliffside sections.
In parallel, scientists have discovered that filamentous cyanobacteria naturally form a protective crust on certain earthen sections of the Wall. This biological shield reduces erosion from rain and wind, and researchers are now cultivating and applying the algae to other at-risk areas.
“By combining AI precision with eco-friendly biological methods, China is pioneering a hybrid conservation model that could be applied to heritage sites worldwide,” says Dr. Li Wen, a cultural heritage expert at Tsinghua University.
Exclusive insights from the Hebei Cultural Heritage Bureau indicate that early tests of the algae treatment have extended erosion resistance by up to 40%, with plans to expand the program to Gansu and Inner Mongolia over the next two years.
