On the morning of September 14, Gong Liang, Director of the Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau; Lin Zhihong, a specialist at the World Heritage Centre of UNESCO’s Paris Headquarters; Antoine GOURNAY, Professor in the Department of Art at the Sorbonne University in Paris; and other officials visited Luzhi Ancient Town to inspect its preservation efforts and preparations for World Heritage inscription. They were accompanied by Yin Zhanqun, Deputy Director of the Suzhou Municipal Cultural Relics Bureau; Zhou Xiaomin, Vice District Mayor of Wuzhong District; Li Qiang, Director of the District Bureau of Culture, Sports and Tourism; and Lu Zhenhua, Mayor of Luzhi Town.

Director Gong Liang and his delegation first toured the key cultural‑heritage buildings within the ancient town, including the Luohan statues at Baosheng Temple, the Xiao Fangfang Memorial Hall, and the Wansheng Rice Trading House. They then proceeded along the riverside old streets—such as Xihui Shangtang Street and Zhongshi Shangtang Street—strolling along the town’s stone‑paved lanes and inspecting the historic residences and shops lining the narrow alleys. Director Gong also boarded a traditional wooden boat, personally rowing it as he navigated the town’s waterways and passed under its ancient bridges, gaining a firsthand sense of the daily life of the residents in this waterside ancient town.

Following the on-site inspection, leaders and experts held a symposium. After hearing Deputy District Mayor Zhou Xiaomin’s briefing on Wuzhong District’s efforts to protect cultural relics and historic towns, Director-General Gong Liang wholeheartedly commended the work undertaken by Suzhou City, Wuzhong District, and the Luzhi Town Government in safeguarding this ancient town, noting that Luzhi is one of the best‑preserved examples of traditional Jiangnan water‑towns—a truly commendable achievement. In the course of preserving such towns, he suggested drawing on the “ecological museum” model employed abroad, integrating cultural heritage at the micro, meso, and macro levels with the surrounding environmental space, while actively engaging natural landscapes, architecture, and local customs and traditions. Protecting historic towns is a systemic undertaking that requires balancing built and intangible cultural landscapes; renovations of historic residences should avoid being driven solely by tourism‑oriented displays, and modern amenities can and should be incorporated to harmonize livability with heritage conservation. Public facilities such as teahouses and stages must also be preserved and restored, ensuring that the town’s ecological character is fully maintained and that its architectural heritage, along with the production and daily life cultures of its residents, are comprehensively showcased. Lin Zhihong, a specialist at the World Heritage Centre of UNESCO’s Paris headquarters, emphasized that Luzhi boasts a complete system of water‑town culture. He urged that, in applying for World Heritage status and in subsequent conservation efforts, particular attention be given to excavating and highlighting the town’s water‑related cultural dimensions, thoroughly articulating the vital role water plays in the daily lives and livelihoods of its inhabitants. Finally, Director-General Gong Liang inscribed a calligraphic message for the town, encouraging the local government to carry out its preservation work in a solid, science‑based manner, and expressing his hope that Luzhi’s bid for World Heritage status would be successful.