Photo: Courtesy of Shanhai App

A new digital platform that merges technology with cultural heritage was unveiled on Monday in Changsha, Central China's Hunan Province. The Shanhai App brings tens of thousands of artifacts from across the globe into a unified digital space, overcoming the physical limitations of traditional museum collections.

The launch of the Shanhai App comes at a time when interest in museums and cultural preservation is at an all-time high. 

The platform breaks down the barriers between museums, regions, and even countries, creating an open, digital environment where cultural treasures can be accessed, shared, and appreciated by a global audience. 

The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco is one of the museums that has joined the platform. 

"If this platform can succeed, it will not only be beneficial for domestic audiences but also help global audiences gain a better understanding of China's cultural treasures," said Jay Xu, director of the museum.

The "Museum Digital Intelligence Alliance" was formed, comprising 14 museums that joined the app. The alliance represents a commitment to building bridges between institutions and advancing the future of digital cultural preservation. 

"I believe the most important role of a platform like Shanhai is to enable more people to participate in the creation of museum content," said Hou Ningbin, director of the Shaanxi History Museum. 

"It connects the platform with museum ­professionals and links professionals or creators in society who have an interest in museum culture. For museums, this significantly strengthens our ability to promote China's rich cultural heritage."

The efficiency of digital artifact collection on the Shanhai App was the highlight of this launch event. During the event, a digital artifact collection ­process was live-streamed. The team conducted the digitization of an artifact in Shanghai, transmitted the data back to the lab in Changsha, and then sent the results in real-time to the launch event venue.

Looking ahead, the Shanhai App aims to digitize hundreds of thousands of cultural artifacts from museums nationwide. 

In addition to artifacts, the platform will integrate related historical documents, archaeological records, and academic research, constructing a structured data system for cultural heritage. 

The data will be applied to research, education, entertainment, and the creative industries. For example, in educational settings, teachers and students can easily use the app to find historical figures, stories, and related concepts associated with a particular artifact.