Italian guests visit the Liangzhu Museum. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]

A cultural dialogue celebrating connections between Liangzhu Ancient City and the ancient city of Rome, capital of Italy, was held on July 6 at the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City in Hangzhou.

The day marked the sixth anniversary of Liangzhu's UNESCO World Heritage listing and the sixth Hangzhou Liangzhu Day.

Over 110 experts and officials from China and Italy gathered to discuss the theme of "Continuity and Coexistence of Civilizations", exploring ancient urban planning, heritage preservation and cultural renewal.

Despite their geographical and temporal distance, both Liangzhu and Rome share remarkable similarities in city defenses, water systems, functional zoning and lasting cultural influence.

Liangzhu, a 5,000-year-old testament to the early Chinese rice-farming civilization, stands as a symbol of the Yangtze River Basin's contribution to Chinese unity and cultural diversity. Rome, with its 2,700-year history, reflects the ingenuity and grandeur of Western civilization.

The event featured keynote speeches, roundtables and case studies from both sides, with Italian archaeologist Olga Di Cagno noting striking parallels between the two ancient cities.

Liangzhu Museum Director Xu Tianjin emphasized the role of heritage as a shared resource for today and the future.

The dialogue was part of the ongoing Liangzhu and the World series, which has engaged cultural icons like Stonehenge in the United Kingdom, the Acropolis in Athens and the ancient city of Toledo in Spain, and has brought Liangzhu culture to 14 countries through exhibitions, academic exchanges and digital archives.

Running through to July 13, the 2025 Liangzhu Culture Week features exhibitions, education programs, cultural tourism and interactive experiences, promoting the legacy of Liangzhu as a living symbol of China's 5,000-year civilization.