HOHHOT — At the Inner Mongolia Museum in North China, a relics restorer in a white coat maneuvers an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer close to a gilt silver saddle from the Tang Dynasty (618-907), and within a few dozen seconds, data about the object's metallic elements flash across the screen, which will guide the meticulous restoration to come.
It is a vivid example of how modern technologies are reshaping heritage conservation in China.
Here, in what museum staff members call a "cultural relics hospital", tradition meets technology. Equipped with specialized labs for inorganic and organic materials, the "hospital" helps identify basic information and assess the condition of artifacts prior to restoration work.
Pointing to a restored Warring States Period (475-221 BC) bronze mirror etched with a four-mountain motif, a conservator explains that the first task is to distinguish harmful rust from stable patina.
To the untrained eye, corrosion on bronze may look the same. But to experts, harmful rust resembles a spreading skin disease — silent, irreversible, and corrosive. Early diagnosis is essential.
Using XRF spectrometry, the conservator quickly confirms the mirror's composition: a classic tin-bronze alloy of copper, tin and lead. This forms an initial assessment of the artifact's condition, and conservators will then conduct follow-up tests to determine the precise treatment needed.
"Naturally formed rust, which is stable in condition, is also part of a relic's historical information. We must follow the principle of minimal intervention in restoration," says Sonirhaan, deputy director of the museum's cultural relics conservation department.
Just as no two patients are alike, no two artifacts share the same "constitution". In addition to the XRF spectrometer, the "cultural relics hospital" is equipped with a variety of other instruments for examining cultural relics.
A museum staff member displays a bag of residue samples unearthed from silk fabrics and explains that the Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy instrument can identify material characteristics by analyzing the samples' infrared absorption and reflection spectra.
Also in the "hospital", conservators use metallographic microscopes to reveal how ancient metal objects were made. "Bronze production involved both casting and forging, which create very different crystal structures," the staff member explains. By examining a sample's cross-section, they can easily tell which technique was used.
Additionally, the "hospital" has applied hyperspectral imaging technology to mural research and restoration and has utilized high-performance liquid chromatography to analyze binding media, pigment composition, and organic residues.
These modern technologies provide a crucial scientific basis for formulating and implementing cultural relic restoration plans.
In 2025 alone, the museum's "cultural relics hospital" successfully restored nearly 300 artifacts. Blending traditional skills with modern technologies, the project has breathed new life into historical treasures.
"We hope the 'hospital' concept helps the public understand our work, and recognize that safeguarding ancient artifacts requires both hands-on skills and advanced technologies," says Wang Jiajuan, director of the museum's cultural relics conservation department.
"Looking ahead, the 'hospital' will continue to leverage technologies in restoring artifacts, while expanding public access, allowing more people to experience the wonder of cultural heritage conservation," Wang says.
Xinhua
