How the modern world is preserving old culture

The virtual reconstruction of Beijing's city gates is not the first attempt to preserve cultural heritage through the use of digital technology. In fact, augmented reality, along with other tools such as virtual reality, three-dimensional printing and drones, has already brought new possibilities for the conservation and preservation of cultural heritage across the globe.

In 2015, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization launched the Unite4Heritage initiative, aimed at generating a global digital backup plan for threatened cultural monuments.

The campaign's Reclaim History project creates virtual versions of historic artifacts around the world through VR and 3-D printing technology, according to the project's website.