When Shanxi province held a symposium recently on preserving the old city of Datong at the city's Heyang Gallery, it asked experts from the Datong Relics Bureau and City Planning Bureau, as well as historians and cultural experts, to join in the discussion.

The participants heard a summary of developments in the theory and practice of classical urban protection in recent decades, and some key aspects of future archaeological work. Some experts noted that the work needs to focus on the unique value of the Pingcheng period, when Datong was the capital of the Northern Wei Dynasty (AD 386-534), while others drew up a list of relics needing special protection, and proposed that the residences of prominent Datong figures be given equal protection.