The 2024 International Alliance of Ancient City Walls and Fortresses convened on Nov 7 at Yuexiu Park in Guangzhou, Southeast China's Guangdong province.

Heritage experts and representatives from 18 cities worldwide gathered to discuss the culture and tourism integration of ancient city walls and fortresses.

At this year's event, Shanxi province's Ancient Pingyao City Walls and the House of the Huangcheng Chancellor Walls and Fortresses joined the International Alliance of Ancient City Walls and Fortresses.

The Ancient Pingyao City Walls are the most intact county-level walls from ancient China. They embody defense and cultural functions and reflect typical characteristics of northern Chinese city walls from the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties.

The House of the Huangcheng Chancellor Walls and Fortresses include the House of the Huangcheng Chancellor, Guoyu Ancient City, and Haihui Academy, designated national key cultural heritage units.

Four countries and 20 city wall and fortress organizations have joined the international alliance. The alliance aims to facilitate technological innovation and the integrated development of culture and tourism, promoting global connectivity, exchange, and digital exploration for ancient city walls and fortresses.