Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province, recently held a salon to discuss city historical heritage preservation and cultural continuity.

Xi'an is a World Expo Urban Best Practice Area (UBPA).

Officials from World Expo national pavilions and a number of UBPA cities, including Canada's Montreal, Germany's Bremen and China's Tianjin, were invited to the two-day gathering.

The delegates discussed the preservation and continuity of cultural heritage, and shared successful practices from cities around the world.

Salon participants visited a series of historical sites in Xi'an, including several parks home to the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907) imperial palace and gardens.

The meeting was intended to promote Tang culture and citywide efforts to protect large cultural heritage sites like Daming Palace.

Louis Dussault, curator of the Montreal Museum in Canada, said that Xi'an set an example for all those cities with profound historical heritage.

"We admire and appreciate the creative wit and ingenious work of Xi'an," he said.

Mezayim Alptekin Aydin, curator of the Izmir Museum in Turkey, said Xi'an and Izmir have many things in common.

"They are both ancient cities with a long history and brilliant cultures," he said, adding that the Daming Palace site is especially a demonstration of great architecture and great culture.

(China Daily 10/14/2010 page17)