A delegation of international visual creators and bloggers from nine countries, including the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, and Russia, visited the 1,400-year-old Yuci Ancient City on Thursday in Jinzhong, Shanxi province, as part of a tour of China's ancient architecture.

International visual creators visit Yuci Ancient City in Jinzhong, Shanxi province, on July 16. (Photo: China Daily)

Yuci Ancient City was first built in the second year of the Kaihuang era of the Sui Dynasty (581-618). Its streets and alleys still unfold in a traditional layout, leading residents and visitors to Jiangnan-style gardens interspersed between examples of Chinese architecture.

Michael Rhys Card, a British photographer, took the opportunity to wander the ancient streets and capture images of centuries-old buildings that he called "precious cultural relics". "This is such a rare experience, and I feel incredibly lucky to have witnessed it," he said.

Other members of the tour opted to depict the city in different mediums. Chinese painter Li Zhengming set up a spot among the buildings to sketch what he saw. "Viewing ancient architecture on a mobile phone can never compare with seeing it in person; there is always a screen separating you from the real scene," he said. "Only by coming here and standing before these age-old buildings can you truly perceive the profound historical heritage accumulated over centuries."

On Wednesday evening, Chinese and international guests gathered at the city's Wengcheng Ruins Park to watch the Light of Yungang Grottoes projection show, which depicted Shanxi's grotto art on building walls using light and shadow.

The tour group is recording their visits via short videos, photography, and paintings to share Shanxi's stories with audiences at home and abroad. Their works are part of Discovering Shanxi's Ancient Chinese Architecture, a visual journey through cultural heritage recently launched by Shanxi Daily and China Daily.