Researchers at Chinese universities, backed by AI large model-powered restoration technology, are capable of reviving faded ancient Chinese paintings to somewhat bring back to life the original brilliance of precious cultural relics.
At the Laboratory of Art and Archaeology Image at the Zhejiang University in east China's Zhejiang Province, an artwork restoration team is employing advanced AI models to digitally restore the colors of the thousand-year-old traditional painting "Palace Lady Waving a Fan", which has significantly faded over time.
"By incorporating all our previous know-how, methods, paper outcomes about art restoration into a single AI model, we have obtained a very useful AI-powered restoration assistant," said Tang Tan, a research fellow with the School of Art and Archaeology of Zhejiang University.
In the past, restoring ancient paintings would mainly depend on the experience of restorers, who analyze the colors and conduct multiple digital simulations. Now, with the help of large AI models, the pigment composition of the painting can be analyzed, and AI can also factor in the painting's creation period and the artist's style to select the most accurate color scheme.
After the AI completes the visual simulation, restorers can manually verify the effects in the lab in the simulative color restoration.
"This is our materials lab. To restore the original colors of ancient paintings, we seek out materials to replicate the pigments historically used in the creation of artworks. For example, we apply these pigments onto reproductions of silk or paper, mimicking the original techniques and materials," Tang said.
The restoration team has digitally restored over 100 ancient paintings so far using the AI large model.
Moreover, they are collecting data on various colors, compositions and other aspects from past artworks, and using the vast information to retrain their AI model.
"We aim to integrate comprehensive knowledge of the full history of Chinese painting, including detailed depiction and color information of each artwork. This will enable us to build a database that will, in turn, enhance the expertise of our general AI model," Tang noted.
Faded ancient Chinese paintings revived with AI-powered restoration
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
