Digital-Bilingual Strategies for the International Promotion of Intangible Cultural Heritage: A Case Study of Chinese Willow Weaving (Liu Bian)

As a representative form of Chinese Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), Linshu Willow Weaving (Liu Bian) embodies profound historical, cultural, and artistic value. However, its international promotion faces significant challenges, including linguistic barriers, limited dissemination channels, and insufficient engagement with global, particularly younger, audiences. In response, this study proposes and examines a novel “Digital-Bilingual” strategy designed to integrate advanced digital technologies—such as Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), Digital Twin, and Artificial Intelligence (AI)—with tailored bilingual (Chinese-English) communication frameworks. The core of this strategy involves constructing an immersive, AI-driven virtual willow weaving workshop and an interactive bilingual learning platform. This platform aims to transcultural and translate willow weaving techniques into accessible digital assets, embedding them within the cultural context of the “Belt and Road” initiative. Through virtual master demonstrations, personalized learning paths, and cross-cultural community interaction, the project seeks to transform Liu Bian from a local craft into a “world language”, thereby enhancing its international visibility, fostering cultural exchange, and providing a replicable model for the digital transformation and global promotion of traditional handicrafts. This research employs a mixed-methods approach, combining literature analysis, a case study of the ongoing university innovation project, and preliminary platform prototyping. The framework is anticipated to bridge cultural and linguistic gaps, create engaging and educational user experiences, and open new pathways for the living inheritance and international dissemination of ICH. The study contributes to the interdisciplinary fields of cultural heritage preservation, digital humanities, and cross-cultural communication.