As ancient city walls around the world face the challenge of staying useful and meaningful in modern life, nearly 70 teachers and students from Turin and Florence, Italy, and various Chinese universities have gathered in Nanjing to study the Ming City Wall—the longest, largest, and best-preserved city wall in the world.

Over a week-long residency, they will examine the wall from historical, cultural, residential, and natural perspectives, attend lectures from design masters including Alberto Giuntoli—the chief architect for the activation of Pompeii’s ancient city walls—and workshop ideas. The participants will produce public art installations and proposals for service facilities meant to help the wall blend into everyday urban life.

Called "Futuring Our Wallscapes" and initiated by Nanjing, the programme aims to pool young Chinese and Italian creativity, focus on protecting and revitalizing this world heritage site, and use fresh design to keep the old wall living and useful for the city.