Change remains the sole constant in the world. In the aftermath of the pandemic, shifts in global climate, geopolitical landscapes, and socio-economic conditions present challenges to the sustainable preservation and transmission of cultural heritage.

In recent years, discussions on the "resilience" of cultural heritage have gained increasing attention in the international academic community. For example, the 2022 ICOMOS Annual Meeting adopted and promulgated the "ICOMOS International Charter for Cultural Heritage Tourism (2022): Reinforcing cultural heritage protection and community resilience through responsible and sustainable tourism management." In 2023, UNESCO, in celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, proposed that "LivingHeritage is aout people, resilience and knowledge passed on from generation to generation." Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the World Heritage Convention, UNESCO organized global events from 2022 to 2023 under the theme "The Next 50 Years: World Heritage as a source of resilience, humanity, and innovation."

In China,  "resilience" has become an essential term in the official discourse on national governance. The October 2020 "Suggestions of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Formulating the Fourteenth Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035" explicitly introduced the concept of constructing "resilient cities," emphasizing to "enhance urban governance and strengthen risk prevention and control in the management of mega-cities." Cultural heritage in our nation embodies a dual essence of "fragility" and "resilience" within an increasingly intricate ecological, social, and economic milieu.  "Resilience" serves as a tangible expression of its heritage value and forms the bedrock for addressing a spectrum of risks and challenges.

The notion of sustainable development has evolved into a widely shared consensus. The conservation and transmission of cultural heritage are intimately entwined with diverse facets of urban development and intricately woven into the fabric of people's economic and social lives. “Variables” such as contemporary developments, evolving lifestyles, and technological advancements play pivotal roles in shaping the "resilience" of cultural heritage. Grasping the resilient attributes of cultural heritage amid "change," managing factors influencing cultural heritage, preventing "resilience" fatigue, and steering the evolving trends of cultural heritage to bolster its "resilience" are ongoing subjects that demand thoughtful consideration both in the present and future.

The 4th ICHC conference focus on the  "Resilience of Cultural Heritage: Challenges and Responses," and discusses both local and global cases. The conference invites the domestic and international experts and scholars to contribute to the sustainable development of Suzhou National Historic City with the extraordinary experience and practices.