Prince Kung's Palace Museum director Sun Xuguang (middle) talks with a foreign participant at Prince Kung's Mansion Forum.

Once symbols of status and glory at two ends of the world, European castles and Chinese princely mansions are now looking to each other to explore ways to thrive in the modern time.

Delegates from 18 European castles and nine Chinese palace museums discussed how aristocratic heritages can develop sustainably while maintaining their historic value at Prince Kung's Mansion Forum in Beijing from Aug 28 to 30.

The forum allowed both sides to share experiences and learn from each other to better protect heritage architecture, says Sun Xuguang, director of Prince Kung's Palace Museum.

"Historic castles in Europe and princely mansions in China face many common problems. It is time for us to sit down and discuss them together," Sun says.