  We propose an improved method to determine the sound horizon in a
cosmological model-independent way by using the latest observations of BAO
measurements from DES, BOSS/eBOSS, and DESI surveys and gravitationally
time-delay lensed quasars from H0LiCOW collaboration. Combining the 6$D_{\Delta
t}$ plus 4$D_{d}$ measurements and the reconstructed BAO datasets, we obtain a
model-independent result of $r_d=139.7^{+5.2}_{-4.5}$ Mpc, with the precision
at the $\sim3.7\%$ level, which is in agreement with the result of Planck 2018
within $\sim1.7\sigma$ uncertainty. Our method is independent of cosmological
parameters such as the Hubble constant, dark energy, (and, more importantly,
does not involve the cosmic curvature when using the $D_d$ measurements of the
lenses, and also avoids the obstacle of mass-sheet degeneracy in gravitational
lensing). Meanwhile, it does not need to consider the Eddington relation with
concerning the transformation of distance. Since only two types of data are
considered, the contribution of each can be clearly understood. Our results
also highlight the Hubble tension and may give us a better understanding of the
discordance between the datasets or reveal new physics beyond the standard
model.
