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Overview Northeast Asia is home to many of the world’s oldest unbroken civilisations. China alone is home to one-fifth of the world’s population as well as the world’s largest number of cultural heritage sites. China has more than 500 state-level historical sites. Rapid economic and technological transformations, coupled with large-scale urban expansion, have profoundly influenced the cultural and natural heritage of the region. UNESCO Beijing is working hard to tackle this issue, making it a priority to preserve and enhance heritage sites and to promote living cultures.  Close cooperation with local and national authorities in China, D.P.R. Korea  and Mongolia has brought us closer to achieving these goals. UNESCO Beijing also appreciates the generous financial and technical support it has received from the Japanese government.

World Heritage Certificate Conferring Ceremony

Preservation and Enhancement of the World Heritage
In our world, there are wonders so splendid that it is our duty to preserve them for posterity. Whether natural or manmade, beauty in all forms must be preserved so that future generations can enjoy and appreciate its magnificence.  It is also important to guard our cultural heritage so as to maintain our traditions and identity.  UNESCO formed the World Heritage List so that we may better understand the importance of these sites, and make it easier for mankind to keep and protect them. The 1972 Convention Protecting the Cultural and Natural Heritage considers these World Heritage Sites to be of outstanding universal value to humanity, and they are to be embraced, defended, cherished, and protected.

In China, there are 23 Cultural and Natural World Heritage properties.  Four additional sites were recommended for nomination onto the World Heritage List at the World Heritage Committee’s plenary session in December 2000. The sites are the Longmen Grottoes in Henan province, the Imperial Tombs of Ming and Qing Dynasties in Hebei and Hubei provinces, the Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui, and the Mt. Qingcheng and Dujiang Irrigation System in Sichuan province. Another site, Yungang Grottoes in Shanxi province, was recommended for inclusion on the December 2001 list. World Heritage experts will carry out the inspection tour of this site in early 2001. China already has more than 30 sites on the World Heritage Tentative List.

Sites Recommended for Nomination onto the World Heritage List, 2000
Longmen Grottoes (Cultural Site)
Longmen Grottoes, along with Dunhuang and Yungang Grottoes, is considered as one of the treasures of Buddhist and classical Chinese art. The grottoes, dating back to the 5th through 8th centuries, are near Luoyang in Henan province. The site’s 2,345 caves contain more than 100,000 statues and hundreds of stele and rock inscriptions. These works combine Persian, Central Asian and Chinese techniques, and are enhanced by a rich collection of local legends and histories.

Imperial Tombs of Ming and Qing Dynasties (Cultural Site)
Imperial tombs of the Ming and Qing dynasties have been discovered throughout China. The Ming dynasty Xianling Mausoleum at Zhongxiang in Hubei province and the Qing dynasty East and West Mausoleums in Zunhua and Yi counties in Hebei province are two prominent tomb complexes. These carefully constructed tombs were used in the practise of the highest form of funeral rites in Chinese feudal society and provide insight into traditional views on life, death, and moral standards.

Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui (Cultural Site)
Elegant folk dwellings dating back to the Ming and Qing dynasties have been maintained in Yi county, Anhui province. Hong Village is laid out in the shape of an ox, with small waterways linking the various households. The luxuriant beauty of the ancient trees surrounding the villages complements the human architectural and cultural heritage contained within.

Mt. Qingcheng and Dujiangyan Irrigation System (Mixed Site)
Near Chengdu in Sichuan province, the Weir on the Du River was built in 256 BC by the local people and prefect. One of the oldest water conservancy projects in China, this irrigation system still plays a vital role in the irrigation of land in western China. Mt. Qingcheng, a cradle of Chinese Taoism, is home to numerous temples built in traditional architectural style and adorned with depictions of regional folk characters.

Cultural Heritage Management and Urban Development: Challenge and Opportunity Conference
Urbanisation, continued population growth and environmental degradation pose a serious threat to China’s natural and cultural heritage.  UNESCO and the World Bank worked closely with the Chinese National Administration for Cultural Heritage to organise the urban development conference in Beijing in July 2000. The three-day conference aimed to deepen the awareness of China’s shared cultural heritage and to encourage dialogue on cultural heritage management and conservation in urban areas of China.  Presentations, discussions and hands-on clinics created a forum for the exchange of practical information and experiential knowledge.  Four focus clinics enabled participants to explore good practice in cultural heritage management and conservation. Topics included: (i) Documentation of Cultural Heritage: The Role of Standards and Recording Techniques; (ii) Historic Conservation Zones: Effective Planning and Protection in the Midst of Urban Upgrading; (iii) Appropriate Use of Historic Buildings and Sites: Local Involvement and Financial Planning; and (iv) Sustainable Tourism and Historic Revitalisation: Challenges and Opportunities.

Promotion of the World Heritage Sites in China
In order to raise public awareness of the importance of protecting the World Heritage Sites, the Beijing Television Station (BTV) collaborated with UNESCO to produce “The Common Heritage of Mankind”.  This 96-installment television series used on-site footage to introduce the historical, cultural and scientific features of 96 World Heritage Sites around the world.  The programme was aired on BTV during prime time from March to June 2000.

Procurement of Security Equipment for the Mountain Resort Museums of Chengde
The Mountain Resort Museums of Chengde, the Qing dynasty’s Imperial Summer Villa, were built between 1703 and 1792 and inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1994.  In order to eliminate theft and loss of precious cultural relics, the World Heritage Centre donated funds for the purchase of security monitors, a control communication system, video cameras and other devices. The equipment was installed at the museums in early March 2000.

World Heritage Curriculum at Peking University
Assistance is being provided to Beijing University for organising lectures on the preservation and promotion of the world heritage sites.  The lectures serve to increase students’ consciousness, understanding and sense of responsibility toward these sites.  About 500 students attended the classes in the year 2000. In April 2000, the Representative of the UNESCO Beijing Office gave a special lecture on UNESCO and the World Heritage programme to the Peking University students.

“Love the Great Wall with Action!”
Initiated by Norsk Hydro ASA, a cleaning campaign was held at the Great Wall on 15 April 2000 in cooperation with UNESCO and the National Administration for Cultural Heritage. The project is an effort to improve the natural and cultural environment of the Great Wall, one of the World Heritage Sites.  The clean-up involved 200 people from 50 nations, including Chinese students from Peking University. Participants promoted the message “Take Nothing But Photographs, Leave Nothing But Footprints”.

Implementation of Norms and Preventive Action for the Protection of Cultural Heritage
Fighting Against the Illicit Traffic of Cultural Property
Activities are being organised throughout China to support the ongoing struggle against illicitly excavated and stolen cultural relics.  This programme aims to invest in the general public a sense of responsibility for preventing the illicit traffic of cultural property.  This is a follow-up to the major workshop held in Beijing in 1998 on the same subject.

UNESCO Chair in Culture Resource Management
Within the framework of promoting inter-university cooperation for the management of cultural resources, UNESCO and the Southeast University of Nanjing established this UNESCO UNITWIN programme. The purpose of the Chair is to enhance capacity building for cultural management in China at the regional level through the promotion of training, research and documentation activities focussing on cultural policies and development. Other international institutions and networks working in the same domain, such as CIRCLE and ENCATC, coordinate activities closely with the UNESCO Chair.

Creativity and Copyright
Publication of the Chinese Version of the Copyright Bulletin
UNESCO continues to stress adherence to the World Copyright Convention. In cooperation with the Chinese National Copyright Administration, UNESCO publishes the Chinese edition of UNESCO’s quarterly copyright bulletin to raise public awareness of these guidelines.

“Chic Chinois” Design 21
In December 1999, UNESCO and the Felissimo Group of Japan inaugurated the “Chic Chinois” Design Exhibition in the presence of Chinese officials and the diplomatic corps. The exhibition of original works from 32 countries was displayed in Beijing’s Museum of Nationalities through 26 December 1999 before being presented at the UNESCO House in Paris from 15-31 March 2000.  An international jury of design specialists awarded the Grand Prize of US$10,000 to Mr. Wu Tong of the People’s Republic of China for his “Gold-Fish Chair”, a modern, original and symbolic representation of Chinese tradition. Prizes of US$3,000 were awarded for the best entry in each of the following categories: Fashion, Ms. Chu Yuan (China); Fashion Accessories, Ms. Maria Isabella Rueda (Colombia); Furniture, Mr. Dale Firman (New Zealand); and Home Accessories, Mr. Takashi Honda (Japan). Corporate prizes were also awarded by the sponsoring companies.

The “Chic Chinois” Contest is an extension of Design 21, initiated in 1995 by UNESCO and the Felissimo Group for the 50th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations.

Shanghai Biennale: UNESCO Prize for the Promotion of the Arts
The UNESCO Prize for the Promotion of the Arts 2000-2001 was officially inaugurated in Shanghai in November 2000. The Representative of UNESCO Beijing Office delivered a speech on behalf of the UNESCO Director-General at the opening of the event.

Orkhon Valley Archaeological and Historical Mongol Settlements in Mongolia
Technical assistance was provided for the conservation and management of the Orkhon Valley site. A nomination file delineating core and buffer zones of the site and preparing a comprehensive plan for sustainable protection was also drafted. The technical report for the conservation of the ancient city of Kharakhorum was also published in 2000.

Rehabilitation, Protection and Conservation of the Peking Man World Heritage Site
In September 1996, Electricité de France (EDF) carried out a geological and geophysical survey of selected sites in Zhoukoudian, home to the Peking Man World Heritage Site.  The official ceremony for the presentation of the detailed analysis of the survey report to the Chinese Academy of Sciences took place on 9 November 1998. The results of the report strongly indicate that only one-third of the site has been excavated and that much remains hidden within the site.
Based on its analysis, EDF recommended five areas at Zhoukoudian for further excavation. In collaboration with UNESCO, EDF continues to support further research on the most promising area for excavations. The second stage of investigation will be take place from 2001-2002.

The October 1999 celebration marking the 70th anniversary of the discovery of the first Peking Man skull was attended by leading anthropologists from around the world and by UNESCO high-level consultant Professor Yves Coppene of the Coll?ge de France. UNESCO also supported the publication of the Proceedings of the 1999 Beijing International Symposium on Paleoanthropology, available since November 2000. In 2001, UNESCO will continue to provide support for the renovation of the Peking Man Museum, including the development of an audio-visual display system at the museum and a web page of the Peking Man Project. It is hoped that the museum upgrade will create more display space for important relics collected at the site.

The Peking Man World Heritage Site continues to seek funds to enable further preservation efforts and to minimise the effects of natural erosion on the site.

International Year for Culture of Peace
Humanity Photo Award
With UNESCO’s cooperation, the China Folklore Photographic Association organised the Second International Folklore Photographic Contest, which was followed by a photo exhibition in September 2000.  The contest seeks to further awareness of the priceless value of the world’s intangible cultural heritage and to facilitate access to the world’s diverse cultural traditions.

Moderator Workshop of the Culture of Peace News Network (CPNN)
In June 2000, a training on the China Site Development for the CPNN was held at Nankai University in Tianjin. Two Chinese nationals attended the Train-the-Trainer Moderator Workshop and CPNN Consultation in Melbourne, Australia from 8-14 November 2000. With a goal of promoting the self-sustainability of the system, the workshop instructed participants in the skills necessary to conduct moderator training sessions at their own programme sites. The CPNN Consultation focussed on volunteer motivation as well as technical development and promotion of the site.
 

Extra-budgetary Programmes

The following projects are funded through the Japanese Funds-in-Trust for the Preservation of the World Cultural Heritage (established in 1989) and the Japanese Funds-in-Trust for the Preservation and Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage (established in 1993).

Protection and Conservation of the Hanyuan Hall
Built in Chang’an (present-day Xi’an),  Hanyuan Hall of Daming Palace was one of the most prestigious government buildings of the Tang dynasty. However, the rammed earth of the Hall’s foundation is all that remains after centuries of wars and natural disasters. The objective of this programme is to conserve the Hanyuan Hall site as a permanent legacy for future generations, both as a field museum for historical education and as a means of direct access to ancient Chinese civilisation. After the approval of the project’s second phase, a contract was signed with the Shaanxi Cultural Relics Bureau for the continuation of the conservation work. A team of UNESCO representatives and Japanese experts monitor project site conservation work every six months.

Since 1999, the following progress has been noted: (i) removal of refuse by the local government; (ii) removal of grass and the leveling of the ground for conservation work; (iii) design and construction of part of the drainage system; (iv) filling of the Western Trench with rammed earth; (v) preparation for restoration work of the Qifeng Pavilion and the Dragon Tail; and (vi) completion of the second and third layers of the main hall foundation using Tang dynasty style bricks.

Protection and Conservation of Kumtura Thousand Buddha Caves
The Kumtura Thousand Buddha Caves are in Kuqa Prefecture, Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region. The Qiuci people incorporated the best elements of foreign art into their native artistic tradition, creating a brilliant new style. After the Military Viceroy’s Office was moved to Qiuci during the Tang dynasty, more caves were constructed. The Qiuci, Turk, Han, Uighur and Tibetan peoples all contributed to the construction of the caves, creating a unique combination of Eastern and Western cultures. The content and style of these caves resemble that of Buddhist sites in India and in the central plains of China. Religious stories of  “The West Pure Land,” “The East Bhaisajyaguru”, “Saddharmapundarika” and “Maitreya” are depicted in murals with vivid images and beautifully shaped figures. In 1961, the site was included on the list of the first group of important cultural units under state protection.

The project objectives are to preserve the Kumtura mural paintings, to reinforce the caves’ structural integrity and to protect the site from further damage, such as water leakage, earthquakes and other natural disasters. In April 2000, a mission composed of representatives of UNESCO, the Japanese and Chinese governments, and Japanese and Chinese experts visited the Kumtura Caves and formulated a conservation work plan and budget. The project will be implemented beginning in early 2001.

Protection and Conservation of Longmen Grottoes
Longmen Grottoes are carved into the cliffs of the Yi River near Luoyang, in Henan province. Construction on the grottoes began after the Northern Wei dynasty moved its capital to Luoyang in AD 493, and continued for more than 400 years through the Northern Wei, Eastern Wei, Western Wei, Northern Qi, Sui, Tang, Song and Yuan dynasties. The 2,345 hillside niches, stretching more than 1km, once housed more than 100,000 statues with inscriptions bearing over 300,000 Chinese characters. The Longmen Grottoes site is a masterpiece that was much imitated, both at home and in Japan and Korea. It has been named by the State Council in China as a national level historical and cultural site and was recommended for nomination onto the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Although much of the site has been well preserved, the combination of natural and human influence has hindered conservation efforts. Numerous crevices in the rock bases are causing the cave rocks to become unstable or even to collapse, thus damaging the sculptures. Saline sediments resulting from acid rain, train and automobile vibrations and natural disasters have also affected the site. In September 2000, a project mission team composed of representatives from the Japanese and Chinese governments, Japanese and Chinese experts and UNESCO investigated the site and developed a conservation work plan and budget.

Promotion and Preservation of the Koguryo Tombs’ Mural Paintings
The Koguryo kingdom was the largest and strongest of the three main feudal powers in Korean history. Established in 277 BC, the kingdom lasted almost 1000 years before falling in a series of wars. Several tombs and cultural relics from the era are protected under the D.P.R. Korean Rules and Regulations for the preservation of cultural and natural heritage. About 80 Koguryo Tombs contain various murals, of which eight have been opened to the public. These Koguryo paintings depict the imperial way of life, and poems and songs addressed to the king are engraved on the walls. The original images have been duplicated and are currently stored at the Central National Museum.

A photo exhibition of the Koguryo Tombs’ mural paintings, organised by the D.P.R. Korea Ministry of Culture with the financial support of UNESCO and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Professor Hirayama, was inaugurated during the recent visit of the UNESCO Director-General. The exhibition illustrated the unique values of the Koguryo empire’s cultural heritage, social life and history.

Technical Assistance for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage in D.P.R. Korea
A mission headed by the World Heritage Centre visited D.P.R. Korea in August 2000 to assess the state of preservation of the D.P.R. Korea cultural heritage and to provide technical assistance for conservation efforts. A tentative list of D.P.R. Korea cultural and natural World Heritage sites was also published, with the financial assistance of Professor Hirayama.  Two culture specialists undertook a study tour to France, England and Thailand for experience in the preparation of the world heritage nomination documents. Under UNESCO’s participation programme, the D.P.R. Korea National Commission for UNESCO will receive US$26,000 to partially cover the cost for restoring Ryongthong Temple in Kaesong city.

Provision of Equipment through Funds-in-Trust
The Funds-in-Trust programme supports D.P.R. Korea’s efforts to protect and conserve its cultural heritage, especially in light of the natural catastrophes that devastated parts of the country in 1995, 1996 and 1997. Several requests were submitted in relation to D.P.R. Korea ratification of the World Heritage Convention. Within the framework of UNESCO Japanese Funds-in-Trust, a minibus is being purchased to facilitate the regular management of the D.P.R. Korea cultural heritage sites. Within the framework of UNESCO Republic of Korea Funds-in-Trust, additional equipment assisting with the preservation of the Korean cultural heritage (including a four-wheel drive jeep and a truck) will be purchased. Some conservation work on the Koguryo Tombs will also be funded.

Contributions of Professor Ikuo Hirayama, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador
Over the past four years, much technical and financial assistance for the preservation of cultural heritage in D.P.R.Korea has been provided by UNESCO and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Professor Ikuo Hirayama. Since January 2000, Professor Hirayama has led several missions to D.P.R. Korea to (i) assess the conservation monitoring equipment donated in 1999; (ii) discuss the nomination of the Koguryo Tombs onto the World Heritage List; and (iii) donate equipment, including a camera, video recorder, computer and printer. Professor Hirayama also plans to organise exhibitions of his paintings and sketches in Japan to introduce the D.P.R. Korea natural and cultural heritage to an international audience and to raise funds for future conservation activities.

Preservation of the Minority Chinese Intangible Cultural Heritage
Approximately 90 percent of China’s 1.2 billion people are of Han nationality, with the remaining 10 percent consisting of 55 minority nationalities. Many predominantly minority areas are in poorer, less developed regions of western China. The socio-economic conditions under which these people live profoundly affect the intangible cultural heritage passed on from generation to generation. In light of the recent government focus on developing China’s western regions, addressing these issues has assumed increased importance.

UNESCO Beijing Office has expanded last year’s project focussing on the preservation of the Han Chinese intangible cultural heritage to reach minority nationalities as well.  This project is a collaborative effort between UNESCO, the Chinese Ministry of Culture and the China Folk Artists’ Association, with the financial support of the Japanese Funds-in-Trust. One of the key goals is to preserve the oral storytelling tradition of minorities through the production of audio-visual recordings. A selection of educational texts, including books of poems, songs and stories, will be compiled for use in primary and secondary schools. As such, this project plays an important role in enabling Chinese rural communities, and minority nationalities in particular, to revitalise and create a lasting record of their intangible cultural heritage. The Plan of Operation has been signed and the preparatory work for the implementation of the project has commenced.