China Daily by Lara Farrar on Fri 05/03/2010

Important historical artifacts uncovered on construction sites are being destroyed or stolen because of flaws in the law

Underground cultural artifacts are being seriously damaged or destroyed amid Beijing’s ongoing wave of redevelopment, said a local non-governmental organization dedicated to historical preservation in China.

Of the more than 4,000 construction projects launched in Beijing in 2008 and 2009, only 89, or 2 percent, received a thorough archaeological survey, according to the Beijing Cultural Heritage Protection Center (CHP).

“No one can tell exactly the real situation regarding damage to Beijing’s underground relics,” said He Shuzhong, head of the CHP. Read more»

Beijing Cultural Heritage Protection Center’s crucial discussion forum on the planned redevelopment of the Drum and Bell Tower neighborhood

The Drum and Bell Tower neighborhood, also known as Gulou among both locals and foreigners living in Beijing, is a unique neighborhood. Gulou has been a lively area since its establishment in the Ming Dynasty. Today, Gulou remains a popular location in Beijing, offering numerous chic shops and coffee bars to local residents and visitors. It is one of the few places left in Beijing that offers an authentic atmosphere truly unique to Beijing.

However, there is currently a demolition threat to the Gulou area. CHP urges everyone to help fight to protect this special neighborhood for future generations to enjoy.

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The second lecture of the CHP-UCCA Cooperation Series: All for the cultural rights of local residents.

In 2005-2008, the Beijing Cultural Heritage Protection Center conducted the Mengma Archive Project – a cultural revitalization project in Mengma Village in Yunnan. The project empowered local villagers to document their invaluable culture, and also helped restore self-respect in their community. This resulted in the official Mengma Archive, a written record of Dai culture available in both the Dai language and Mandarin. The whole archive was written by Dai villagers.

The Mengma Archive Project received wide praise both domestically and internationally. Originally, the Mengma Archive was an experimental project that tested the concept of cultural restoration. During this lecture, CHP will discuss the project’s concept, methodology, results and also improvements.

Mr. He Shuzhong, founder of CHP and cultural conservation expert, will be the main speaker.

Note: All lecture series will be conducted in Chinese. A perfect opportunity for Mandarin students and Chinese culture fanatics!

Time: 14 March 2010, 10.30am-12.30pm

Venue: Auditorium, UCCA

798 Art District, No. 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District

Link to UCCA event

China Daily by Lara Farrar on Mon 22/02/2010, 07:13

Former residence of late Chinese scholar Kang Youwei (1858-1927) stands in debris. Photo credit Zou Hong

Government and public urged to rescue endangered cultural relics amid the city’s rapid urbanization drive

While the demolition of a hutong is a sad scene for most Beijingers, the wrecking crews at least have a silver lining for He Feihao, who grabs the opportunity to hunt for cultural relics.

He received a call a few days ago that a hutong in southwestern Beijing would soon be demolished, triggering him to plan a visit to hunt for ancient artifacts before they disappear under piles of rubble.

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A vital stop on China’s ancient Silk Road, the Uighur city of Kashgar may lose its old quarter to plans for “progress”

Smithsonian Magazine by Joshua Hammer, photographs by Michael Christopher Brown in March 2010

If destruction continues unimpeded, preservationists will run out of time to save Kashgar's Uighur quarter.

The second-story rooms of the centuries-old mud-brick houses were cantilevered atop log beams and nearly touched each other across an alleyway paved with hexagonal stones. Women wearing dark veils leaned out of tiny windows. Poplar doors, painted bright blue or green and adorned with brass floral petals, stood half open—a subtle signal that the master of the house was inside. The aromas of freshly baked bread and ripe peaches wafted up from vendors’ wooden carts.

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