World Heritage Sites in China (Essential)

Author: You Qi
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2000-04-01
Features: Everything in the world can be summarized into two aspects: nature and human creation. Mountains, rivers, lakes, trees, flowers, birds, and fish are all natural existences, gifts from the heavens. On the other hand, magnificent buildings, ornate railings, and pillars are the fruits of human labor, creations of human ingenuity. It is said, "The essence of the sun and moon, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth are the roots of all things' growth and prosperity. However, although nature and human creation differ in nature, they are inseparable, especially in scenic spots, historic buildings, and gardens. Both are mutually dependent. Natural scenery requires human arrangement, while human creations must align with natural laws. I believe this is an important characteristic of Chinese culture and natural heritage. This book is published in a bilingual (Chinese-English) format with illustrations. Its greatest feature is that it includes not only 23 World Heritage sites but also over 30 projects from China's tentative list of World Heritage sites. These will be gradually and in batches proposed for inclusion in the World Heritage List, becoming tomorrow's world heritage. Protecting World Heritage is an extremely challenging task. These cultural and natural treasures, once destroyed, cannot be recreated or restored. Therefore, the Chinese government has proposed the principle of "prioritizing protection and emergency rescue" in cultural heritage and the guiding ideology of "effective protection, reasonable utilization, and enhanced management." In terms of natural heritage, the principle of "strict protection, unified management, reasonable development, and sustainable use" has been proposed. This aligns with the provisions of the Convention on the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.