The Covid-19 pandemic and governmental restrictions have led to the renaissance of domestic tourism in China and the rise in popularity of national cultural heritage sites.
With the restrictions set to continue in 2022, there is growing concern over the preservation of some of the sites in China, also due to the shortage of staff. As a result, many cultural sites are left unguarded and exposed to various dangers.
New System to Protect National Cultural Heritage
In this context, China has introduced a plan to improve the preservation of its cultural wonders. Based on a newly issued document, the government plans to preserve and build their “cultural parks”, with the basis set around 3 themes: the Great Wall, the Long March, and the Grand Canal.
This document includes the goals, ideas, and specific measures to be taken from 2021 to 2035 to guarantee that the cultural sites of China remain preserved.
From the Great Wall to the Grand Canal
With regards to the first theme, the plan consists of three phases, with the first one set to begin already this year and is expected to finish by 2035.
The idea is to structuralize the cultural parks into 4 areas, from the conservation area and exhibition area to the culture area and the utilization area. The entire plan is very ambitious and complex with the aim to find the right balance between tourism and preservation.
The Long March national park’s aim is, again, to improve the preservation of national cultural heritage as well as enhance the development of the local regions.
15 provinces are to be involved in the entire project and the government’s objective is to build a high-class complex by 2035 with, yet again, 4 principal areas – the same ones as mentioned above.
Finally, with regards to the Grand Canal parks, the objective is to conclude the plan based on the Five-Year Plan from 2021 until 2025. The idea is to enhance the preservation and conversation of the local sites as well as highlight their cultural value.