[CPProt.net] China: Protecting relics tops priorities

[MusSecNetworkCulPropProtNet]

Protecting relics tops priorities
By Li Jing (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-01-14 00:13

Beijing heritage guardians will place the protection of cultural relics at
the top of their work agenda this year, the city's Vice-Mayor Zhao Mao said
on Friday.

A recent survey conducted by the Beijing Municipal Administration of
Cultural Heritage shows that nearly 600 ancient wooden buildings, used as
housing or as workplaces, are at serious risk of fire.

Meanwhile, more than 100 cultural relics scattered in the suburbs around the
city, such as some ancient tombs and temples, are vulnerable to theft since
nobody is guarding them.

"Safety is vital to the protection of our heritage. Fire and theft are the
most severe challenges we face," Zhao told a conference on Friday in
Beijing.

Zhang, who is in charge of heritage protection of the city, recalled a blaze
in June last year that burnt down some buildings of the 720-year-old Huguo
Temple in the city's Xicheng District.

"The fire sounded an alarm for the safety of cultural heritage," Zhang
warned.

He stressed that "eliminating the risks of fire and theft at ancient sites
should be the top priority for leaders and officials involved in this
field."

According to the municipal heritage administration, more than half of the
city's 3,500 cultural heritage sites are currently used as housing or
workplaces. Cooking, heating and electrical appliances pose great threats to
the wooden structures.

Mei Ninghua, head of the administration, told the conference that the local
government of Chongwen District had moved people out of its heritage sites
under city and State protection.

"Evacuation is an important way for use to guarantee the safety of our
cultural heritage," said Mei, adding that his administration plans to
relocate people in several key heritage sites such as the buildings at the
eastern part of the Wanshou Temple, which was built in 1577 and served as
temporary accommodation for the emperors of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

In his work report to yesterday's meeting, Mei also mentioned that a total
of 32 cultural heritage sites, including the Temple of Buddhist Incense at
the Summer Palace and some parts of the Great Wall, will be renovated this
year.

The municipal government has pledged to invest 120 million yuan (US$14.5
million) in heritage renovation every year between 2003 and 2007. Some 100
cultural relics are also expected to be renovated during the period.

Reviewing last year's work, Mei said the most prominent event was the
"explosive" development of the relics auction market.

A total of 72,834 ancient works of art went under the hammer last year,
raising nearly 4 billion yuan (US$484 million), a year-on-year increase of
240 per cent, he said.

"A single auction last year even managed to raise 650 million yuan (US$78.6
million). The figure is bigger than the total amount raised at all auctions
a couple of years before," said Mei.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/