Sholar Feng Jicai is a member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference who has put forward over a hundred proposals to government. However, in the last decade, his ideas have remained on a single issue: calling for the protection of ancient villages all across China.

After a discussion session during the CPPCC, Feng Jicai talks to media mainly about his plans to protect ancient villages. Now in his mid 70s, Feng is a writer and consultant to the state council, and has spent decades recording and preserving the country’s cultural heritage.

Sholar Feng Jicai is a member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference who has put forward over a hundred proposals to government. However, in the last decade, his ideas have remained on a single issue: calling for the protection of ancient villages all across China.

"We are working with the Ministry of Culture to push for the filing and recording of ancient villages. So we’ll organize scholars and photographers to investigate and build a comprehensive data base for the villages." said Feng Jicai, CPPCC Member.

In 2001, when the Chinese government launched an application and protection plan for intangible cultural heritages, Feng laid his eyes on the many villages that are disappearing because of the country’s rapid urbanization. He sees them as "folk museums" that carry living traditions, and a spiritual homeland for the entire country.

Ancient village in China

Since 2003, he and his students have travelled across the country, visiting villages and counties in remote areas, recording the many unique folk traditions and cultures, and using his social and political influence to promote the project. In 2012, the government released the first two lists of villages of cultural importance. But to Feng Jicai, the work is far from over.