What kind of heritage will be put on the endangered list? One kind is the heritage having lost its authenticity and wholeness. The other kind is heritage whose surrounding environments have been damaged. In China, there are many heritage sites are over commercialized due to regional economy development. Predatory development and destructive construction both can damage heritage sites’ wholeness.
China has established monitoring systems at both national level and provincial level and also in heritage sites. For example, the Yungang Grottoes at Datong City, listed as world heritage in 2004 has been suffering from air pollution, acid rain, coal ashes and discharges of life, and in 2009, Datong City has invested RMB 0.56 billion to improve its ambient environment. However, the artificial lake, the business street constructed in the style of the ancients, and the square all lie within the protection area of the Yungang Grottoes and do a lot of damage to its authenticity. The State Bureau of Cultural Relics has sent investigation teams to Datong several times, and also has held survey and treatment meetings with related cultural relic experts aiming to deal with those problems.
Applying for world heritage is a choice, but not the only choice. At the end of 2001, the World Heritage Committee has decided that the total amount of heritage approved as world heritage every year is 30, and each country should only have one heritage that approved. Then in 2004, during the 28th World Heritage Committee held in Suzhou City, China, the total amount has increased from 30 to 45 and each county could apply two heritage sites for world heritage (at least one is natural heritage) every year. During the 30th World Heritage Committee, there were 30 candidate heritage sites from 30 countries, but only 13 heritage sites applied by 14 countries have become world heritage sites. The number of heritage sites announced by the State Bureau of Cultural Relics has decreased from 60 to 35. There are still 32 are waiting in line. Even if things go well, the last one can finally become a world heritage till the middle of the 21st century.
We believe that China has far more than 38 heritage sites which can be listed as world heritage. There are many heritage sites on the waiting list count. Once a heritage is put on the waiting list, it should be arranged according to the standards of the World Heritage Committee. The arrangements include the repair and renovation of the heritage and its ambient environments, the establishment of related organizations, general plans and the emphasis on its key values.
Cultural routes are the hot spots of applying for world heritage. But the protection of these heritage sites in China isn’t good. Taking the Grand Canal as example, one problem is the whole condition is not clear. Many heritage sites have disappeared over the changes of history. Another problem is that the protection system is imperfect. The Grand Canal, functioning as an important water passage, is managed by local water transport or traffic departments. People only pay attention to the increase of shipments quantity and care less about the preserve of canal culture. The third one is the disorderly development. Many cities along the Grand Canal have developed real estates borrowing its brand, destroyed its original styles, and greatly damaged its history and culture symbols. Measures should be taken quickly and effectively in order to ensure the Grand Canal to become a world heritage in 2014.
In June 2009, Wutai Mountain has become a world heritage. Zheng Bingxiu, the deputy director of the Wutai Mountain Administrative Bureau has experienced that moment personally. He said: “More than a half of China’s heritage sites lie within scenic spots and tourism development is inevitable. In the past, the most obvious and direct change brought by applying for world heritage is economic profits, which now has become a restraint. Developments aiming at quick success and instant benefits are placed by sustainable developments. Building a brand is a long term mission.”
China has ranked the third only after Spain and Italy in terms of world heritage. In some sense, we are moving into the post-heritage period, emphasizing more on management than on apply. Foreign countries talk more about protection and less or no about utilization. While according to China’s experience, we aim both at protection and utilization. That is the so called “fully protection and proper utilization” which is very difficult to carry out.
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