Of China's 400,000 identified relic sites only 17.5 percent have
been listed through a government compulsory protection initiative
but the rest could be lost at anytime due to damage caused by
nature and human activities, a senior Chinese cultural official has
stated.
The sites, the majority are earth buildings scattered throughout
the countryside, are the country's historical and cultural heritage and remain
after China's 7,000 years of agricultural civilization, said Shan
Jixiang, director of the State Administration of Cultural
Heritage.
He made his remarks on a recent inspection tour of such sites in
east China's Zhejiang Province which boasts one of the
earliest civilizations in the country.
China’s nationwide survey of cultural relics is included in the
country's 11th Five-Year Plan for national economic and
social development from 2006-2010.
Shan said many of the sites didn't form part of the country's
heritage protection work as they were not included in the previous
two national surveys of cultural relics conducted in 1956 and
1981.
Unlisted ancient earthworks were vulnerable to the country's new
wave of construction as they were ?not protected by law or
safeguarded through official channels, said Shan. He is continuing
his inspection work in other provinces in preparation for the
upcoming national survey.
Shan said this round of the national survey would underscore the
importance of rural, relic sites. The drafting of protection
measures would take into consideration the surrounding environment
and intangible cultural heritage which formed part of the
sites.
On his Zhejiang inspection Shan spoke with local officials on
policies, land property rights and funding channels to support
relic protection.
(Xinhua News Agency September 26, 2006)