International Heritage News
01
“Why Civilization” Global Touring Exhibition launches at United Nations Headquarters in New York
On June 29 local time, the opening ceremony of the “‘Why Civilization’ Global Touring Exhibition – UN Special Exhibition” was held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. UN officials, China’s Permanent Representative to the UN, diplomats from Belgium, Serbia, Nicaragua, Syria, Kiribati, Russia, Hungary and other countries, journalists, and representatives from various sectors attended the event.
The “Why Civilization” exhibition is guided by China Media Group (CMG) and the National Cultural Heritage Administration, and produced by the CMG “Yangbo” Digital Culture and Art Museum. It uses digital technology to build a mobile, immersive, and interactive spatiotemporal framework, presenting online reconstructions of ten key archaeological sites from China’s Civilization Origins Project, including the Sanxingdui site. Through interactive exploration, visitors can experience ancient life and witness the narrative of “Why Chinese Civilization Has Endured for Five Thousand Years.”
The exhibition is jointly organized by CMG’s “Yangbo” digital platform and CMG United Nations Bureau, with support from the Permanent Mission of China to the UN, the US-China Friendship Association, and the UN Chinese Book Club.
The global tour will run from June to November across the United States, United Kingdom, Egypt, Kenya, Peru, and other countries.
Source: National Cultural Heritage Administration
02
“Tea and Harmony · Elegant Jiangsu Gathering” opens at UNESCO Headquarters
On July 11 in Paris, the “Tea and Harmony · Elegant Jiangsu Gathering” event opened at UNESCO Headquarters, celebrating the inscription of “Traditional Tea Processing Techniques and Associated Social Practices in China” on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2022.
The event was hosted by China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, organized by the China International Culture Association, Jiangsu Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, and the Chinese Cultural Center in Paris.
Attendees included UNESCO Deputy Director-General Xing Qu, Tim Curtis (Head of the Secretariat of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage), China’s Permanent Representative to UNESCO, ambassadors from various countries, and representatives from cultural and tourism sectors.
The program included six sections: Tea Origin, Tea Charm, Tea Banquet, Tea Rituals, Tea Gathering, and Tea Journey. Through presentations on tea history and culture, combined with Jiangsu intangible heritage elements and traditional Suzhou garden aesthetics such as white walls, moon gates, and floral-patterned windows, the event created a cultural space linking heritage with contemporary life.
Source: China News Service
03
ICCROM online seminar: Heritage for sustainable peace
On July 13, the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM) held an online seminar titled “Heritage for Sustainable Peace.”
The seminar aimed to deepen understanding of the relationship between cultural heritage and the root causes of conflict, and to explore how heritage protection can contribute to Sustainable Development Goal 16 (peace, justice, and strong institutions).
It introduced tools from the “Heritage for Peacebuilding and Resilience Toolkit,” including an assessment tool for recovery and reuse of heritage sites and community-based indicators for heritage-driven peacebuilding.
Source: International Heritage Watch
04
29th CIPA International Conference held in Florence
From June 25 to 30, the 29th International Committee for Documentation of Cultural Heritage (CIPA) General Assembly was held in Florence, Italy. The theme was “Documenting, Understanding, Preserving Cultural Heritage: Humanities and Digital Technologies for Shaping the Future.”
As the first in-person conference after the pandemic, it gathered over 400 participants from 35 countries and regions. The program included 36 parallel sessions, 4 special sessions, 5 workshops, and 1 digital performance.
The Chinese Society of Cultural Relics Protection’s Digital Heritage Committee (CHCD) participated as a major sponsoring body. Led by Chair He Yan, the delegation attended multiple executive meetings, organized a side event, and presented seven academic papers covering digital reconstruction, VR/AR applications, immersive exhibitions, and online heritage communication.
Projects discussed included Liangzhu Ancient City, Mogao Caves, Beijing Central Axis (Drum Tower), Yuanmingyuan, Terracotta Warriors, and the Liao Shangjing Site.
Source: Chinese Society of Cultural Relics Protection
05
World Monuments Fund opens Paris office
The World Monuments Fund (WMF), based in New York, has opened a new office in Paris, joining its network of branches in countries including the UK, Spain, Portugal, India, Cambodia, and Peru.
The Paris office will enhance collaboration with UNESCO, ICOMOS, the Louvre Museum, and other cultural institutions.
WMF CEO Bénédicte de Montlaur stated that France plays a central role in the heritage field, and that WMF has already implemented more than 30 projects in the country. She also noted ongoing collaborations in 34 countries focusing on climate change response, sustainable tourism, social inclusion, and post-conflict recovery.
The Florence Gould Foundation provided $1.5 million of the $7 million funding required to establish the Paris office.
Source: International Heritage Watch
Domestic Heritage News
01
Recruitment: Grand Canal (Beijing Section) Cultural Mapping Initiative
The Grand Canal is one of China’s greatest ancient engineering achievements and a living cultural heritage system. The Beijing section spans seven districts and reflects over a thousand years of urban transformation, carrying rich historical remains and cultural memory.
To deepen public understanding of the Grand Canal (Beijing Section) and promote its living conservation and sustainable use, a Cultural Mapping Initiative has been jointly launched by WHITRAP Beijing (UNESCO World Heritage Training and Research Institute for the Asia and the Pacific Region), Peking University’s Center for Public Archaeology and Art, and Beijing Weiming Cultural Heritage Technology Co., Ltd.
Application link: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/uzVIP-aU-53vemDECebkWQ
Source: WHITRAP Beijing
02
2023 Cultural Relics Restoration Symposium held in Bengbu
On June 29, the 2023 Cultural Relics Restoration Symposium was held in Bengbu, Anhui Province. The event was organized by the Chinese Society of Cultural Relics, China Cultural Relics News, and hosted by the Bengbu Municipal Bureau of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
More than 100 participants from museums, conservation institutions, and related organizations attended.
Discussions focused on implementing national cultural relics protection policies, promoting craftsmanship in restoration, and enhancing public engagement.
Scholars delivered presentations on topics including mural conservation, bronze restoration, scientific testing in conservation, preventive protection, and restoration principles and future trends.
Source: National Cultural Heritage Administration; Cultural Relics World
03
“Star of Fan Jinshi” named and Fan Jinshi Foundation established in Dunhuang
On July 10, a ceremony was held in Dunhuang marking the naming of “Star of Fan Jinshi,” the establishment of the Fan Jinshi Foundation, and a symposium commemorating Fan Jinshi’s 60 years of work in Dunhuang cultural heritage.
The event was jointly organized by the Gansu Provincial Government, National Cultural Heritage Administration, Central Institute of Culture and History, and others, together with the Dunhuang Academy.
At the ceremony, official certificates and commemorative plaques were presented, and a new collection titled Collected Works of Fan Jinshi was released.
Participants from cultural heritage institutions, academia, and colleagues shared memories and reflected on Fan Jinshi’s lifelong contribution to Dunhuang research and conservation.
Source: National Cultural Heritage Administration
04
Third “Buddhist Archaeology and Grotto Temple Studies Training Program” opens at Longmen Grottoes
On July 2, the third session of the “Buddhist Archaeology and Grotto Temple Studies Training Program” officially opened at the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang. The program is guided by the National Cultural Heritage Administration and Henan Provincial Cultural Heritage Bureau, and jointly organized by Peking University School of Archaeology and Museology, Peking University Institute of Religious Archaeology, and the Longmen Grottoes Research Institute.
Since 2021, previous sessions have trained more than 60 professionals in grotto archaeology and Buddhist studies, contributing significantly to national capacity building in this field.
WHITRAP Beijing Executive Deputy Director and Peking University Vice Dean Zhang Jianwei stated that the program has refined its curriculum to balance theory, systematic training, and practical application, aiming to cultivate professionals with strong historical responsibility and technical expertise in grotto archaeology.
Source: Peking University School of Archaeology and Museology
05
“Cultural inheritance and exploring Chinese civilization” lecture forum held in Chaoyang, Liaoning
On July 13, the “New Era Lecture Forum” themed “Cultural Inheritance and Exploring Chinese Civilization” was held in Chaoyang, Liaoning Province.
The forum was jointly organized by the National Cultural Heritage Administration, China Daily, and the Publicity Department of the CPC Liaoning Provincial Committee.
Officials and scholars from China, the United States, the United Kingdom, and UNESCO participated.
Zhang Jianwei, Vice Dean of Peking University School of Archaeology and Museology and Director of the Cultural Heritage Research Center, delivered a keynote speech on cultural heritage digitization. He introduced applications of VR and database technologies in teaching and museum interpretation, emphasizing that digital heritage can enhance understanding of civilization history and support sustainable tourism and education, contributing to a shared future for humanity.
Source: China Daily
Written by: Zheng Zhaoqi, Li Chaoying
Edited by: Piao Lina, Li Chaoying
Reviewed by: Li Guanghan, Wang Siyu
Final Review: Shen Ruiwen, Zhang Jianwei
