Closing Ceremony
◮ Fig. 1 Workshop Poster 1 (Illustration: Lü Ronghui)
◮ Fig. 2 Experts and Scholars (Online and In-Person)
◮ Fig. 3 Workshop Instructors
On August 20, 2020, the reporting session on the research for the Huangguoshu Tunpu World Heritage nomination was officially held in Xixiu District, Anshun City. The session was chaired by Dr. Li Guanghan, Assistant Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Training and Research Centre for the Asia-Pacific Region (Beijing) (hereinafter referred to as WHITRAP Beijing). The closing ceremony consisted of two segments: presentations of research findings by each group, followed by on-site and online commentary from experts, and team Q&A sessions.
Experts invited to provide commentary at this meeting included local experts—Li Fei, Director of the Guizhou Provincial Museum (with a long-standing career in archaeology and museum studies); Zhang Herong, Deputy Director of the Guizhou Provincial Institute of Archaeology (with extensive experience in Guizhou archaeology); Lou Qing, Deputy Director of the Guizhou Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Research Center (a cultural heritage protection expert); Lü Yanping, Associate Professor at Anshun University and President of the Anshun Tunpu Culture Society (who has studied Tunpu culture for over 20 years); Xiong Kangning, Professor at Guizhou Normal University and Director of the South China Karst Research Institute; and Xiao Shizhen, Associate Professor at the Karst Research Institute of Guizhou Normal University (the latter two have made long-term contributions to the field of natural heritage research) ; as well as experts from Peking University—Sun Hua, Professor at the School of Archaeology and Museology; Chen Yaohua, Associate Professor at the School of Urban and Environmental Sciences and member of the World Heritage Expert Committee of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration; Li Dihua, Associate Dean of the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture; and Wang Hongguang, Deputy Dean of the Institute of Cultural New Economy at Shanghai University, who has long supported the School of Archaeology and Museology’s research efforts in Southwest China.
Opening
◮ Fig. 4 Scene from the briefing session
At the meeting, after Professor Sun Hua of the School of Archaeology and Museology at Peking University—the overall coordinator of the workshop—introduced the commentators, Li Guanghan, Assistant Director of WHITRAP Beijing, outlined the presentation schedule. Based on the division of research tasks, reports were presented by the following five groups: 1) Group 1 and Group 2 on Tunpu, led by Li Guanghan, Assistant Director of WHITRAP Beijing, and Lü Yanping, President of the Anshun Tunpu Culture Society; 2) The Buyi Village Group, led by Wang Siyu, Assistant Professor at the School of Archaeology and Museology, Peking University; 3) The Miao Cave Burial Group, led by Li Wanxin, Associate Professor at the School of Archaeology and Museology, Peking University, and Lu Hao, a postdoctoral researcher at the school; 4) The Ancient Trails Group, led by Wang Yuchen, a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute of History of Science and Technology and Cultural Heritage, University of Science and Technology Beijing, and Zhang Baoqing, a postdoctoral researcher at the School of Archaeology and Museology, Peking University; 5) the Cultural Relics and Historic Sites Group, led by Li Dihua, Associate Dean of the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture at Peking University; Zhang Jianwei, Associate Dean of the School of Archaeology and Museology at Peking University; and Shang Jinyu, an engineer from the school. That is, survey work was conducted on five key themes: Tunpu, ethnic villages, cave burials, ancient trails, and cultural relics and historic sites.
Prior to the formal presentations, Zhang Jianwei, Deputy Dean of the School of Archaeology and Museology at Peking University, first provided an overview and summary of the “Joint Workshop”: The workshop officially commenced on July 31, 2020, commissioned by the Tianhe Public Welfare Foundation (which was in turn commissioned by the Anshun Municipal Government) to conduct research on the resources of the Anshun region, where the Huangguoshu Tunpu is located, and on work related to its World Heritage nomination. Co-organized by WHITRAP Beijing, the School of Archaeology and Museology at Peking University, and the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture at Peking University, the workshop also included faculty and students from Harvard University, the University of Science and Technology Beijing, and Anshun University. It served not only as the school’s third exploration of interdisciplinary joint training but also as a summer field survey course for students, and further as a research project for Anshun City to assess the feasibility of the Huangguoshu Tunpu’s World Heritage nomination. The interdisciplinary composition of the workshop spanned fields including cultural heritage, archaeology, museology, landscape architecture, geographical sciences, and East Asian regional studies. The convergence of these diverse disciplines sparked creative intellectual exchanges and fostered mutual learning in research methodologies.
At the meeting, after Professor Sun Hua of the School of Archaeology and Museology at Peking University—the overall coordinator of the workshop—introduced the commentators, Li Guanghan, Assistant Director of WHITRAP Beijing, outlined the presentation schedule. Based on the division of research tasks, reports were presented by the following five groups: 1) Group 1 and Group 2 on Tunpu, led by Li Guanghan, Assistant Director of WHITRAP Beijing, and Lü Yanping, President of the Anshun Tunpu Culture Society; 2) The Buyi Village Group, led by Wang Siyu, Assistant Professor at the School of Archaeology and Museology, Peking University; 3) The Miao Cave Burial Group, led by Li Wanxin, Associate Professor at the School of Archaeology and Museology, Peking University, and Lu Hao, a postdoctoral researcher at the school; 4) The Ancient Trails Group, led by Wang Yuchen, a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute of History of Science and Technology and Cultural Heritage, University of Science and Technology Beijing, and Zhang Baoqing, a postdoctoral researcher at the School of Archaeology and Museology, Peking University; 5) the Cultural Relics and Historic Sites Group, led by Li Dihua, Associate Dean of the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture at Peking University; Zhang Jianwei, Associate Dean of the School of Archaeology and Museology at Peking University; and Shang Jinyu, an engineer from the school. That is, survey work was conducted on five key themes: Tunpu, ethnic villages, cave burials, ancient trails, and cultural relics and historic sites.
Prior to the formal presentations, Zhang Jianwei, Deputy Dean of the School of Archaeology and Museology at Peking University, first provided an overview and summary of the “Joint Workshop”: The workshop officially commenced on July 31, 2020, commissioned by the Tianhe Public Welfare Foundation (which was in turn commissioned by the Anshun Municipal Government) to conduct research on the resources of the Anshun region, where the Huangguoshu Tunpu is located, and on work related to its World Heritage nomination. Co-organized by WHITRAP Beijing, the School of Archaeology and Museology at Peking University, and the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture at Peking University, the workshop also included faculty and students from Harvard University, the University of Science and Technology Beijing, and Anshun University. It served not only as the school’s third exploration of interdisciplinary joint training but also as a summer field survey course for students, and further as a research project for Anshun City to assess the feasibility of the Huangguoshu Tunpu’s World Heritage nomination. The interdisciplinary composition of the workshop spanned fields including cultural heritage, archaeology, museology, landscape architecture, geographical sciences, and East Asian regional studies. The convergence of these diverse disciplines sparked creative intellectual exchanges and fostered mutual learning in research methodologies.
Research Report
◮ Figure 5 The Seven Presenters
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Tunbao Group
Presenters: Zhang Xu, Wu Yue
Facilitators: Li Kuanghan, Lü Yanping
Team Members: Li Xi, Luo Kerui, Li Xiang, Lü Ronghui, Wang Menghao, Wu Yue, Zhang Xu, Zhao Yuxi, Lü Tianyuan
◮ Figure 6 Ben Zhai · Low-altitude drone photography
◮ Figure 7 Group photo of the Tunbao Group
In the early Ming Dynasty, after Zhu Yuanzhang “redistributed troops from the north to the south” to subdue the remnants of the Yuan Dynasty in the Yunnan-Guizhou region, he implemented the “military farming and border defense” policy to strengthen military forces in the southwest. Subsequently, through the “relocation from the north to the south” initiative, large numbers of officials and farmers from the Central Plains and Jiangnan were resettled in Guizhou to guard the military farms, where they settled and prospered, gradually developing into Tunbao settlements (The residential areas of the garrison troops were known as tunbao.) Over the subsequent 600 years of historical changes and evolution, numerous tunbao villages and settlements have retained a significant amount of the cultural legacy of the Ming Dynasty and the ancient charm of the Jianghuai region. The Tunbao Group presented the research methods, process, and findings from three perspectives: work overview, case studies of Tunbao settlements, and summary analysis. Initial literature review provided a foundational understanding of the formation of Tunbao settlements, their architectural styles, and the continuity of their customs. This was followed by a 15-day field survey of 13 Tunbao settlements, including Jiuxi, Tianlong, Baotun, Yunshan, and 13 other Tunbao settlements. Using methods such as recording waypoints, conducting interviews, and surveying with 3D laser scanners, the team carried out a comprehensive survey of the Tunbao settlements. Finally, they compiled the survey forms and research reports, providing a preliminary assessment of the current status of the Tunbao settlements examined.
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Buyi Village Group
Presenters: Ye Tao, Li Zhi
Advisor: Wang Siyu
Academic Assistant: Chen Shiyu
Group Members: Du Anqi, Li Zhi, Ye Tao
◮ Fig. 8 Architecture of Buyi Villages
◮ Fig. 9 Group Photo of the Buyi Village Team
Guizhou Province is home to over 90% of China’s Buyi population, primarily distributed across Qiannan Prefecture, Qianxinan Prefecture, Anshun, and surrounding areas. Among these, the traditional villages surrounding the Huangguoshu Scenic Area remain well-preserved to this day, constituting the most intact Buyi settlement in the country.
This section on Buyi villages is organized into five parts: fieldwork overview, a case study of Gaodang Village, architectural features, folk beliefs and social life, and conclusions and outlook. Over a period of more than ten days, key Buyi villages centered around Huangguoshu, Zhenning, and Guanling were visited, covering three major dialect regions. The fieldwork included: analysis of the spatial layout of each village; building site selection, basic architectural forms, and architectural details; beliefs associated with ancestral graves, land temples, sacred trees, sacred stones, and temples; social life, including traditional festivals and crafts; and demographic characteristics, industrial development, and the status of tourism infrastructure. Subsequently, we organized the survey forms and reports, analyzed the factors contributing to the varying states of preservation among traditional Buyi villages, discussed strategies for preserving both the physical space and the community, and explored the similarities and differences between ethnic villages, Tunpu settlements, and local dwellings. By observing the points of convergence and divergence between their culture and nature, we established a mutually reinforcing framework that allowed the Huangguoshu Tunpu survey to form a cohesive whole.
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Miao Cave Burial Group
Presenter: Li Xiang
Advisors: Li Wanxin, Lu Hao
Members: Na Lei, Zhang Guanqi, Li Xiang
◮ Fig. 10 Cave Burial Survey
◮ Fig. 11 Group Photo of the Miao Cave Burial Team
The Miao people are not only one of China’s oldest ethnic groups but also among the earliest to settle in the region. Guizhou is a major Miao-populated area in China, with the Miao primarily distributed in Southeast Guizhou Prefecture, Southwest Guizhou, Anshun, and other regions. Due to their scattered settlements and geographical barriers, there are significant variations among them. Generally speaking, the selection of sites for Miao villages is guided by the principle that “the Miao live near the mountains.” Anshun is home to all five Miao subgroups: the Hua Miao, Bai Miao, Qing Miao, Hei Miao, and Dong Miao.
This section on the Miao cave burial group provides an overview from four perspectives: a review of previous scholarly work, the objectives and route planning of the survey, the survey sites and findings, and a conclusion. We reviewed materials on Yaluwang culture, archaeological survey data from the Guizhou region, and relevant research on cliff and cave burials to build a foundation of knowledge for the Miao Cave Burial Group. We selected the most representative Miao villages and cave burial sites, primarily along the Gedu River, as field survey sites to explore the cultural heritage value of Miao villages and cave burial sites within Anshun City.
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Ancient Trails Group
Presenter: Yang Yunhui
Advisors: Wang Yuchen, Zhang Baoqing
Academic Assistant: Cai Shiyu
Members: Cui Xiaosha, Fu Shiyi, Cai Shiyu, Bian Chenlong, Jiang Shilian, Bai Xun, Na Lei, Zhang Guanqi, Yang Yunhui
◮ Fig. 12 Ancient Trails Survey
◮ Figure 13 Group Photo of Ancient Trails
Ancient transportation routes encompassed various aspects of politics, military affairs, economics, and culture, forming a complex system of dynamic equilibrium. From the perspective of cultural heritage, they represent a classic example of linear heritage. Located in the watershed region of the western Guizhou Plateau, the Huangguoshu area features sparse vegetation and a low risk of malaria-carrying mists, and has thus been accorded special importance since the days of the Central Plains dynasties. After Kublai Khan of the Yuan Dynasty established the Dianxiang Road (connecting Hunan to Yunnan), Huangguoshu in Guizhou became a key transit area. Following the pacification of Yunnan during the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty, the government “opened a route to connect with Yunnan” to strengthen control over the southwestern provinces. This included the construction of postal roads, the establishment of postal stations, and the deployment of numerous garrisons and military settlements along the main transportation routes; During the Yongzheng era of the Qing Dynasty, a new route from Pogong to Langdai was added. With the construction of highways within Guizhou Province during the Republican era, the ancient trails were gradually abandoned or destroyed.
The Ancient Trail Group’s survey of the ancient transportation routes in the Huangguoshu region will be of great significance for the “World Heritage” nomination of the Huangguoshu Waterfall Cluster and the Tunbao villages. The entire survey route runs from east to west, starting in Qingzhen, passing through Pingba, Anshun, Zhenning, and Guansuo Ridge, and ending at Panjiang Bridge, with a total length of approximately 160 kilometers. The Ancient Trail Group was divided into two sub-teams, which converged from the eastern and western ends toward the center. They adopted a combined approach of segmenting and classifying the ancient trails, utilizing a methodology that integrated field surveys (GPS route tracking throughout), on-site interviews (with local elders in their 70s and 80s), and documentary research. By selecting different focal points based on the specific roads, the team ultimately achieved a comprehensive understanding and preliminary assessment of the Yunnan-Guizhou Ancient Trail within Anshun within 20 days.
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Cultural Heritage and Historic Sites Group
Presenter: Park Lina
Advisors: Li Dihua, Zhang Jianwei, Shang Jinyu
Academic Assistant: Wang Zhuo
Members: Ning Jing, Wang Siyao, Wang Zhuo, Zhou Yu, Liu Fei, Park Lina
◮ Fig. 14 Baotun Water Mill
◮ Fig. 15 Group Photo of the Cultural Heritage and Historic Sites Team
Anshun boasts a long history and rich culture, serving as a historic and cultural city in Guizhou Province. It is home to unique historical and cultural relics, including the Chuandong, Yelang, Zangke, and Tunpu cultures. Currently, Anshun has 11 national-level key cultural relics protection units and 33 provincial-level cultural relics protection units. More than 20 of these are directly related to the Huangguoshu Tunpu Survey, primarily consisting of immovable cultural relics preserved from the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, with protection levels mainly at the national and provincial levels.
The Cultural Heritage and Historic Sites Group provides an overview through five key aspects: background summary, criteria for selecting sites within Anshun, research methods and techniques, details of the cultural heritage and historic sites, and a conclusion. The group documented a total of 19 immovable cultural heritage sites, such as Baotun, renowned for its “Fish-Mouth Diversion” irrigation project; the city walls of Dingying, the former residence of the Tusi chieftains; the Confucian and Martial Temples within Anshun City; as well as temples, city walls, and cliff carvings embedded within Tunbao settlements and village fortresses, or connected by ancient trails. During the surveying process, orthophotos of cultural heritage buildings were obtained through 3D scanning, facilitating a more intuitive and clear acquisition of the data required for surveying. Additionally, through photogrammetry, panoramic photography, and other technical methods, digital twin scenes of the heritage sites were created. In the future, these will enable the presentation of digital twin scenes across time series, with the aim of effectively monitoring and managing changes to the heritage sites, making the survey results easier to understand and facilitating a more concrete communication of the sites’ value.
◮ Figure 16 Screenshot from CCTV live broadcast
During the field survey in Baotun, the Cultural Heritage and Historic Sites Group connected via live stream with CCTV’s online platform to introduce the workshop’s activities and procedures to a wide audience of netizens.
Expert Comments
◮ Figure 17 Presentation Poster 2 (Illustration: Zhou Yu)
Following the presentation, Professor Sun Hua of the School of Archaeology and Museology at Peking University moderated a discussion in which ten experts shared their reflections on the 20-day survey of the Huangguoshu Tunpu sites. They noted that the report demonstrated the contemporary use of cutting-edge technology and interdisciplinary collaboration, which will facilitate more in-depth progress in future work. At the same time, the experts and scholars offered numerous constructive suggestions: continue to delve into the overall historical context of Guizhou, elucidate the relationship between culture and nature (particularly karst topography), and emphasize spatial connections; to use past survey materials as a supplement for the next phase, while the current survey will also serve as a foundation for future research, creating a cohesive framework and incorporating comparative analysis; they also recommended to the students the abundant existing research achievements by ethnic scholars and cultural heritage professionals in Northern Guizhou, such as the “Six Mountains and Six Waters” ethnic survey conducted by Guizhou Province in the 1980s; I introduced surveys conducted by the Guizhou Provincial Department of Culture, Minzu University of China, Tongji University, and others regarding the architecture, social life, economic structures, religious beliefs, and ethnic customs of Tunpu and ethnic villages, ensuring that the achievements of these predecessors serve as a reference for our future work.
At times we wandered through distant mountains; at times we stood by flowing streams; at times we felt lost; at times we laughed. Although the “Joint Workshop on Cultural Heritage Protection: Huangguoshu Tunpu Survey” was delayed due to the pandemic, it did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of the more than forty faculty and students participating in the field survey. We witnessed countless streams converging amidst sheer cliffs and explored every village and fortress imbued with the ancient charm of the Ming Dynasty’s Jianghuai region. Amidst joy and delight, we took the first step in the preliminary survey work for the World Heritage nomination of the Huangguoshu Tunpu.
◮ Fig. 18 Field Survey Process
◮ Fig. 19 Group Photos of Each Team
◮ Fig. 20 Group photo at the conclusion of the camp
Responsible Units
Organizers
World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for the Asia and the Pacific Region under the auspices of UNESCO (Beijing) (WHITR-AP Beijing)
School of Archaeology and Museology, Peking University
School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, Peking University
Supporting Organizations
Anshun City World Heritage Nomination Office
Anshun University
Institute of History of Science and Cultural Heritage, University of Science and Technology Beijing
Funding Organizations
Tianhe Public Welfare Foundation
BY
Editors / Luo Kerui, Fu Shiyi
Illustrations / Zhou Yu, Lü Ronghui
Photography / All workshop participants
Proofreading / Each reporting group
Reviewers / Zhang Jianwei, Li Kuanghan
