Preserving cultural remnants

gzlaser

THE United Nations' Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) voiced grave concerns recently over six natural and cultural heritage sites in China. They include the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace and the Temple of Heaven in Beijing; the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet; as well as the Three Parallel Rivers and the Old Town of Lijiang in Yunnan.

The announcement is a reminder that these sites of historical interest and scenic beauty need to remain in UNESCO's heritage list – but not just to appeal to tourists. China should observe internationally-accepted principles to protect them and keep them intact.

The Lijiang government's effort to move the Naxi ethnic group out of the city is against this principle. So too are the large-scale renovations done at other heritage sites.

Almost all the old Chinese buildings are wooden structures and are likely to decay after several hundred years of exposure to the elements. They need to be repaired and maintained. But this does not mean that they can be turned into new structures.

Such mistakes are often made when trying to preserve such sites and improve the tourism business.

It's short-sighted to think that getting tourism dollars is more important than maintaining the cultural and historical integrity of these sites.