China’s Ongoing Commitment to Safeguarding Its Cultural Legacy
Tehran - BORNA - Today, these traditional techniques remain deeply embedded in the everyday fabric of this eastern Chinese city. Recently, the historical sites where this craft took root received major global recognition. On July 25, the Jingdezhen Handicraft Porcelain Industry Sites were officially inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List—marking China’s 61st World Heritage property and filling a longstanding void in the global representation of ceramic heritage.
This latest inscription highlights China's decades-long focus on heritage preservation and reflects a broader national policy that integrates cultural conservation directly into economic development and international relations.
President Xi Jinping has consistently championed the protection of cultural and natural treasures. During nation-wide inspection tours, he has repeatedly emphasized a "protection-first" stance, urging respect for historical and natural sites. Guidelines established in 2016 have served as a blueprint for the nation's UNESCO nominations, stipulating that prospective sites should reflect the depth of Chinese civilization, represent national aspirations, and offer a genuine portrait of both historical and contemporary China.
This philosophy is evident across China’s diverse World Heritage portfolio. The 5,000-year-old Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City provide tangible evidence of early Chinese civilization, while Beijing’s 700-year-old Central Axis showcases traditional urban planning principles. Similarly, the Xixia Imperial Tombs, a vast 11th-to-13th-century funerary complex, illustrate historical cultural exchanges along the Silk Road.
Securing World Heritage status often involves years of groundwork and tough compromises between economic expansion and conservation. The transformation of the Liangzhu ruins in Zhejiang Province illustrates this challenge. In the early 2000s, intensive mining operations surrounded the site, creating heavy pollution and noise that locals described as akin to a combat zone. In July 2003, after inspecting the area, Xi—then Party chief of Zhejiang—mandated an immediate halt to mining activities and ordered stronger protective measures. In subsequent years, a major highway project was deliberately rerouted around the site—an alteration that raised construction costs and extended distance, but successfully preserved the site's integrity.
Similar strategies have been rolled out across the country. In the capital, urban planning now adheres strictly to the rule that "the historical city can no longer be demolished." The nomination of the Central Axis was leveraged to relocate residents from vulnerable cultural sites, refurbish surrounding neighborhoods, and restore historical hutong alleyways and siheyuan courtyards—allowing longtime locals to stay in their homes rather than face displacement.
To protect delicate sites from environmental strain and heavy tourism, China is also leveraging advanced technology. At the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, Gansu Province, researchers have generated high-resolution digital records of murals, sculptures, and cave structures, compiling over 600 terabytes of 3D data. While digital archives cannot replace physical artifacts, they enable research and public access without placing physical stress on fragile ancient art.
The national emphasis on heritage has also generated substantial economic dividends. Over 15,000 non-material cultural heritage workshops have been set up nationwide to support rural revitalization, providing employment for more than 1.3 million people. At prominent World Heritage destinations such as Jiuzhaigou, Wulingyuan, and the karst landscapes surrounding Guilin, tourism revenue now accounts for more than half of local GDP. Museums have experienced a similar surge; by the end of 2025, China boasted over 7,000 registered museums, drawing a combined 1.56 billion visits that year.
International collaboration remains another cornerstone of China’s heritage agenda. In a message to the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee in 2021, Xi described global heritage as a shared achievement of human civilization and a bridge for cross-cultural dialogue. China actively partners with international bodies on conservation research and joint nominations—such as the Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor, developed alongside Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
Ultimately, China views heritage conservation not merely as preserving the past, but as maintaining cultural continuity for future generations. Following the 2017 UNESCO listing of the historic international settlement on Gulangyu, Xi underscored the importance of drawing on global best practices to establish durable, long-term preservation mechanisms.
Back in Jingdezhen, the UNESCO designation has elevated the city's global profile, yet the daily rhythm of the workshops remains unchanged. The long-term survival of this ancient craft depends not just on protecting historic kilns, but on ensuring that its practical knowledge continues to be handed down to future generations. For Jingdezhen, joining the World Heritage List marks the beginning of a new era—one where a centuries-old tradition continues to thrive within a modernizing city.
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