China’s World Heritage Recording and Spreading Project Released in Fuzhou

【Report from the Extended 44th Session of the World Heritage Committee②】

By Li Yun, Zhang Shiyao and Gao Jianjin

Fuzhou, July 16 (Guangming Daily) -- On July 16, 2021, under the guidance of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, the Ministry of Education, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage and other authorities, and sponsored by the Publicity Department of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee, the launching ceremony of the "National Cultural Memories and Inheritance" - China's World Heritage Recording and Spreading Project and the opening ceremony of a photo exhibition on China's world heritage sites were held at the Three Lanes and Seven Alleys of Fuzhou.

It is learned that the "National Cultural Memories and Inheritance" - China's World Heritage Recording and Spreading Project was initiated by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, and dedicated to fully demonstrate the splendid civilization and rich natural heritage of China forged in more than 5,000 years by shooting and broadcasting a series of documentaries, publishing a series of books, organizing a collection of photographic works, among others.

Among them, the large-scale documentary series " Humanity’s Memory: China's World Heritage" adopts 4K ultra-high-definition images for the first time to record China's world heritage in an all-round way. The documentary series is expected to have more than 120 episodes, which will be completed and broadcasted in succession before the end of 2022. The first 14 episodes of the program have been completed and will be broadcast on CCTV-4 from the evening of July 16. World Heritage properties such as Mount Wuyi, Kulangsu Island, Jiuzhaigou Valley, Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area, Mount Taishan, Zuojiang Huashan Rock Art Cultural Landscape, Classical Gardens of Suzhou, and Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City, to name a few, will successively appear in the episodes, adding an audio-visual cultural feast to the extended 44th session of the World Heritage Committee that opened on the same day.

The publication of the book series of "China's World Heritage", part of this series of recording and spreading projects, for the first time ever systematically and comprehensively presents all the heritage sites in China that have been inscribed to the World Heritage List, and strives to create a complete archive of national heritage. Each world heritage is recorded in a separate volume, with 160-180 pictures and QR code-linked videos to systematically introduce the entire process of the heritage site’s application for inscription on the World Heritage List, its outstanding features and values, the current conservation status and the future conservation plan. The books will focus on the universality, readability and the academic and scientific values of the heritage site. The first books titled China's World Heritage-Mount Wuyi and China's World Heritage-Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City will be published soon.

The photo exhibition on China's world heritage sites opened on July 16 is not only a supportive exhibition of the 44th Session of the World Heritage Committee but also one of the important activities of a series of recording and spreading projects. It is divided into three exhibition areas and displays a total of more than 300 photos/groups of excellent photographic works taken by more than 260 photographers in four sections of World Natural Heritage, World Cultural Heritage, Mixed Properties, and Fujian Section to present the unparalleled natural and cultural landscape of China’s 55 world heritage sites through multiple aspects, at multiple levels and from multiple angles. At the same time, it highlights the green ecology and bright human settlement of Fujian, the host of this session. This photo exhibition also specially designed the "I'm in a World Heritage Site" interactive areas in different exhibition areas for WeChat moment photos, rotating puzzle wall, VR online exhibitions so that the audience can experience the cultural power of world heritage in China.

As a supporting exhibition of the extended 44th session of the World Heritage Committee, the "Light of Ancient Houses: Fujian Fine Arts Special Exhibition" hosted by the Fujian Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and the Publicity Department of CPC Fujian Provincial Committee also opened today in Fuzhou, Fujian.

From magnificent ten-meter scrolls to delicate and lively sketches, from gorgeous and vivid realistic oil paintings to charming freehand landscape paintings, the 117 fine arts works displayed this time are from famous landscape painters of three generations in Fujian Province. Through the paintbrushes, the ancient buildings of Fujian Province, such as the Tulou in the western Fujian, the timber arch lounge bridges in eastern Fujian, the red-brick houses in southern Fujian, and the former residence of Zhu Xi in northern Fujian, fully demonstrate the elegance, ingenuity, simplicity and profundity of the ancient houses in Fujian, each in their own way.