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北京大学英语新闻网/Peking University News
―Declaration of Heritage‖ Will Win Honor for the Sate and Make Contribution to the
Mankind
In recent years, there is a heat of world heritage declaration in China. On June 28th
this year, the ―Declaration of Heritage‖ projects concerning ―South China Karst‖ and
―The Diaolou (watchtower houses) of Kaiping, Guangdong Province‖ were approved
by the 31st World Heritage Convention in New Zealand. The two finally got listed in
World Natural and Cultural Heritage List, making the 34th and 35th world heritage in
China. However, some of China‘s approved world heritage is endangered owing to
blind and excessive exploitation and damage made by human misconduct.
Xie Ninggao said that we should take an active part in the declaration of world
heritage. World heritage resources in China are very rich. According to 10 standards
from Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, China
belongs to one of the countries that hold most bountiful world heritage resources.
On the other hand, we should have a right motivation for the declaration of heritage.
The real purpose of ―Declaration of Heritage‖ is to jointly protect mankind‘s heritage
in the international community so as to hand it down from generation to generation,
rather than ―treating heritage as a name card for tourism‖. An inclusion in World
Natural and Cultural Heritage List helps to preserve the universally acknowledged
cultural and natural heritage, which can then be passed on to our descendants.
Therefore, ―Declaration of Heritage‖ necessitates undertaking serious international
responsibility and commitment. ―Declaration of Heritage‖ also calls for the guidance
of related institutions and experts, who will evaluate their value and carry through
comprehensive investigation.
Xie Ninggao
Dean of World Heritage Research Center at Peking University, vice-president of
Chinese Society of Landscape Architecture, expert counselor at scenic spots and
historic sites with Ministry of Construction of the People‘s Republic of China, member
of committee of experts at the preservation of famous historical and cultural cities
with Ministry of Construction of the People‘s Republic of China.
In the past dozens of years, Xie has made a tour of more than 200 mountains in
China on several occasions, popularly known as ―contemporary Xu Xiake‖ by people
of the same trade.
Published works and articles include Famous Mountains in China, Famous
Mountains and Rivers, A Taste of Landscape-a symphony between man and nature,
and more than 30 papers. Xie took lead in series of comprehensive research and
projects involving more than 10 scenic spots in China, which earned him much fame
and credit. Professor Xie is truly a ―Master of Landscape‖ worthy of his name.
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