The work advancement conference on the application of the ancientriverside towns in southern Yangtze River for the world cultural heritages,cohosted by Jiangsu and Zhejiang Provincial Administration of CulturalHeritage, directed by State Administration of Cultural Heritage, was held inSuzhou City on March 26th. The program in which 13 ancient riverside townslocated in Zhejiang and Jiangsu Provinces in southern Yangtze River jointlyapply for the world cultural heritages has been listed in the cultural heritagedeclaration plan in the national “thirteenth five-year plan”. The 9 ancienttowns in Suzhou City such as Zhouzhuang, Luzhi, Tongli, Qiandeng, Jinxi, Shaxi,Lili, Zhenze and Fenghuang as well as another 4 ancient towns in Zhejiang Provincesuch as Xitang, Wuzhen, Xinshi and Nanxun will participate in the program.

The ancient riverside towns in southern Yangtze River are the heritagesderived from agrarian age, containing prominent universal values. The programto apply for world cultural heritages has prepared for several years. In 1996,the 6 ancient towns such as Zhouzhuang, Luzhi, Tongli in Suzhou City andWuzhen, Nanxun, Xitang in Zhejiang Province were listed in the “preparatorylist of Chinese world cultural heritages” by State Administration of CulturalHeritage. In November, 2012, State Administration of Cultural Heritage renewedthe “preparatory list of Chinese world cultural heritages” and totally 10ancient towns of Zhejiang and Jiangsu Provinces were listed in the program of “ancientriverside towns in southern Yangtze River” to apply for cultural heritages.Approved by State Administration of Cultural Heritage, another 3 ancient townsare supplemented into the list through active efforts.

In recent years, the application of world cultural heritages becomes muchmore difficult and the competition becomes fiercer since the World HeritageOrganization has implemented the global rebalancing strategy. On January 22^th,the State Administration of Cultural Heritage organized a forum on the workthat ancient riverside towns in southern Yangtze River apply for world culturalheritages, having confirmed the schedule of the program. Specifically, theywill complete the preparatory work of application in the end of 2016, includingthe documentation for the application, formulation of conservation planning,delimitation of heritage areas and buffer areas, establishment of the relatedregulations, exhibition on protection of heritages, monitoring on theheritages, renovation on the key cultural relic buildings in ancient towns andenvironment improvement etc. At the beginning of 2017, they will submit thedocumentation on applying for cultural heritages to State Administration ofCultural Heritage, endeavoring to submit the program to the World Heritage Centerfor deliberation as soon as possible and complete the goal of successfulapplication within the “thirteenth five-year plan”.

Date：2014.3.27   

Source： China's economic news