People’s Daily Online, Beijing, July 16 (Liu Yingying) “One of the world‘s largest ports, a large number of merchants gather here, and goods are piled up like a mountain…” This is the description of Quanzhou in the travel notes of Marco Polo, an Italian in the 13th century. On July 16, the 44th World Heritage Conference opened in Fuzhou. The “Quanzhou: Song and Yuan China’s World Maritime Trade Center” project will be submitted to this conference for deliberation, and China is expected to add another bright jewel to the list of world heritage sites. At present, my country has a total of 55 World Heritage Sites, ranking first with Italy.
After the opening ceremony, the conference will be held online. This is the first time in the history of UNESCO to review World Heritage issues online. The General Assembly will review two annual World Heritage projects in 2020 and 2021, including 45 pending projects on the World Heritage List and 258 World Heritage Protection Status Reports. Tian Xuejun, Vice Minister of Education and Chairman of the 44th World Heritage Conference, stated at the press conference of the State Council Information Office that it is expected that the “World Heritage List” and other lists will have important updates.
According to Zhang Lei, head of the World Cultural Heritage Department of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, the “Ancient Quanzhou (Erythrina) Historical Site” project was declared as a World Heritage Site in 2017. After deliberation at the 42nd World Heritage Conference, the result of the deliberation was “Return pending”. Later, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage instructed the local government to further strengthen heritage protection and management, strengthen archaeological research and the interpretation and display of heritage value, and establish cooperation with international professional institutions to make major adjustments to the application project from the technical level.
“The project of’Quanzhou: World Ocean Trade Center in China in the Song and Yuan Dynasties’ declared this time has a clearer theme, a clearer and more complete value description, a number of heritage sites increased from the original 16 to 22, the heritage content is further enriched, and the overall quality of the declared project Significant improvement.” Zhang Lei said.
Quanzhou was once one of the highly prosperous business centers in the world maritime trade network in the 10th to 14th centuries. As a window of dialogue between China and the world in the Song and Yuan Dynasties, Quanzhou showcases China’s complete maritime trade system, advanced economic level, and diverse and inclusive culture. attitude. The 22 representative historical sites in Quanzhou’s application for the World Heritage Site include: Jiuri Mountain Pray for Wind Stone Carvings, Shibosi Site, Dejimen Site, Tianhou Palace, Zhenwu Temple, Nanwai Zongzhengsi Site, Quanzhou Mansion Confucian Temple, Kaiyuan Temple, Laojun Rock Statue, Qingjing Temple, Islamic Holy Tomb, Cao’an Maniguang Buddha Statue, Cizao Kiln Site, Dehua Kiln Site, Anxi Qingyang Xiacaopu Ironmaking Site, Luoyang Bridge, Anping Bridge, Shunji Bridge Site, Jiangkou Wharf, Shihu Wharf, Liusheng Pagoda, Wanshou Pagoda.
It is reported that during this conference, various countries will hold a series of supporting activities and side events, including the World Heritage Youth Forum, the World Heritage Site Managers Forum, and 8 side events hosted by China.