22 | Friday, December 21, 2018 HONG KONG EDITION | CHINA DAILY LIFE

These recent Constructing heritage constructions are still in use. They are living heritage.” A new illustrated book is an in­depth study of Beijing’s ‘10 great buildings’, Shan Jixiang, director of Wang Kaihao reports. the Palace Museum

century architectural heritage are needed to avoid such incidents from hen talking about Chi­ happening again,” Shan says. na’s architectural her­ “No other century in human his­ itage, people usually tory has created such abundant immediately think of architecture in such diverse styles. ancient constructions, such as the W More and more heritage sites of that Forbidden City, the former imperial time have been globally recognized.” palace. Since 2000, when UNESCO men­ Nevertheless, compared with this tioned the urgency to safeguard 598­year­old palatial complex in the 20th­century architectural heritage, heart of Beijing, which has drawn many countries made protection of scholars to study its details over the such sites a priority. years and social interest in protect­ Sydney Opera House was listed as ing the site, other landmarks record­ a UNESCO World Heritage site in ing recent history or contemporary 2007. Seventeen structures world­ memories also need public atten­ wide, which were designed by the tion. late French architect Le Corbusier, The illustrated book, The 20th­ also got the status in 2016. Century Chinese Architectural Heri­ Heritage recognition is improving tage Classics: Beijing Volume, was in China. released at the Forbidden City, Ma handed a list to the Interna­ which is officially known as the Pal­ tional Union of Architects in 2004 ace Museum, on Tuesday. that included 22 of the most­impor­ Jointly compiled by the Beijing tant Chinese architectural­heritage Institute of Architectural Design buildings from the 20th century, and the Chinese Society of Cultural promoting an official identification Relics, the in­depth book includes of their status in China. 50 of the most­representative 20th­ The nation’s first list of key archi­ century architectural works in the tectural sites of the 20th century city and the relevant architects’ was released by the Chinese Society background information. of Cultural Relics and the Architec­ “The 20th century witnessed the tural Society of China in 2016. transition of China from an agrari­ The list has been expanded twice an to a modern society,” says Shan since then and now includes about Jixiang, head of the Chinese Society 300 sites nationwide. of Cultural Relics and director of the “Chinese architecture means Palace Museum. much more than wooden buildings “Architecture is the most direct (like in ancient times),” says Jin Lei, and visible witness of such deputy director of the 20th­century changes.” architectural heritage committee The entries to the new book under the Chinese Society of Cultur­ include the Great Hall of the People, al Relics. which combines Soviet­style “Chinese architecture today fol­ facades with Roman columns and (Clockwise from top) The Great Hall of the People, the National Art Museum of China and Tsinghua University’s campus are among lows traditions, but it should have traditional Chinese roofs; a Bau­ the most­representative 20th­century architectural works in Beijing that are included in the newly released illustrated book, The 20th­ the global vision to mix different haus­style former 798 factory that’s Century Chinese Architectural Heritage Classics: Beijing Volume. PHOTOS BY XINHUA AND PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY styles.” now an art hub; and some early con­ Consequently, as a trial, the Bei­ structions on Tsinghua University’s jing Institute of Architectural campus. of the People, the Workers Stadium transportation hub of the city and Design launched its architectural The book also studies the old and the National Art Museum of carried generations of local citizens’ and cultural heritage research cen­ embassy area in Dongjiaominxiang, China, began in Beijing in 1959 as a collective memory. It was demol­ ter, also on Tuesday. which was set up between 1901 and celebration of the 10th anniversary ished amid a huge controversy in The center is based on the princi­ 1912 after the Boxer Rebellion. The of the founding of New China. 1992 and was replaced by a new sta­ ples of the International Council on only European­style historical With huge personnel costs, most tion. Monuments and Sites, a major advi­ neighborhood in Beijing still retains projects were completed within However, as the public’s con­ sory body for UNESCO. It is to buildings of the former French, Aus­ mere months, including the time to sciousness improves, many propos­ engage in systematic investigations tro­Hungarian, British and Italian draw the blueprints. They are often als have been made to rebuild the and publicity of 20th­century archi­ embassies, as well as old barracks, called the “10 great buildings”. old station, but new challenges have tectural heritage in China and offer banks and a club. “The architecture combines Chi­ arisen. a platform for architects and heri­ “It’s physical evidence that shows nese, Soviet and Western elements,” Shan says that even buildings like tage experts to exchange ideas for how foreign powers invaded China,” Zou Denong, a professor at Tianjin the “great 10” are not perfectly safe. the renovations of relevant old Shan explains. University, says. Though proposals to include them buildings. There is something new to study, “These miraculous works reflect in a national list of cultural heritage Jin says the recent efforts of aca­ even in the Forbidden City: the Hall Chinese architects’ explorations of sites have been discussed for years, demic organizations and architects of Embodied Treasures, or Baoyun new formats and mark a peak time Shan Jixiang (right), director of the Palace Museum, Ma Guoxin they have not been approved by will lead to better laws to protect Lou, which was built in 1914 as a in architecture in the country. The (second right), an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, authorities for the old reason — they heritage sites. warehouse for cultural relics, two trend was followed by other cities in and other guests launch a research center of 20th­century architectural are “too young”. The purpose of protecting such years after the monarchy fell. China.” heritage in Beijing on Tuesday. JIANG DONG / CHINA DAILY The Overseas Chinese Hotel, sites is not only about creating new “Unlike most ancient architecture Some don’t see many construc­ which ranked among the top 10 ear­ tourism destinations or past nostal­ that has lost its function and only tions from the last century as “heri­ lier, was demolished in 1988. gia. remains as a site for studies or tour­ tage” as they are not old enough, century is still lacking. Some build­ jing Capital International Airport. When the National Museum of “They can inspire more creative ism, these recent constructions are especially those built after 1949. ings have disappeared in China’s For example, in Jinan, capital of China was being renovated in the ideas for urban development in the still in use,” he says. “They are living Ma Guoxin, an academician at fast urban development. Ma is a Shandong province, a German 2000s, its facade was planned to be future,” Jin adds. heritage.” the Chinese Academy of Engineer­ designer of the Chairman Mao architect helped build a railway sta­ completely changed. The idea was The construction of 10 major ing, says sufficient policy support Memorial Hall in Tian’anmen tion in 1908. The Gothic­style struc­ dismissed after a fierce debate. Contact the writer at landmarks, including the Great Hall to protect the heritage of the last Square and Terminal 2 of the Bei­ ture was long used as the main “More studies of China’s 20th­ [email protected] Cultural institutions honor contributions to relics’ protection

By WANG KAIHAO the Chinese mainland for 350,000 also published on the same day for HK dollars in 1950. Zheng also per­ academic studies. Many cultural relics of the Palace suaded art guru Zhang Daqian to “The exhibition is not only to Museum — China’s former imperial sell Night Revels of Han Xizai, a show Zheng’s marvelous collec­ palace in Beijing, which is also 10th­century scroll painting, from tion,” says Zhang Zhiqing, deputy known as the Forbidden City — and his private collection to the coun­ director of the national library, some ancient books in the collection try’s cultural institutions at “a low “but also to remind people of his of the National Library of China are price”. legacy.” in the two institutions due to the All three artworks are now among Zheng advocated that archaeol­ efforts of Zheng Zhenduo (1898­ top artifacts housed at the Palace ogists and relics researchers 1958). Museum. should not collect or buy antiques Zheng, a pioneer in cultural­relic Zheng’s contributions went as personal belongings. In 1997, protection in New China, was hon­ beyond. this idea was listed by the National ored by the museum and library in “He has left abundant legacies for Cultural Heritage Administration Beijing on Wednesday. The day us to consolidate cultural relic­relat­ among professional ethics for marked the 120th anniversary of his ed work today,” Shan Jixiang, direct­ Ancient books are among the items from Zheng Zhenduo’s donation workers in the field of cultural rel­ birth. Zheng was the first director of or of the Palace Museum, said at the displayed at an exhibition at the National Library of China. ics. the National Cultural Heritage memorial seminar. PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY Born in Wenzhou, Zhejiang prov­ Administration after 1949. “He pushed for a legal system to ince, Zheng once taught in top high­ When he took the position, the protect the cultural relics. He start­ er­education institutions, such as country had just started reconstruc­ ed training others to protect them. director of the National Cultural official position at the heritage Yenching University (now part of tion after the civil war. Zheng imme­ Many of his theories still guide our Heritage Administration. “We are administration. Many of the figu­ Peking University) and Tsinghua diately began his endeavor to bring everyday work.” working on them today.” rines are regularly displayed in the University in Beijing, and Fudan some lost treasures home. Zheng opened the first training During the War of Resistance sculpture gallery of the Palace University in Shanghai. He also Boyuan Tie (letter to Boyuan) and class in New China on ancient­book Against Japanese Aggression (1931­ Museum. worked on history, traditional Chi­ Zhongqiu Tie (letter about Mid­Au­ restoration in the 1950s. He wanted 1945), he saved many ancient And after his death, Zheng’s wife nese folklore and literature. tumn Festival) — top calligraphy the Palace Museum to do more than books to prevent them from being donated some 7,000 copies of As a translator, he introduced works from the fourth century — just collect royal artifacts, by build­ lost. ancient books to the National Indian Nobel laureate Rabindra­ were once beloved by emperor ing a comprehensive collection of Zheng got into debt buying Library of China, following his will. nath Tagore’s Stray Birds in China, Zheng Zhenduo (1898­1958), a Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1644­ different artworks and educating some 600 ancient pottery figu­ Some items from this donation are and did many comparative studies pioneer in cultural­relic protec­ 1911). But they were lost after the museum visitors about the history of rines in 1947 and ’48, during the displayed at an exhibition that between Chinese and Western cul­ tion in New China. Wednesday monarchy fell. cultural relics. civil war. However, he donated all opened on Wednesday at the same tures. marked the 120th anniversary of Zheng’s coordination enabled “These ideas were pioneering in the figurines to the country’s cul­ library as a tribute to him. A catalog Zheng died in a plane crash in his birth. PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY their return from Hong Kong to his time,” says Gu Yucai, deputy tural institutions after taking his of his ancient book collection was 1958.