Consultations and Technical Evaluation Mission Desk reviews have been provided by ICOMOS Liangzhu International Scientific Committees, members and (China) independent experts.

No 1592 An ICOMOS technical evaluation mission visited the property from 19 to 24 September 2018.

Additional information received by ICOMOS

An Interim Report was provided to the State Party on Official name as proposed by the State Party 21 December 2018, summarising the issues identified by Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City the ICOMOS World Heritage Panel.

Location Further information was requested in the Interim Report Yuhang District, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province. including boundaries of the buffer zone, legal protection,

conservation, management and research. Brief description

The nominated property includes the archaeological Additional information was received from the State Party on remains of Liangzhu City (ca. 3300-2300 BCE) which was 2 February 2019 and has been incorporated into the once the centre of power and belief of an early regional relevant sections of this evaluation report. state in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River in Late

Neolithic China. Located in the eastern foothills of the Date of ICOMOS approval of this report Tianmu Mountains in a plain criss-crossed by a network of 13 March 2019 rivers, the nominated property consists of four component parts: the Area of Yaoshan Site; the Area of High-dam at the Mouth of the Valley; the Area of Low-dam on the Plain – Causeway in Front of the Mountains; and the Area of City 2 Description of the property Site. Note: The nomination dossier and additional information contain

detailed descriptions of this property, its history and its state of The property testifies to the existence of a regional state conservation. Due to limitations on the length of evaluation with a unified belief system and supported economically by reports, this report only provides a short summary of the most rice-cultivating agriculture in late Neolithic China. It also relevant aspects. represents an early urban civilisation with complex functions and structures. Description and history The Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City are located on The sites of the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City were a plain crossed by river networks in the eastern foothills of partially discovered in 1936 and since then have been the Tianmu Mountains in the Yangtze River Basin on the excavated, researched, conserved, then presented or southeast coast of China. reburied. The nominated property consists of four component parts: Category of property In terms of categories of cultural property set out in Article I The Area of Yaoshan Site (also called Yaoshan Cemetery) of the 1972 World Heritage Convention, this is a serial is located on top of a hill outside the city and contains the nomination of four sites. Yaoshan Altar (a sacrificial site) and the Yaoshan cemetery, with two rows of tombs. Hundreds of objects, including jade artefacts, have been unearthed from the 1 Basic data cemetery. This component part covers an area of 66.56 ha. The remains date from ca. 3300-3100 BCE, an early period Included in the Tentative List of the Liangzhu culture. 29 January 2013 The Area of High-dam at the Mouth of the Valley is located The property was included in the Tentative List as a single approximately 11 km northwest of the City Site and consists site, including only the fourth component part of the of six artificial dam sites with residual heights of no more current nomination, the Area of City Site, under criteria (ii), than 15 metres and a series of natural ridges and peaks (iv), and (vi). directly associated with them. It covers an area of 136.41 ha. The area is believed to have been built ca. 3100-2850 Background BCE and was continuously in use until ca. 2600 BCE. This is a new nomination. The Area of Low-dam on the Plain - Causeway in Front of the Mountains is located to the north and west of the City Site, and consists of four artificial dams, which form a water storage system with a length of approximately 2.4 km, and

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the Causeway in front of the Mountains (also known as the significance as a representative of an ancient rice- Tangshan Site), containing composite dams extending for cultivating civilization. 5 km, with widths varying from twenty to fifty metres. This component part covers an area of 349.24 ha and is The State Party submitted additional information in believed to have been built ca. 3000 to 2600 BCE. February 2019, detailing the origins and archaeological records concerning rice cultivation in the middle and lower The Area of City Site, built mainly between ca. 3000 and reaches of the Yangtze River. Liangzhu culture is a pioneer 2850 BCE, is composed of the palace area, inner city, outer in terms of rice cultivation techniques, on a large scale for city, and a series of socially-graded cemeteries; the natural the management of rice resources. It was the regional topographic elements directly associated with them, and centre of an agrarian economy. three main ancient river courses, are also included within the site. This component covers an area of 881.45 ha. The The nominated property remained as ruins from ca. 2300- City Site was continuously in use until 2300 BCE. 2100 BCE. In 1936, the archaeologist Xin’geng discovered the site and conducted excavations after he found black Liangzhu City was the capital and power centre of the pottery representative of the Neolithic period. In 1959 the whole Liangzhu society. It is not located in the geographic site was named ‘Liangzhu Culture’. Further excavations, centre of the Liangzhu cultural area for strategic reasons discoveries and research have been undertaken since the such as transport, water conservancy, agriculture, 1980s, up to 2016. mountain resources and flood risk. Boundaries According to the latest analysis of Carbon-14 dating, The area of the four components totals 1,433.66 ha, with Liangzhu City was built and occupied ca. 3300-2300 BCE a buffer zone of 9,980.29 ha. and abandoned by ca. 2100 BCE. Its rise and decline may be divided into the following 4 periods, according to current The entirety of the area of Yaoshan Site (component 01), research. the Causeway in Front of the Mountains (part of component 03) and the entirety of the Area of City Site (component 04) The first period is ca. 3300-3100 BCE (the early period): the are located within protection zones as stipulated in the early inhabitants of Liangzhu were active over a large area, Conservation Master Plan for the Liangzhu Archaeological with Daxiongshan Hill at the centre; high-grade cemeteries Site, as National Priority Protected Sites. were built. The Area of High-dam at the Mouth of the Valley The second period is ca. 3100-2850 BCE (the middle (component 02) and the Area of Low-dam on the Plain (part period): ca. 3000-2850 BCE was the critical period for the of component 03) are located within protection zones, as establishment of Liangzhu City - the Peripheral Water specified in the Delimitation Scheme of Protection Zone Conservancy System, terraces at Mojiaoshan and and Construction Control Zone for the Periphery Water surrounding areas, the Zhongjiagang water system and Conservancy Project Site of Liangzhu Ancient City, as surrounding highland settlements (including Outer City Provincial Protected Sites of Zhejiang. settlements), and Fanshan and other high-grade cemeteries were built. It was also the key period for urban The boundaries of the four component parts are delineated development with a consciousness of functional zoning of taking into consideration roads and natural features such urban planning. as river systems and hills.

The third period is ca. 2850-2600 BCE (the earlier stage of One buffer zone surrounds the four component parts of the the late period): highland settlements began to form in nominated property. It includes surrounding groups of sites Bianjiashan Terrace and Meirendi Terrace and around and parts of the surrounding landscape that are of Mojiaoshan Terrace; the ancient river courses represented supporting value to the property. The delineation of the by the Zhongjiagang River and dam system were both still buffer zone is based on the Construction Control Zone in use; the high-grade cemeteries were continually being stipulated by the Conservation Master Plan for the added to and used. According to the dating of the stratum Liangzhu Archaeological Site and the protection zoning of of the bedded stones at the bottom of the Inner City walls, the Delimitation Scheme of Protection Zone and these walls were already under construction and/or in use. Construction Control Zone for Periphery Water Conservancy Project Site of Liangzhu Ancient City. The fourth period is ca. 2600-2300 BCE (the later stage of the late period): the area within the city walls of Liangzhu ICOMOS considers that the boundaries of the four City and the surrounding terraces (such as Meirendi component parts are well delineated and include the City Terrace) were still in use as settlements; the dam system Site, the Periphery Water Conservancy System, the might have been abandoned by this time. socially-graded cemeteries, various archaeological artefacts and the related natural topographic elements, all In its Interim Report, ICOMOS requested more information, of which are the features expressing the proposed if available, on the state of research pertaining to rice Outstanding Universal Value. cultivation and rice typologies in relation to the relevant components of the nominated property, given its

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ICOMOS considers the boundaries of the buffer zone result of twenty years of rapid urbanization and population adequate. However, ICOMOS noted a discrepancy growth. Steps are being taken by the State Party to shut between the boundaries of the buffer zone and the down quarries, and to move factories and large boundaries of the protection zones (the Construction manufacturing units outside the nominated property. Control Zone and the Environment Control Zone). In its Interim Report, ICOMOS requested whether the State Due to the impact of domestic, industrial and agricultural Party would consider adjusting and extending the sewage, the water quality of some river systems in the boundaries of the protection zones in order to match with City Site was poor; recent treatment efforts have led to the boundaries of the buffer zone. improvements. Water treatment and conservation have been applied, and anti-pollution measures taken. The State Party replied in February 2019 and made the Protection and monitoring have been applied to dam required adjustments to the protection zones. All legal sites, using Zhejiang Province’s ‘Beautiful Countryside’ procedures were completed on 25 January 2019, program and other initiatives. approved and implemented by Zhejiang Provincial People’s Government. The Conservation Master Plan introduced special regulations to coordinate and guide urban and rural State of conservation development as well as to reduce or eliminate The nominated property has been inventoried, described, urbanization and industrialization within the nominated documented, researched and maintained since 1936. property and its buffer zone.

The physical fabric of the Yaoshan Site is well preserved. It Environmental pressures, which include air quality, water is reburied by archaeological backfilling. quality and industrial pollutants, are addressed by the State Party with mitigation measures. Environmental laws The High-dam at the Mouth of the Valley and the Low-dam and control mechanisms are in place. Water quality has on the Plain - Causeway in Front of the Mountains are been improved within the nominated property and the largely covered by bamboo forests, tea gardens and other buffer zone in accordance with China’s relevant national agriculture and forestry planting. Soil stability problems and regional policies. Controlling measures are in place exist in local exposed sections. Some damage was caused to prevent discharge of household and industrial waste to the Ganggongling Site and Zhoujianfan Site by buildings within the nominated property and its buffer zone. and road construction before the sites were excavated. Natural disasters such as floods and summer rainstorms, Parts of the High-dam at the Mouth of the Valley are mainly in June and July, may also affect the nominated exposed; Ganggongling Site and Qiuwu Site are partially property; measures to prevent soil erosion have also been exposed. Laohuling Site is exposed for archaeological adopted. research and protected by a protective shed. The nominated property was only opened to visitors The City Site is naturally buried or reburied by starting from June 2018 and a range of tourism facilities archaeological backfilling. The villages that were occupying have been put in place. The State Party adopted a phased the Inner City have been relocated out of the nominated tourism policy with the stress on eco-tourism and property. Protective vegetation cover has been planted in responsible management of resources as well as focusing certain patterns to mark and represent the structure of the on observing environmental and ecological carrying Inner City underneath. The largest roadway that was within capacity, which has made a positive impact. ICOMOS, the boundaries of the nominated property has been moved however, notes that given the fast development of both to the south outside the nominated property. Most of the domestic and international tourism in the region, a great waterways in the Inner City are well preserved and in use. increase is expected in visitor numbers, particularly In 2015, they were dredged so as to improve the water should the property be inscribed. quality and restore the ecological environment of the river courses and wetlands. Some of the exposed sections are The State Party submitted additional information in impacted by natural factors such as moisture and rain, and February 2019, explaining measures already taken man-made factors such as buildings, roads and agriculture. identifying carrying capacity and setting early warning indicators at the Heritage Monitoring Centre, influencing Based on the information provided by the State Party and control measures and restrictions. Future tourist service the observations of the ICOMOS technical evaluation facilities will be subject to relevant impact assessments and mission, the state of conservation of the property is approval procedures as per the ‘Law of the People’s adequate. Republic of China on the Protection of Cultural Relics’ and the ‘Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the Factors affecting the property World Heritage Convention’. Based on the information provided by the State Party and the observations of the ICOMOS technical evaluation mission, ICOMOS considers that the main factors affecting the nominated property are development pressures from strong demand on land resources as a

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3 Proposed justification for inscription largest late Neolithic Old World culture which developed in East Asia. It represents social classification, unified Proposed justification belief system, city forming and city-village division as well The nominated property is considered by the State Party as other aspects of regional state society of the Liangzhu to be of Outstanding Universal Value as a cultural culture. Trajectories of social and cultural developments property for the following reasons: and strategies of environmental control exemplified by the nominated property are unique within the geographical  It represents the remarkable contributions made by and cultural context. Compared to important cities in the the Yangtze River Basin to the “Diversity and Unity” cradles of early civilizations, the nominated property is a feature of the origins of Chinese civilization; regional representation of early human urban civilization.  It is a typical approach in ancient China to highlight the socially-graded order and power in urban ICOMOS considers that the comparative analysis justifies planning, created in the early state in the Yangtze consideration of this property for the World Heritage List. River Basin and applied many times elsewhere;  It reflects urban and architectural features created by Criteria under which inscription is proposed people in a wetland environment, especially with the The property is nominated on the basis of cultural criteria Peripheral Water Conservancy System; (iii) and (iv).  It is a supreme achievement of prehistoric rice- cultivating civilization of China and East Asia over Criterion (iii): bear a unique or at least exceptional 5000 years ago; and testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is  It is an outstanding example of early urban civilization living or which has disappeared; in the history of human civilization. This criterion is justified by the State Party on the grounds

that the nominated property represents an early regional Comparative analysis state with rice-cultivating agriculture as the economic The comparative analysis is presented in four parts: the base, and social differentiation and unified belief system. comparison with other sites of the Liangzhu cultural It represents the remarkable contributions made by the period, with other early city sites in China, and with other Yangtze River Basin to the ‘Diversity in Unity’ feature of archaeological sites in East Asia; and a global the origins of Chinese civilization and evidence of its comparison including properties on the World Heritage 5000-year history. List, Tentative Lists and other areas throughout the world with a comparable combination of proposed Outstanding ICOMOS considers that this criterion is justified, for being Universal Value and the attributes of important cities in the most outstanding testimony of Liangzhu culture in the the cradles of early civilizations in the world. The Lower Yangtze region. It provides unparalleled evidence comparison is based on two criteria: the corresponding for concepts of cultural identity, social and political period which is the late Neolithic; and the category of early organization and the development of society and culture states and urban civilization. in the late Neolithic and early Bronze Age in China and

the region. The comparative analysis distinguishes the property in a global context from its comparators in other early complex Criterion (iv): be an outstanding example of a type of societies as being the largest late Neolithic Old World building, architectural or technological ensemble or culture that developed in East Asia. landscape which illustrates a significant stage in human

history; The comparative analysis sets the nominated property apart from its Chinese comparators as one of the largest, This criterion is justified by the State Party on the grounds most important and best-preserved archaeological sites in that the nominated property reveals features of planning China dating to the late Neolithic period. It is the only one created by the urban civilization of the early state in the of the Liangzhu culture sites that is categorized as a city, Yangtze River Basin and was applied many times to the with a large water conservancy system and socially- capital planning of Ancient China’s ritual societies. It graded cemeteries. The nature of urbanization, reflects the urban and architectural features created by management of engineering construction, monumentality, people in a wetland environment, especially with the and fine artistic production, particularly the jade Peripheral Water Conservancy System. The nominated craftsmanship, of Liangzhu are unique in comparison to property also represents the great achievement of the other sites and systems of early civilizations. It bears a prehistoric rice-cultivating civilization of China and East unique testimony to 5000 years of Chinese civilization Asia over 5000 years ago, and as an outstanding example along the Yangtze River. of an early urban civilization.

The Archaeological Remains of Liangzhu City are unique ICOMOS considers that this criterion is justified as the in the context of intact urbanization process when Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu illustrate the transition compared to those in other world regions, such as from small-scale Neolithic societies to a large integrated Mesopotamian cities and Indus Valley cities, as well as to political unit with hierarchy, rituals and crafts. It includes those in north China. The nominated property is the outstanding examples of early urbanization expressed in

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earthen monuments, city and landscape planning, social Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage hierarchy expressed in burial differentiations in Convention’. cemeteries within the nominated property, socio-cultural strategies for organization of space, and materialization of Authenticity power. The State Party asserts that the relationships and

dynamic functions present in the four component parts of ICOMOS considers that the nominated property meets the property, including the archaeological fabric and criteria (iii) and (iv). unearthed artefacts, are authentic. Authenticity is manifested in form and design, materials and substance, Integrity and authenticity use and function, traditions, techniques and management systems, location and setting, spirit and feeling. The Integrity Peripheral Water Conservancy System is represented by the archaeological sites of the Mouth of the Valley (02) The four component parts of the nominated property and the Area of Low-dam on the Plain – Causeway in include all the identified attributes necessary to convey its Front of the Mountains (03). The ancient city is significance as an outstanding representation of a represented by the Area of the City Site (04), which is a prehistoric early state and urban civilization in the well-preserved archaeological site with a triple-structure Yangtze River Basin. The State Party has been proactive spatial layout and different functional zones and material in taking steps towards closing quarries, and moving remains of buildings and different architectural elements. factories and large manufacturing units outside the Social complexity, a unified belief system, social nominated property. In addition, sections of roads have stratification, patterns of power and skilled craftsmanship been removed out of the nominated property. are represented by jade artefacts, which have been

excavated from the Area of the City Site and preserved in The buffer zone offers enough protection for the property appropriate repositories. and includes environmental elements associated with its significance, such as mountains, bodies of water and ICOMOS considers that the requirements of authenticity wetlands. have been met.

ICOMOS considers that development and environmental pressures affecting the property at present are ICOMOS considers that the requirements of integrity and appropriately dealt with within legal and planning authenticity have been met. frameworks. The ICOMOS Interim Report requested clarifications from the State Party with regards to the impact Evaluation of the proposed justification for of increasing urbanization, particularly infrastructure inscription projects such as the 104 National Highway, the 201 ICOMOS considers that the comparative analysis justifies Provincial Highway, and the railway projects. the nomination of the property for the World Heritage List.

The State Party provided additional information in February ICOMOS considers that the nominated property meets 2019 explaining that these roads and railway lines predate criteria (iii) and (iv). the discoveries of the two component parts 02 and 03-1 and that subsequent remedial steps have already been taken or ICOMOS considers that the nominated property meets are in the process of completion, including the road and the requirements of integrity and authenticity traffic planning. This includes abandoning the Yuancheng- Hangzhou railway line, constructing ring roads outside the Attributes buffer zone, incorporating the water conservancy system in The attributes carrying the Outstanding Universal Value the Conservation and Management Plan for the of the property are the Location of Liangzhu City; the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City (2017-2035) and the Triple centripetal capital pattern; the Functional zoning of creation of vegetation shields to improve the visual integrity Liangzhu City; the Characteristics of a water city of the of component parts 02 and 03-1. Inner and Outer cities; the Settlements of the Liangzhu culture; the Cemeteries that indicate social stratification; The Interim Report requested a clarification from the State Earth and stone work of the City Site and dams; the Party with regards to the impact of the potential future Large-scale peripheral water conservancy system; the increase of visitors to the property. Artificial terraces in the Outer City; the Remains of jade processing; the Excavated jade artefacts; and the Large The State Party provided additional information in February amount of carbonized rice remains. 2019 on measures already taken identifying carrying capacity and setting early warning indicators at the Heritage ICOMOS considers that the nominated serial property is Monitoring Centre influencing control measures and supported by a relevant comparative analysis, restrictions. Future tourist service facilities will be subject to demonstrates criteria (iii) and (iv), and meets the relevant impact assessments and approval procedures as requirements for authenticity and integrity. per the ‘Law of the People’s Republic of China on the

Protection of Cultural Relics’ and the ‘Operational

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4 Conservation measures and monitoring Monitoring Four main indicators are identified for monitoring the Conservation measures property: heritage preservation and conservation, covering Conservation measures undertaken by the State Party the physical attributes of remains, and features of the address three aspects: conservation of the pattern, historical environment; factors affecting the heritage, conservation of the physical fabric, and conservation of the covering development pressures, environmental environment for the four component parts of the nominated conditions, natural disasters and tourism pressures; property. heritage management, covering management and conservation zoning, and management planning; and the Artefacts that are discovered from the nominated property heritage utilisation, gathering together heritage are conserved, kept and protected in four institutions: presentation of the site and the stakeholders. Zhejiang Provincial Museum, Liangzhu Museum, Hangzhou Yuhuang Museum, and Zhejiang Provincial ICOMOS considers that the indicators are well linked to the Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology. attributes of the proposed Outstanding Universal Value and the identified factors affecting the property. Conservation measures follow nationally-prescribed norms and internationally accepted guidelines. Routine Monitoring of the nominated property is active and is mainly maintenance measures are in place. Adequate funding is divided into two administrative arrangements of available for conservation works and periodical professional monitoring and routine monitoring. A summary maintenance. Yuhang District Government uses 10% of the of the monitoring record of 2016 for the property is included total revenue from land transfer fees for projects on in the nomination dossier. environment and heritage, which results in further funds for the conservation of the property. ICOMOS considers that documentation should be a further indicator to ensure the appropriate updating and In its Interim Report, ICOMOS requested additional management of documents, which are essential for information from the State Party on how the Zhejiang effective management and protection of the property and Liangzhu Archaeological Site Administration deals with its features. human remains, given the nature and scale of the excavated cemeteries. ICOMOS considers that conservation measures and monitoring are adequate. ICOMOS, however, considers The State Party submitted additional information in that documentation should be added to monitoring February 2019, emphasizing that human remains are indicators. difficult to collect because they are poorly preserved in general. Some of them have nevertheless been collected, numbered and preserved through uniform storage methods in the Archaeological and Protection Centre of the Liangzhu 5 Protection and management Archaeological Site. Research and analysis are on-going. Documentation The Interim Report also requested additional information The nominated property has been well-documented since from the State Party on the integration of conservation 1936 up to the present. The Interim Report requested from planning into archaeological research for the nominated the State Party information regarding the management property, given its great potential for further archaeological and updating of the documentation for the restoration and research and the importance of linking this research to conservation interventions made in the component sites conservation planning in order to ensure the safeguarding of the nominated property. of the nominated property. The State Party submitted additional information The State Party explained the different measures explaining existing protocols and procedures followed for implemented to integrate archaeological research and the documentation, recording and interventions reports conservation planning, including the provision of and their archiving in accordance with the ‘Work dynamically adjusting the protection zones according to Procedures for Records and Archives of National Priority results of archaeological research. Also, in situ, Protected Sites’ and the ‘Archive Filing and Sorting conservation will be provided for all newly-discovered Procedures of the Hangzhou Liangzhu Archaeological archaeological fabric. Conservation planning will be Site Administrative District Management Committee’. adopted for archaeological work to ensure protection of physical fabric found by excavation. Further integration of Legal protection archaeological work and conservation planning will be The different component parts of the nominated property enhanced through future revisions of the Conservation are protected on three levels: national, provincial and Master Plan for Liangzhu Site. municipal. On the national level, Yaoshan Site (01), Causeway in front of the Mountains (03-2) and City Site (04), as National Priority Protected Sites, are protected by the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Protection of Cultural Relics, issued on 19 November 1982 and

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revised on 4 November 2017; and the Regulations for the Department; Cultural Heritage Management Department; Implementation of the Law of the People’s Republic of Cultural Industry Department; and Heritage Management China on the Protection of Cultural Relics, issued on Department; and four subsidiary bodies – Liangzhu 13 May 2003 and revised on 7 October 2017. High-dam on Museum (Liangzhu Institute), Heritage Monitoring and the Mouth of the Valley (02), as a Provincial Site of Zhejiang Management Center of Hangzhou Liangzhu Province, is protected by the Regulations on the Heritage Archaeological Site, Hangzhou Liangzhu Archaeological Protection Management of Zhejiang Province, issued on Site Office, and Hangzhou Meilizhou Industrial Co. Ltd. 25 April 2002 and revised on 28 November 2014; and the Regulations for the Implementation of the Law of the The Cultural Heritage Management Department is People’s Republic of China on the Protection of Cultural already established and carries out its responsibilities with Relics, issued on 13 May 2003 and revised on 39 members of staff, specialists in historiography, 7 October 2017. archaeology, museology, administrative management, financial management and archival science. On the provincial level, Yaoshan Site (01), Causeway in front of the Mountains (03-2) and City Site (04), as National The management of the property is carried out according Priority Protected Sites, are protected by the Regulations to plans at three levels: the Conservation Master Plan for on the Heritage Protection Management of Zhejiang the National Priority Protected Site (2008–2025); the Province, issued on 25 April 2002 and revised on Delimitation Scheme of Protection Zone and conservation 28tNovember 2014. Low-dam on the Plain (03-1), as a Control Zone for the Periphery Water Conservancy Provincial Protected Site of Zhejiang, is protected by the Project Site of Liangzhu Ancient City, as a Provincial Regulations on the Protection and Management of the Protected Site of Zhejiang (2017); and the Conservation Liangzhu Archaeological Sites of Hangzhou, issued on and Management Plan for Archaeological Ruins of 25 April 2002 and revised on 22 November 2013. Liangzhu City (2017-2035). All three plans are approved and have been implemented by the Management On the municipal level, Yaoshan Site (01), Causeway in Committee since 2017. front of the Mountains (03-2) and City Site (04), as National Priority Protected Sites, are protected by the Regulations The Conservation Master Plan for the National Priority on the Protection and Management of the Liangzhu Protected Site does not apply to the High-dam at the Archaeological Sites of Hangzhou, issued on 25 April 2002 Mouth of the Valley (02) and the Low-dam on the Plain and revised on 22 November 2013. (03-1) because they are not yet listed as National Priority Protected Sites. The ICOMOS Interim Report requested the State Party to provide dates of designation of component parts 02 (High- Risk management is addressed with regards to floods and dam at the Mouth of the Valley) and component part 03-1 summer rainstorms. Flood control for the nominated (Low-dam on the Plain) as “National Protection Sites”. property has been included in the urban flood controls system for Hangzhou. Protection from summer rainstorms The State Party replied in its additional information has been addressed by the national-level Master Plan submitted in February 2019 that the procedure for the (Conservation Master Plan for the Liangzhu designation of these component parts was initiated on Archaeological Site) and the Conservation and 30 July 2018 and that the declaration of approval and Management Plan for the property (Conservation and promulgation as National Priority Protected Sites will be Management Plan for Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu finalised by the end of 2019. The 10 dams within will still City), by means of vegetation cover for the above-ground be designated under Key Protection. archaeological remains to prevent soil erosion.

Management system The ICOMOS Interim Report requested further The ‘Hangzhou Liangzhu Archaeological Site information from the State Party on whether there is a plan Administrative District Management Committee’ (the for risk management and disaster preparedness for the Management Committee, known also as Zhejiang nominated property. Liangzhu Archaeological Site Administration) is the responsible body for the management and conservation The State Party submitted information including the Plan of the property. This Management Committee works for Safety Emergencies Related to Cultural Relics in the under the administrative management of the People’s Hangzhou Liangzhu Archaeological Site Administrative Government of Hangzhou City and the professional District, which is based on the existing national-level guidance and supervision of Zhejiang Bureau of Cultural protocols issued by China’s State Administration for Heritage (provincial level) and the State Administration of Cultural Heritage. Cultural Heritage (national level). Visitor management The Management Committee is in charge of conservation, Specific presentation programmes have been formulated urban and rural planning, economic development, social under the overall framework of the Conservation Master management and other coordination and supervision Plan for the Liangzhu Archaeological Site and the tasks. It carries out its responsibilities through five Conservation and Management Plan for Archaeological departments: Office; Planning and Construction Ruins of Liangzhu City. Presentation plans include

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component part 01 (Yaoshan Site) and component part Evaluation of the effectiveness of the protection and 04 (City Site). The other two component parts (2 and 3) management of the nominated property will not be open for visitation in the near future. The management of the nominated property according to three levels of plans is in place and their implementation The planned infrastructure for visitation includes has started. Adequate legal protection and funding are in entrances, heritage presentation facilities, heritage place. The Management Committee is formed and has interpretation facilities, tourist service facilities, and been actively managing the property. presentation routes, among others. A clear section, devoted to the documentation of Besides the planned on-site presentation, the archaeological and conservation activities, should be Archaeological Site Museum (Liangzhu Museum) offers added to the management plan. further presentation and interpretation for the nominated property. Furthermore, the property will be promoted via A development impact assessment is required in order to traditional and non-traditional media. It is also promoted assess the impact of the rapid present and future via academic programs, education and awareness-raising development pace of Yuhang District and Hangzhou City activities and publications. on the nominated property as well as the social and economic impact of the large-scale relocation plans for ICOMOS notes that visitor service facilities and households, businesses and industries. management on-site are under construction and corresponding visitor management systems are in The visitor management plan should be completed taking preparation. into consideration the potential pressures from future domestic and international tourism. ICOMOS considers that tourism pressures may impact the property and the visitor management plan should be ICOMOS considers that the protection and management completed and implemented observing the following of the property is adequate. ICOMOS recommends that a priorities: clear section on documentation and a visitor management plan are added to the management plan and an impact - Control of visitor numbers to the property to meet assessment is made with regards to the fast pace of carrying-capacity goals; development, and the social and economic impact of the - Ensure that there is minimal touching and/or trampling large-scale relocation plans. of the artefacts and constituent site elements; and

- Promote an integrated interpretation of the property,

as it is a serial site spread across four locations, with 6 Conclusion only two of these accessible to visitors.

ICOMOS considers that the serial approach is justified, Community involvement the selection of sites is appropriate, and the nominated The following programs were created to promote public property meets criteria (iii) and (iv) and conditions of awareness and participation, such as organizing a cultural integrity and authenticity. The main threats to the property heritage day, the signing by thousands of residents to are development pressures, environmental pressures and support nominating the property for the World Heritage List, visitor pressures. Disasters may include floods and a program for volunteers to work in guiding, consultation, summer rainstorms. social education activities, exhibition planning and design, data collection and sorting, among other activities.

Since 2013, 488 households have been moved and 7 Recommendations relocated outside the nominated property, and others with adverse effects on the property will be moved gradually Recommendations with respect to inscription under the guidance of the Compensatory Approach for ICOMOS recommends that the Archaeological Ruins of Encouraging Rural Private Housing Relocation of Liangzhu Liangzhu City, China, be inscribed on the World Heritage Archaeological Site. Meanwhile, households with relatively List on the basis of criteria (iii) and (iv). small effects on the heritage will be retained in an appropriate quantity according to relevant plans. Also, Proposed statement of businesses and industries have already been relocated, Outstanding Universal value while others are planned to be relocated. Brief synthesis ICOMOS considers that an environmental impact The Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City was the centre assessment is necessary to identify the social and of power and belief of an early regional state in the Circum- economic impacts of the relocated as well as the remaining Taihu Lake Area. It is located on a plain criss-crossed by households. river networks in the eastern foothills of the Tianmu Mountains in the Yangtze River Basin on the southeast coast of China.

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The property is composed of four areas: Area of Yaoshan as the natural topography that is directly linked to the Site; Area of High-dam at the Mouth of the Valley; Area of function of the sites. Low-dam on the Plain – Causeway in Front of the Mountains; and Area of City Site. The buffer zone includes the historical environmental elements associated with the value of the property, such The Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City reveals an as mountains, isolated mounds, bodies of water and early regional state with rice-cultivating agriculture as its wetlands, but also includes scattered contemporaneous economic base, and social differentiation and a unified archaeological remains surrounding the ancient city, as belief system, which existed in the Late Neolithic period in well as the intrinsic association of value between different China. With a series of sites, including the City Site built sites and their spatial layout and pattern. during ca. 3300-2300 BCE, the Peripheral Water Conservancy System with complex functions and socially- The impact of urban development and construction and graded cemeteries (including an altar), and the excavated natural factors threatening the property have been properly objects represented by series of jade artefacts addressed. symbolizing the belief system, as well as its early age, the property represents the remarkable contributions made Authenticity by the Yangtze River Basin to the origins of Chinese Sites in the four areas, including the City Site, the civilization. In addition, the pattern and functional zoning Peripheral Water Conservancy System, the socially- of the capital, together with the characteristics of the graded cemeteries (including an altar), preserved as settlements of the Liangzhu culture and of the Outer City archaeological sites, carry the authentic historical with the terraces, support strongly the value of the information of the heritage of the period ca. 3300-2300 property. BCE, including characteristics in site selection, space and environment, location and layout, contour of remains, Criterion (iii): The Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City, materials and technologies, and historical function of the as the centre of power and belief of Liangzhu culture, is an sites, as well as the internal connection between the outstanding testimony of an early regional state with rice- overall layout of the property and individual elements, and cultivating agriculture as its economic base, and social the historical natural environment of the distribution region differentiation and a unified belief system, which existed in of the sites. The objects unearthed from the four areas the lower reaches of the Yangtze River in the Late Neolithic represented by jade artefacts authentically preserve the period of China. It provides unparalleled evidence for shape, categories, decorative patterns, functions, concepts of cultural identity, social and political materials and the complex processing technologies and organization, and the development of society and culture exquisite craftsmanship of the artefacts. Together with the in the late Neolithic and early Bronze Age in China and archaeological sites, they authentically and credibly the region. demonstrate the degree of development of the rice- cultivating civilization in the lower reaches of the Yangtze Criterion (iv): The Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu River in the Neolithic period and provide a panorama of illustrates the transition from small-scale Neolithic Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City as an early societies to a large integrated political unit with hierarchy, regional urban civilization. rituals and crafts. It includes outstanding examples of early urbanization expressed in earthen monuments, city Protection and management requirements and landscape planning, social hierarchy expressed in burial differentiations in cemeteries within the property, Three components sites, Area of Yaoshan Site (01), Area socio-cultural strategies for organization of space, and of Causeway in Front of the Mountains (03-2), and Area materialization of power. It represents the great of City Site (04) of the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu achievement of prehistoric rice-cultivating civilization of City, have obtained the highest-level national protection China over 5000 years ago, and as an outstanding and are located in the Key Protection Subzone within the example of early urban civilization. protection range of “Liangzhu Archaeological Site”, a National Priority Protected Site for the protection of Integrity cultural relics. The Area of High-dam at the Mouth of the Valley (02) and Area of the Low-dam on the Plain (03-1) The four component parts of the Archaeological Ruins of were listed as Provincial Protected Sites of Zhejiang in Liangzhu City include all the identified attributes 2017, and an application is being processed for listing necessary to convey its significance as an outstanding them as National Priority Protected Sites. representation of a prehistoric early state and urban civilization in the Yangtze River Basin. The property is owned by the State and is protected by relevant laws and regulations such as the Law of the The property contains all material elements of the People’s Republic of China on the Protection of Cultural archaeological ruins, four main man-made elements, i.e. Relics, Regulations for the Implementation of Law of the the City Site, the Peripheral Water Conservancy System, People’s Republic of China on the Protection of Cultural the socially-graded cemeteries (including an altar), and Relics, and Administrative Regulations of Zhejiang excavated objects represented by jade artefacts, as well Province on the Protection of Cultural Relics, and enjoys both national and provincial-level status in protection.

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Special protection policies and regulations for the c. Promoting an integrated interpretation property have been formulated and improved, including of the property that includes all its four Regulations for the Protection and Management of component parts; Liangzhu Archaeological Site of Hangzhou (revised in 2013), and a series of special regulations for heritage c) Adding updated documentation as an indicator protection has been prepared, issued and implemented, to the monitoring system for the property, including the Conservation Master Plan for the Liangzhu Archaeological Site (2008-2025) as a National Priority d) Developing and implementing Heritage Impact Protected Site, and monitoring over the property and its Assessments for development proposals, surroundings is also strengthened. particularly infrastructure projects such as national and provincial highways and railway All four areas of the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City projects, as well as the social and economic share the same buffer zone and are managed effectively impact of relocations of households, businesses in a uniform way by a common management authority – and industries, the Hangzhou Liangzhu Archaeological Administrative District Management Committee. e) Submitting all major projects that could impact on the property to the World Heritage Centre in It has a clear system for division of work and line with paragraph 172 of the Operational responsibilities, complete functions, sufficient technical Guidelines for the Implementation of the World and management staff specializing in protection, sufficient Heritage Convention; resources of funds, and complete facilities.

Various protection and management regulations will be strictly implemented, environmental capacity and development and construction activities in the property area will be effectively controlled, and negative impacts on the property from the pressures of various developments will be curbed; demands of stakeholders will be coordinated and taken into overall consideration, and the balance between the protection of the property and developments in tourism and urban construction will be kept, both rationally and effectively.

Research, interpretation and dissemination of the heritage value will be strengthened; the integrated function of the property, including cultural tourism and ecological protection, will be brought into play appropriately, and a sustainable and harmonious relationship between the protection of Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City and the development of Yuhang District and Hangzhou City will be maintained.

Additional recommendations ICOMOS further recommends that the State Party give consideration to the following:

a) Completing the designation of component part 02 of the property (Area of High-dam at the Mouth of the Valley) and component part 03-1 (Area of Low-dam on the Plain) as “National Protection Priority Sites”, as planned,

b) Completing the management plan with a visitor management plan including the following aspects:

a. Controlling visitor numbers to meet carrying capacity goals, b. Ensuring minimal touching and/or trampling of the artefacts and constituent site elements,

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Map showing the boundaries of the nominated property

Aerial view of City Site

Yaoshan Cemetery

Archaeological Excavation of the Zhongjiagang River

Deity and Animal mask motif - Fanshan Cemetery