Protect the heritage
in a modern China
|
Almost 200 metres of the Great Wall in Hebei Province has been torn down to make way for a road, a housing complex and a vegetable warehouse. It was said that the local government did not know that approval from the State Council and Bureau of Cultural Relics was required. This is not the only story of this type in recent years. In fact, the construction of the Three Gorges Dam is expected to raise the water level by more than 200 metres, covering hundreds of monuments along the river. Because of the lack of funding, only a few lucky ones will be disassembled and reconstructed above the new water level. There are also reports about Chinese historical artifacts being smuggled out of the country and sold around the world. While the government promotes pride in Chinese culture and history, there is little respect for either among some citizens. This is a legacy of the Cultural Revolution, when the Red Guards smashed and burnt monuments as part of the so-called “Four Olds Campaign”. It was said that traditional beliefs and relics were poisons to the mind. Now in the era of rapid economic development, when money is the central concern of both government and people, little has been done to instill respect for the past. The process of modernisation is leading to its destruction. Education is required to change the situation. Only when people feel that the relics are worth more than money can measure will the destruction be stopped. But education takes time. Meanwhile, immediate action is needed. Detailed regulations should be set to protect the national heritage. Late action is better than none. However, if it is not taken soon, there may be little left for the next generation.  Sophia Yow Editor-in-Chief |
Letters to the Editor
January 1998
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