Humans a threat to heritage sites
24/9/2005 8:39
The government will set aside 250 million yuan (US$30.9 million) to
preserve China's large heritage sites, some of them sprawling over 50,000 square
kilometers.
The greatest threat, say experts, is not the ravages of weather,
but human activity.
The nation's cultural heritage watchdog agency said those
living near the sites should develop economy and improve their livelihood while
protecting the heritage sites.
Shan jixiang, director of the State
Administration of Cultural Heritage, said China has 30 state-listed cultural
heritage sites, each over 50,000 square kilometers. They are scattered in 107
cities and counties.
The daming Palace ruins, in the northeastern part of
Xi'an, which served as capital of a dozen ancient dynasties, is a typical
example of large cultural ruins. The well-preserved cultural site contains many
archeological objects, said Shan, who recently inspected the site.
The
government of Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi Province, has earmarked 20 million yuan
for planting trees and dismantling illegal installations adjacent to the
ruins.
Man is a bigger threat than floods and mudflows, Shan
said.
Xinhua
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