Of China's 400,000 identified relic sites only 17.5 percent have been listed through a government compulsory protection initiative but the rest could be lost at anytime due to damage caused by nature and human activities, a senior Chinese cultural official has stated.

 

The sites, the majority are earth buildings scattered throughout the countryside, are the country's historical and cultural heritage and remain after China's 7,000 years of agricultural civilization, said Shan Jixiang, director of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage.

 

He made his remarks on a recent inspection tour of such sites in east China's Zhejiang Province which boasts one of the earliest civilizations in the country.

 

China’s nationwide survey of cultural relics is included in the country's 11th Five-Year Plan for national economic and social development from 2006-2010.

 

Shan said many of the sites didn't form part of the country's heritage protection work as they were not included in the previous two national surveys of cultural relics conducted in 1956 and 1981.

 

Unlisted ancient earthworks were vulnerable to the country's new wave of construction as they were  not protected by law or safeguarded through official channels, said Shan. He is continuing his inspection work in other provinces in preparation for the upcoming national survey.

 

Shan said this round of the national survey would underscore the importance of rural, relic sites. The drafting of protection measures would take into consideration the surrounding environment and intangible cultural heritage which formed part of the sites.

 

On his Zhejiang inspection Shan spoke with local officials on policies, land property rights and funding channels to support relic protection.

 

(Xinhua News Agency September 26, 2006)