Press Releases

Global Heritage Fund Invests in Historic Preservation and Master Planning of Pingyao Ancient City, Shanxi, China

July 01, 2008

 

Contact:
GHF Public Relations
Global Heritage Fund
+1.650.325.7520
(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Global Heritage Fund Invests in Historic Preservation and Master Planning of Pingyao Ancient City, Shanxi Province, China

GHF Leads International Effort to Save China’s Last Intact Historic Walled UNESCO World Heritage City With Ancient Courtyards and Temples from Ming and Qing Dynasties

Pingyao, China - June 25, 2008 - Global Heritage Fund (GHF) is undertaking a four year program of planning, scientific conservation, community training and in-country fundraising to preserve the endangered UNESCO World Heritage site of Pingyao Ancient City, located in one of China’s least developed provinces. Saving the last remaining Ming and Qing Dynasty courtyards and temples in PingYao, China’s first banking capital, and reviving Pingyao’s rich traditions, arts and living culture, are the project’s first priorities.

“These are China’s last authentic ancient courtyards within an intact historic walled city- they must be saved. The past decade has seen nearly total loss of traditional courtyard architecture in Beijing (the famous ‘hutongs’) and the last historic districts in modern cities,” said Jeff Morgan, Executive Director of GHF. “With Shanghai TongJi University and the Pingyao County Government, we have developed a comprehensive master plan over the past two years to give elevated legal protection and regulation to save Pingyao Ancient City for the future generations.”

In addition to planning, new regulations and a scientific conservation program, GHF is supporting a community-led initiative to revive Pingyao’s ancient crafts, arts, architecture and traditions through investments in a unique Pingyao Cultural Heritage Route, together with the training of local people through studios, apprenticeships and cooperatives. The revival of Pingyao’s living arts, architectural traditions, woodworking, crafts and products will take place in partnership with each community ward in restored historic courtyards and community buildings.

Pingyao visitation is expected to grow to a sustainable and rewarding level in the coming years and become one of the finest examples of preservation of historic architecture and urban planning in the region.

“We are grateful for the vision and support from GHF in our work to preserve Pingyao Ancient City, says Mr. Wang Jianzhong, Magistrate of Pingyao. “Private sector investment, technical and scientific assistances, and international partnerships are critical to our efforts to protect and successfully preserve Pingyao Ancient City, one of China’s finest jewels”.

Jeff Morgan, GHF’s Executive Director, is being honored by an invitation to carry the Olympic Torch in Pingyao on June 25th, en route to the Beijing Olympics.

About Global Heritage Fund
Global Heritage Fund is an international conservancy preserving endangered world heritage sites in developing countries. Deploying our proven Preservation by Design methodology, GHF provides timely funding and technical expertise to 1) develop comprehensive master conservation plans, 2) enable sustained preservation through local community involvement, 3) ensure excellence in conservation, and 4) secure complementary funding and long-term partnerships. Global Heritage Fund is a registered non-profit international conservancy based in Palo Alto, California. GHF UK was established in the United Kingdom in 2007. Web site: http://www.globalheritagefund.org.

About GHF’s China Heritage Program
As the oldest continuous civilization, China is facing tremendous challenges in conserving its most important cultural heritage sites. Hundreds of ancient sites, historic cities and cultural landscapes are at risk of destruction by unchecked urban sprawl, encroachment, and pollution connected to China’s rapid development. Neglect, mass demolition, and a lack of resources for conservation threaten to relegate many of China’s most important heritage sites to endangered status. Protecting China’s remaining ancient treasures without impeding development is a delicate balance.

Many of China’s most spectacular and vulnerable heritage sites are located in the some of the poorest provinces in the country’s interior. Well-planned cultural tourism presents one of the best opportunities for economic betterment of local communities living close to world-class heritage sites and treasures.

Global Heritage Fund (GHF) is working to build a sustainable, nationwide program to save China’s last remaining world-class heritage sites. GHF’s goal is to save 6-8 endangered world heritage and national treasure sites in China’s least developed provinces over the next 10 years. Without private philanthropy, international technical cooperation’s, improved planning, zoning, and scientific conservation, many of China’s glorious heritage sites will be lost forever.

Kuang Han Li has been hired as Manager of China for GHF, bringing extensive field experience working with all levels of the Chinese government in cultural heritage preservation. A graduate of historic preservation and architecture, Ms. Li was previously a consultant for the Getty Conservation Institute (GCI) where she worked at the Mountain resort and Outlying Temples in Chengde, a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of The China Principles project. This is a new conservation guideline developed in collaboration with the government of the People’s Republic of China that serves to guide the ethics and principles of historic preservation in China.