cultural preservation

The Tales of Two Temples

At Sinosphere, Didi Kirsten Tatlow describes efforts to preserve Beijing’s Ming-dynasty...

Michael Meyer: See You Again, Old Beijing

The American travel writer Michael Meyer recently went on a book tour in China for the Chinese version of his book, “The Last Days of Old Beijing”. From The Slate Book Review: I’m nearing the end of a three-week...

False Historical Consciousness

After scuttling plans in 2010 to redevelop Beijing’s historic Bell and Drum Tower neighborhoods, demolition of a nearby square has now begun. The government has announced plans to restore the tangle of hutongs back to its...

Uncertain Future for Architectural Treasures

Breakneck development and urbanization campaigns often threaten the relics reflecting China’s ancient architectural tradition. An article from Caixin takes us to the northern province of Shanxi, a “treasure trove of...

Extinction Threatens 40% of China’s Minority Languages

A widespread fear among Tibetans, both at home and in exile, is that their language will die out. Education reforms relegating Tibetan to secondary status in schools are one of the core grievances against Chinese authorities,...

Old Building Restoration Taking a Hold in China

Starting from the reinvention of Dashilar, a historical neighborhood in Beijing, innovative architects are racking their brains to balance city development and cultural preservation. From Clarissa Sebag-Montefiore at The Los...

Ancient Morality Text Updated for Young

China has updated the ’24 Filial Exemplars’, an ancient morality text, to promote filial piety among the new generation. From Tania Branigan at The Guardian: The original 24 Filial Exemplars date from around the 14th...

Razing History

In the Atlantic, Jonathan Kaiman writes about the destruction of Beijing’s historic neighborhoods, including the hutongs surrounding Zhongnanhai, the central leadership compound, which were on a protected list compiled in...

A Trip Down Beijing’s Half-fake Memory Lane

For the Los Angeles Times, Megan K. Stack writes about life in the Beijing hutongs as they are being destroyed and transformed into tourist sites around her: All around us, workers are tearing down the neighborhood and...

Drum Tower Plan Shelved

A controversial plan to destroy one of Beijing’s most historic neighborhoods around the Bell and Drum Towers in order to develop a commercial tourist attraction have been put on hold, according to Global Times: Extensive...

Carrying the Spear (and Dagger) for a Fading Art Form

Like much of old Beijing, Peking Opera is now rapidly fading into history. The New York Times reports on the fight to keep it alive: This modest and slightly shabby theater is part of the Beijing Opera Academy, in a neighborhood...

Rival Museums Retrace Route of China’s Imperial Treasures

The New York Times reports on a joint project by the Palace Museum in Beijing and the National Palace Museum in Taipei to research the stashing and protection of cultural relics during the 1930s and 40s: The original Palace...

Historical Beijing Quarter ‘To Be Destroyed’

The Telegraph reports on the pending demolition of Beijing’s historic Bell and Drum Tower neighborhood: Over the last 20 years mile after mile of Beijing’s “hutongs”, or alleyways, have been bulldozed to...

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