In 2024, China has taken significant strides in preserving and inheriting its rich cultural heritage, reinforcing its commitment to safeguarding traditions that span millennia. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has recently inscribed the Spring Festival—the social practices of the Chinese people in celebration of the traditional new year—on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This addition brings China’s total to 44 elements on UNESCO’s list, the highest number globally, underscoring the international recognition of the country’s cultural preservation efforts.
As the cradle of one of the world’s oldest civilizations, China places immense importance on protecting both its tangible and intangible cultural assets. In the past year, President Xi Jinping emphasized culture more than 100 times during his domestic inspection tours, highlighting the nation’s dedication to cultural development. During a visit to the Baoji Bronze Ware Museum in Shaanxi Province, President Xi admired the ‘He Zun’, a bronze vessel bearing the earliest known written record of the Chinese characters for ‘China’. He urged for a deeper understanding and transmission of China’s 5,000-year-old civilization, emphasizing the need to instill reverence and affection for traditional culture.
China’s efforts have yielded remarkable results. According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the country is home to over 760,000 immovable cultural relics and has established a comprehensive four-tier intangible cultural heritage inventory, recognizing over 100,000 representative items and 90,000 inheritors. In Hubei Province, President Xi visited the Yunmeng County Museum, where he viewed ancient bamboo and wooden slips dating back to the Qin and Han dynasties (221 BC–220 AD). He stressed the importance of archaeological research and the preservation of cultural relics as tangible evidence of China’s historical legacy.
Beyond preservation, China is actively promoting the integration of culture and tourism. President Xi has called for the cultural tourism sector to become a pillar industry, leveraging the rich revolutionary history and traditional villages across provinces like Hunan, Hubei, and Anhui. Cultural tourism has flourished during holidays, with trends such as Zibo barbecue, Luoyang Hanfu festivals, Guizhou’s ‘Village BA’ basketball tournaments, and ‘Erbin’ festivities gaining nationwide popularity. These events, alongside concerts, festivals, and fireworks displays, have invigorated regional tourism.
Museums have also seen a surge in visitors. In 2023, museum visits across China reached 1.29 billion, surpassing previous records, according to the National Cultural Heritage Administration. Additionally, China’s expanding visa-free policy has ignited a ‘China Travel’ boom, inviting international visitors to experience Chinese culture and modernization firsthand. In the third quarter of 2024, 8.19 million foreigners entered China, marking a 48.8 percent increase year on year, with visa-free entries up by 78.6 percent.
China’s dedication to cultural heritage preservation and promotion not only preserves its historical legacy but also fosters cultural exchange and mutual understanding on a global scale. As the nation continues to evolve, it remains rooted in traditions that have shaped its identity for thousands of years.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
