Natural heritage values and comparative analyses of Kanas,China

Kanas is a National Nature Reserve and National 5A Scenic Area,and it is also high on China’s National Natural Heritage List. In this paper,with an integrated analysis and comparative geo-graphical approach,the genesis and current features of the Kanas landscape are analyzed systematically according to the criteria for outstanding universal values that must be met for designation by the United Nations as World Natural Heritage. It is concluded that Kanas has outstanding universal values in geosciences,biology and aesthetics. Through comparison with other World Natural Heritage sites of the same geological types,in the same biogeographic zone and in the same latitude,it is concluded that Kanas meets criteria vii,viii,ix and x for designation as World Natural Heritage. Thus,this work establishes a scientific foundation for nomination of Kanas for such a status.

Study on the Protection of Sites of“Maritime Silk Road”in Haikou from the Perspective of World Cultural Heritage

The sites of Maritime Silk Road in Haikou City are composed of sites of navigation and trade,religious temples and stone monuments,urban construction and coastal defense scattered on the south bank of the Qiongzhou Strait.They played a key role in the formation and shaping of the settlements in Haikou City,recorded the process of intercommunication and integration between Chinese civilization and other regional cultures,and witnessed the germination,flourishing and inheritance of Haikou’s unique marine culture.The mixture of points,lines and planes blends with the urban area and coastline of Haikou City in spatial distribution.In this paper,from the perspective of world cultural heritage,some suggestions for the protection planning of sites of Maritime Silk Road in Haikou City were proposed based on the analysis of historical and geographical background,comparison of domestic and foreign similar sites,and evaluation of cultural heritage value.

On the Productive Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Handicrafts and Its Human Values——A Case Study of the“Wuhan Model”

Among the three methods of intangible cultural heritage （ICH） protection--salvage, integrity and productivity^--productive protection is the most complex and controversial one. Through a comprehensive analysis of legal relations, coordination mecha- nisms and modes of operation by the Wuhan Tourism Investment Group in the course of safeguarding intangible cultural heritage in handicrafts, this paper discusses the sustainable ＂Wuhan Model＂ and its human values.

Natural Heritage Value of Xinjiang Tianshan and Global Comparative Analysis

Xinjiang Tianshan is a serial natural property that has been nominated for World Heritage status.This paper presents a systematically comprehensive and comparative analysis of the heritage resources of Xinjiang Tianshan according to the World Heritage criteria.Its biological,ecological and aesthetic values,which are of global importance, are documented.It is concluded that Xinjiang Tianshan meets the world heritage criteria(vii)and (ix).Xinjiang Tianshan is compared with other mountain world heritage sites,mountains in Central Asia,the Tianshan Mountains outside China,and with the protected areas of the Tianshan Mountains on the Tentative List for World Heritage Sites,so as to provide objective data for the world heritage application.

Nuodeng Salt Village Under the View of Mixed Heritage

Located in Yunlong Dali, Nuodeng salt-village has thousands of years deep in Bai history, culture of the precipitation, the rich historical and cultural heritage of the Bai nationality. In Bai settlement formation and development history, its diverse natural appearances and rich cultural styles have the dual characteristics in natural and cultural heritage. Nuodeng salt-village is a connection between central plains culture and South Asia culture, also a complete ecological museum. By this time, this essay put Jinan springs under the view of mixed heritage based on the background of its history and geography, to identify the natural and cultural value of Nuodeng salt-village by comparison and conclude the heritage protection planning accordingly.

Evaluation of water resources conserved by forests in the Hani rice terraces system of Honghe County,Yunnan,China：an application of the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model

The Hani Rice Terraces System, based on gravity-flow irrigation, is one of the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems(GIAHS) pilot sites selected by FAO in 2010. The water resource plays an important role in the sustainable development of this system. The value of water conserved by the forest is influenced by natural, economic and social factors. In this paper, the water quality, per capita water resources, per capita GDP and population density are chosen as indices to construct an index system for a comprehensive evaluation of water resources value. The weights of these indices are 0.443, 0.31, 0.141 and 0.106 respectively, which are determined by the analytic hierarchy process(AHP) method. The water resources value has been assessed by the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model. The results show that the water resources value in the Hani Rice Terraces System is 4.25 RMB/m^3. Evaluating the value of water resources in the Hani Rice Terraces System can provide a reference for ecological compensation, for raising public awareness of the importance of protecting the system, and ultimately achieving its sustainable development.

＂Jerusalem＂ of China： The Neoteric Christian Churches in Shaanxi before 1949

Christian buildings in Shaanxi already have more than 1,300 years development history since the first church was built in Chang＇an in 635 AD. The Rapid development of Christian buildings started from 1840 due to the entry of foreign missionaries. Various types of Christian buildings rose up in the province, were constructed by local builder, but designed and funded by foreign missionaries. In comparison to other Christian buildings, churches have unique historical value, cultural value and also special meaning in architecture art. However, their cultural heritage value has not yet been sufficiently considered. They are facing the prospect of being damaged and demolished, even in nowadays. It is incumbent that their architecture to be historically evaluated and that ways to be found to preserve them. In this paper, the author will focus on the neoteric Christian churches and illustrate the architecture by taking examples from the churches in Shaanxi, along with the intention to clarify the relationship between social background and the history of evolution of these churches. In addition, the authors have taken the chance to understand more comprehensively about the fascinating history of these Christian churches by way of field surveys and taping into archival documents.

The development of the concept of architectural heritage conservation and its inspiration

Over recent decades,heritage conservation has developed in concept and scope.This paper uses a systematic literature review approach to collect charters and documents on heritage conservation issued by UNESCO and ICOMOS,divided into two periods,before 2000 and from 2000 to the present,for analysis from a qualitative perspective.The study results show that the scope of architectural heritage is expanding,and the definition of conservation is changing from individual to holistic conservation and from holistic to sustainable conservation.The focus of conservation has evolved from tangible to intangible attributes.The changing scale of conservation,from object to landscape,incorporates a more comprehensive range of heritage values,and the status of conservation has changed from static to living conservation.This study systematically structures the development of the concept of architectural heritage conservation,providing insight in the international field of architectural heritage conservation and encouraging reflection on the conservation of architectural heritage in historic cities.

A GIS-based methodology for the appraisal of historical,architectural,and social values in historic urban cores

Historic environments represent the evolution of materials and techniques that have been used for the construction these environments over the centuries.Entering into the study of this field entails working not only on the crafts that have constructed these environ ments but also on the people who made,used,and reinterpreted them by learning about the craftsmen and the idiosyncrasies of the place.The study has adopted several methodologies as referenee to examine the material and cultural reality of the rural region of Valencia,Spain.Through the adaptation of in ter national methodologies,researchers have carried out a digital database that compiles and maps out the results of the Local Character Assessment of ten Histotiric Urban Cores by incorporating the historical,architectural,and social values to reinforce the Territorial Heritage Action Plan.One of the critical innovations adopted by this form of assessment is the compulsory integration of tangible and intangible heritage through the active involvement of users and makers.Another innovation is to understand the values behind the dynamism and transformation of historic sites.Hence,this study advances theory and practice on the transmission of knowledge among artisans,researchers,and the population and how con temporary practices help acquire new meani ngs that overlap the past ones.

The rescue, conservation, and restoration of heritase sites in the ethnic minority areas ravased by the Wenchuan earthquake

Stockaded villages of the Qiang nationality that are made up of watchtowers and watch-houses are an important part of its cultural heritage. The earliest documentary records of its blockhouse-styled construction can be found in Biography of the Ethnic Minority Groups in Southwest China of History of Eastern Hart. In 2006, watchtowers and stockaded villages of the Qiang nationality was placed in the preparatory declaration list of world cultural heritage .in China and became a minority architectural heritage that is of potential value for world cultural heritage. The Wenchuan earthquake, which happened on May 12th, 2008, caused severe damage to settlements of the Qiangs in the upper reaches of Min River, including the ＂Tangping Qiang village,＂ which plays a prominent role in Qiang stockaded villages. In conserving this important architectural heritage, we observe the idea ＂everything for heritage value＂. We discuss and draw up a series of salvage conservation countermeasures and research for antiseimatic key technology during post-earthquake reconstruction period of Tibetan and Qiang settlement engineering projects, including six engineering principles on priority of structure rescue, heritage vatue, former address maintenance, traditional way of use, protection against and mitigation of earthquake disasters, and spot cleaning and separating. We draw up three rules in engineering strategy, namely： （1） we should follow ultimate orientation of heritage value protection in rescue, maintenance, and protection engineering; （2） degrees of priority of engineering measures should be differentiated according to the situation of the disaster and residential situations of stockaded villages and; （3） we should keeplocal smiths and conventional art as the base, and modern technology as a supplement in rescue, maintenance, and protection engineering.

Deducing the Intonation of Chinese Characters in Suzhou-Zhongzhou Dialect by Its Singing Technique in Kunqu:A New Probe into Ancient Chinese Phonology

Kunqu is a comprehensive art which is considered to be an epitome of the achievements of Chinese Xiqu.It was unanimously selected by UNESCO from the first round of entrants for the category of"Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity",with emphasis on its heritage value as embodied in language,literature,music,singing technique,dance,performance,set design,makeup,and more,and has been given the status of living fossil by artists both in China and abroad.Based on the relationship between the intonation of Chinese characters and singing techniques,especially the criterion in Kunqu that the"singing technique follows the intonation of a Chinese character",we attempt to deduce the intonation of Chinese characters in the Suzhou-Zhongzhou dialect based on its singing technique.Specifically,we deduce the archaic intonations of Chinese characters by the exclusive singing techniques in Kunqu for the purpose of exploring a new approach to Chinese phonology of the Ming and Qing dynasties from an interdisciplinary perspective of artistic criterion and linguistics.

A tale of the new and the old:renovation of Yong'an Warehouse at Yangpu waterfront,Shanghai

The urban riverside space of Shanghai is transforming.How to renovate industrial heritage buildings to renew their vitality while retaining their historical memories and integrate them into the contemporary cityscape and today's urban lifestyle is a common challenge encountered by contemporary architects.This article takes the renovation of Yong'an Warehouse as an example to showcase a typical heritage conservation project's design process.The architects took different approaches to accommodate the different statuses of the twin buildings of the Yong'an Warehouse,seeking to create a symbiotic twin relationship between the past and the present.This project adopted a conservation and utilisation approach that involves multilateral participation,emphasising value-oriented mythology,and providing an alternative thread for the renovation of historical architecture.