Big draw of cultural heritage

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The protectors of China's cultural relics have expanded the scope of their work in the past five years, says Chai Xiaoming, director of the Chinese Academy of Cultural Heritage.

For instance, exhibitions of Chinese cultural relics overseas are becoming a key part of China's cultural diplomacy.

An exhibition on the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) heritage attracted more than 100,000 visitors to the British Museum over 2014-15.

The Exhibition of Qin (221-207 BC) and Han (202 BC to 220 AD) Civilization, which was on at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York earlier this year attracted 350,000 people.

Besides, Liu says Chinese institutions have worked with 15 countries in the past five years on joint archaeological discoveries and cultural heritage restoration as part of China's Belt and Road Initiative.

For instance, the Palace Museum conducted joint archaeological excavations of ancient ports in India and of ancient city ruins in Germany, while the Chinese Academy of Cultural Heritage led the restoration of a temple in Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

"When compared with infrastructure, such projects cost less money but win support from the local community," Chai says.

As for recent domestic achievements, Liu says: "We've recently done archaeological work in Beijing's Tongzhou district, the Xiong'an New District in Hebei province, and the area to be used for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games."

Contact the writer at wangkaihao@chinadaily.com.cn