New heritage renovation and restoration measures announced in Beijing

The official website of the Office of Cultural Affairs of Beijing announces the identical reconstruction of several guard towers (doors) of Beijing, located on the old ramparts of Beijing’s historic center layout, the shape of which represents the ideogram “凸” (you, meaning convex). The ramparts and most of the city gates were demolished in the 1950s to facilitate traffic despite a tough debate during that time about the legitimacy of such destructions.

Another project has been announced and aims to protect “one hundred architectural monuments”. This project includes the renovation of six monuments on the World Heritage List as well as the reconstruction or renovation of certain buildings or groups of buildings along the central axis of Beijing. A budget of 1 billion yuan per year has been made available to achieve these goals.