Source: CCTV.com

12-25-2007 09:24

Kaiping county of South China's Guangdong Province boasts hundreds of Diao Lou; watch-tower like buildings that bear great significance on History. The Guangdong authorities are attempting new ways to protect these precious heritage sites. A project undertaken to preserve the sites is proving a complete success.

Over eighty percent of the more than one thousand historical buildings in Kaiping County are on private property. Many of the owners, who are descendants of the original owners now live overseas. Most have little time to take care of their holdings. The Guangdong government proposed an agreement with property owners placing the buildings in trust to the local government. The owners retain their property rights. Trusteeships are being signed to extend over fifty years. For five decades, the government will be fully responsible for reconstruction and preservation of the private buildings. The owners will pay nothing for the work.

The project had a rocky beginning.

Fang Yaozhu, granddaughter of building owner, said, "All my siblings are living in the United States. The first time I went there to discuss this plan with them, all of them refused to hand over management rights to the government. I explained the program to them again and again. Finally they agreed with me."

So far, over sixty building owners have signed agreements with local authorities. More than forty million yuan, or some five million US dollars was set aside by local government for renovations. Now the ancient buildings of Kaiping county are getting a face-lift.

Fang Yaozhu said, "My relatives came back for a visit and they were all satisfied with the current situation."

Tan Jianmin, deputy director of Kaiping County, said, "The project has achieved success on both sides. The ancient building owners don't have to take care of their properties themselves, nor do they need to pay a penny for the renovations. At same time, the government is in total control of the management."

As Tan suggests most descendents of the original Diao Lou owners were born overseas. They've never come to see their ancestral homes. One hope of the organizers is that the project will bring some of these people to China, to make them more aware of their cultural and ancestral roots.

Ms.Tan, building owner descendant, said, "This is where my mom used to live. I've never been here before. I'm very excited. It means a lot to me. I hope I can come here again."

The project has proven a win-win situation for both sides. Experts from the United Nations recognized the ingenuity of the plan during a recent visit. They say the project has created a new platform for the preservation of cultural heritage worldwide.

 

Editor:Liu Fang