Institute Established in Tianjin to Promote Heritage Architecture Protection

On September 15, Beijing Municipal Administration of Culture Heritage and Tianjin University vowed to promote the heritage architecture preservation in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region by signing a strategic cooperation framework agreement at Tianjin University. They also unveiled the Beijing Institute of Heritage Architecture Research built under the joint efforts of two sides.

Tianjin university was among the nation’s firsts to start cultural heritage protection as early as 1940s when the university’s School of Architecture conducted surveying and mapping of the Forbidden City. Since the founding of the New China, the school has successively completed the surveying and mapping of many other imperial buildings of Ming and Qing Dynasties including Qianlong Garden of the Forbidden City, Jianfu Palace Garden, Ming Tombs, Beihai, Temple of Heaven and so on. It also undertook the conservation planning, repair and display design of the relevant cultural relics in Beihai, the Summer Palace, the imperial temple and the Yuanmingyuan.

With a well-established heritage conservation research team, Tianjin University boasts of two key scientific research bases appointed by the National Cultural Heritage Administration, namely, "Research on Surveying and Mapping of Cultural Relics" and "Surface Detection and Analysis of Cultural Relics", one key laboratory sponsoredby the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, one institute studying the oral history designated by Chinese Folk Literature and Art Association, and two think tanks included in Chinese Think Tank Index (CTTI) about cultural heritage protection and Chinese traditional village and architecture culture innovation.

It was learned that the newly established Beijing Institute of Heritage Architecture Research will fully utilize Tianjin University’s research force and experience to address the preservation of cultural heritage in BTH region.

"Our University is committed to preserving and inheriting culture heritage," said Yuan Yingjin, the vice president of Tianjin University, "we will strive to make the Beijing Institute of Heritage Architecture Research a model of BTH cooperation."

By Chen Yuxuan

Editor: Eva Yin