Mr Shan Jixiang Delivers Academic Lecture at Our College: 'The Power of Culture: Bringing Cultural Heritage Resources to Life'
On the afternoon of 10 May, at the invitation of Peking University's School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, Shan Jixiang—Specially Appointed Researcher at the Central Academy of Cultural History, President of the Chinese Cultural Relics Association, and Director of the Academic Committee of the Palace Museum—delivered the second lecture of Peking University's 2023 ‘Ecological Civilisation and Beautiful Homeland’ Master Lecture Series. His address, entitled ‘The Power of Culture: Bringing Cultural Heritage Resources to Life’, was presented to faculty and students. Professor Lü Zhou, Director of the National Heritage Centre at Tsinghua University School of Architecture; Professor Zhang Dayu, President of Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture and doctoral supervisor; Chen Tongbin, Chief Expert of China Construction Technology Group, Chief Planner of China Academy of Architectural Design & Research, and Honorary Director of the Institute of Architectural History; and Executive Vice President and Professor at the China Eco-City Research Institute, and Professor Niu (PhD Supervisor) Shen Lei; alongside Jin Lei, Vice President and Secretary-General (Professor-level) Senior Engineer of the 20th Century Architectural Heritage Committee of the Chinese Cultural Heritage Association, as special dialogue guests. The lecture was chaired by Yu Kongjian, Dean of Peking University's School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, with tens of thousands of attendees participating both online and offline.
Yu Kongjian presided over the lecture
Prior to the lecture, accompanied by Yu Kongjian, Shan Jixiang toured the exhibition of research and teaching achievements in the school lobby, viewed the Tang Liang pen-and-ink drawing exhibition, and reviewed the publication accomplishments of the academic journal Landscape Architecture, published by the school. He expressed recognition and encouragement for the school's development and progress.
Mr Shan Ji-xiang tours the faculty exhibition hall
The lecture commenced with an exploration of sustainable development in human habitats. Drawing upon specific case studies—including the Völklingen Ironworks in Germany, the Vienna Gasworks in Austria, the San Francisco Pier 79 in the United States, and the Wieliczka Salt Mine in Poland—Mr Shan Ji-xiang outlined international approaches to preserving the character and revitalising the use of industrial heritage sites.
Subsequently, he outlined the preservation and utilisation of China's industrial heritage. Shan noted that industrial heritage encompasses both broad and narrow definitions, with ancient production labour forms constituting part of the broader category – examples including the Dujiangyan Irrigation System and the Mang Kang Naxi Salt Fields. Mr Shan vividly recounted numerous heritage conservation cases he had personally proposed or investigated, including the Grand Canal and its production landscapes, the ancient port site of Shuomen in Wenzhou, the Huangshi National Industrial Heritage Conservation Area, the Shanghai Jiangnan Shipyard, the Dagu Fortress in Tianjin, the Historic Centre of Macao, the Capital Iron and Steel Company, Liling Ceramic Factory, and the Chongqing Peiling 816 Underground Nuclear Facility. The diverse and detailed content prompted the audience to engage in profound reflection on industrial heritage conservation.
Lecture Venue
During the commentary and discussion segment, Lü Zhou posed a follow-up question based on the revitalisation case of the Jiangnan Shipyard: How can industrial heritage become a force for sustainable development in contemporary cities? Shan Jixiang responded from a perceptual perspective, arguing that when people experience the rich, diverse experiences cultural heritage brings to modern life, they naturally develop an affection for it; the richer the accumulation of historical heritage, the greater the depth and substance a city possesses. Chen Tongbin categorised China's industrial heritage into three distinct phases, urging younger generations to engage more actively in its preservation and research. Zhang Dayu distilled the core questions in industrial heritage conservation – why preserve, what to preserve, and how to preserve – emphasising that such heritage should become spaces where citizens can enjoy life and experience history. He expressed that the lecture had provided fresh perspectives and insights. Shen Lei contends that industrial heritage embodies a city's cultural value, expressing gratitude for Shan Jixiang's work in preserving memories for cities and humanity. Jin Lei recalled two significant events in cultural heritage conservation and further explored the Chizhou case study mentioned during the lecture.
Lü Zhou's remarks
Chen Tongbin's remarks
Zhang Dayu's remarks
Shen Lei's remarks
Jin Lei's remarks
Online participants also actively engaged in the discussion. One attendee inquired whether relocation issues arising from Beijing's Central Axis World Heritage nomination risk severing the city's historical continuity. Shan Jixiang clarified that Beijing's Central Axis represents an organically evolving axis, with the nomination specifically highlighting its layered historical significance. Relocation decisions must therefore prioritise the axis's preservation as the fundamental principle. Lü Zhou further elaborated from the perspective of comparative heritage value, illustrating with specific case studies. The lively on-site discussion, where academic viewpoints intertwined and collided, provided the audience with a splendid academic feast.
Group photograph after the lecture
The ‘Ecological Civilisation and Beautiful Homeland’ Master Lecture Series, hosted by Peking University's School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, is co-organised by the Peking University Education Foundation, the Peking University Alumni Office, and the Landscape Architecture and Beautiful China Construction Committee of the China Society for Urban Studies. This series invites leading scholars and designers from home and abroad to deliver lectures, facilitates dialogue among experts across disciplines, and employs a hybrid online-offline format. Coinciding with Peking University's 125th anniversary in 2023, the Master Lecture Series—as part of the School's anniversary celebrations—will continue to host high-calibre events, perpetuating Peking University's scholarly ethos and advancing academic progress.
Text by Zhang Qinwen
Photography by Ma Zhe
Edited by Zhu Liangliang
