“Three Lanes and Seven Alleys” in Fuzhou, Fujian Province, one of the largest and best preserved Ming and Qing architectural districts in China, with about 270 ancient residences and 159 listed preserved buildings Photo: TUCHONG

The newly revised Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Protection of Cultural Relics came into effect on March 1. As a practitioner in urban development and heritage conservation, I view the law as a foundational legal instrument for strengthening China’s cultural heritage. It offers robust guidance for shaping a new paradigm of heritage transmission. The revised law enshrines “preservation first” as a national priority and affirms the principles of prioritizing preservation, rescue, rational use, and enhanced management of cultural relics and heritage. It mandates that infrastructure projects—including urban renewal, tourism development, and heritage revitalization—must adhere to a “survey-before-construction, archaeology-before-land transfer” approach, explicitly rejecting indiscriminate demolition and reconstruction as means of urban improvement.

Protection and designation of national historic and cultural cities

Article 25 of the revised law stipulates that cities rich in cultural relics and of significant historical or revolutionary value may be designated as national historic and cultural cities upon approval by the State Council. In line with this, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development and the National Development and Reform Commission jointly promulgated a guideline in February 2024, urging to avoid relocating residents and disrupting the relationship among people, land, and culture and emphasizing that historical buildings and those with conservation value should neither be arbitrarily relocated or razed.

The revised law contributes to a renewed approach to the designation of national historic and cultural cities by advancing a contemporary understanding of the heritage value embedded in the concept of historic cities. At a 2021 forum on Shenzhen’s architectural legacy and cultural development, then-President of the Chinese Society of Cultural Relics Shan Jixiang emphasized that several of Shenzhen’s buildings built in the past four decades have been recognized as part of China’s 20th-century architectural heritage. As a pioneer in reform and opening up, Shenzhen is uniquely positioned to seek national historic and cultural city status, reflecting its cultural ideals and casting its four decades of reform and opening up as a globally significant contribution.

To date, 142 cities in China have been granted this national designation. Considering the unique innovative value of Shenzhen’s 20th-century heritage, the concept of “history” invites renewed interpretation in line with contemporary spirit. The revised law provides reform-driven cities with compelling grounds to apply for this status. In recognizing the pioneering role of cities like Shenzhen in China’s reform and opening up, the law encourages exploration of the historic significance of architecture during this transformative period. As a former testing ground and vanguard of reform, Shenzhen has made notable contributions to China’s urban development, resulting in numerous nationally significant practices. The revised law supports its pursuit of designation under the framework of modern and contemporary architectural heritage. Furthermore, Shenzhen’s application process serves as a precedent for the adaptive reuse of century-old structures across the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area, presenting not only a model of architectural and cultural innovation but also China’s endeavor to contribute to global heritage discourse.

Protecting unclassified immovable cultural relics

Article 35 of the revised law emphasizes the importance of minimizing large-scale relocations, preventing overdevelopment, and strengthening holistic preservation and the living transmission of heritage. In line with this mandate, urban renewal efforts across China have increasingly incorporated the principles of the new legislation while attending to the historical fabric and contemporary needs of each locale. Through in-depth analysis and reinterpretation of project content, these efforts have yielded valuable case studies that bridge traditional heritage with contemporary values. Cities such as Chengdu and Fuzhou exemplify this trend: Chengdu, known as the “Land of Abundance,” has maintained its original location and name for over two millennia, with Shu culture increasingly becoming a defining feature of its urban renewal projects; in Fuzhou, the restoration of the renowned historic area “Three Lanes and Seven Alleys” not only chronicles the city’s evolution but also preserves its iconic markers and sense of collective nostalgia.

20th-century heritage represents both a public cultural asset and a vital manifestation of modern and contemporary Chinese architectural achievement. These structures reflect the indigenization of external influences—a hallmark of Chinese cultural adaptability. Since 2016, under the guidance of the Chinese Society of Cultural Relics and The Architectural Society of China, the 20th-Century Architectural Heritage Committee has identified and promoted nine batches of such projects, comprising a total of 900 entities. Notably, the Tiananmen Square architectural ensemble, included in these listings, was inscribed on the World Heritage Sites list in 2024, alongside the Beijing Central Axis.

Demonstrating an innovative approach, Chapter 2 of the revised law references at least six times the need to protect yet-unclassified cultural relics. Article 23 stipulates that unclassified immovable cultural relics must be registered by county-level cultural heritage authorities, reported to both local and higher-level governments, and disclosed to the public. This provision addresses a long-standing challenge in heritage governance—the absence of legal status for widespread but under-recognized sites. While relics may be categorized by administrative grade, the law asserts that the duty of care should not be hierarchical; all heritage deserves protection under the rule of law in China.

The ongoing fourth national cultural relics census aims to comprehensively catalogue the country’s heritage resources. This process also encourages re-evaluation of lesser-ranked relics, many of which possess significant historical, scientific, or cultural value that has been underappreciated. Many of such buildings are deeply embedded in local urban culture and collective memory. One example is the former residence of Zhu Qiqian [renowned expert of Chinese architectural history] at No. 111 Dongsi Batiao in Beijing—an unclassified site included in the 20th-Century Chinese Architectural Heritage List. Embodying traditional courtyard design and historical significance—notably as a site visited twice by Premier Zhou Enlai—its historical and cultural value deserves renewed interpretation, enhanced protection, and inheritance.

Preserving outstanding contemporary architecture 

Article 2 in the revised law identifies two categories of tangible heritage directly linked to urban construction, reflecting the PRC’s architectural history. Article 12 mandates that governments at all levels implement measures to protect cultural relics associated with significant events, meetings, figures, and the great founding spirit of the Party. This provision formally introduces the concept of “revolutionary cultural relics,” distinguishing them from general modern and contemporary heritage, and offering a renewed perspective on the dynamics of cultural heritage and relics.

By analyzing urban and architectural developments over the past century and into the first quarter of the 21st century, one can uncover the remarkable achievements embedded within these structures. For instance, Beijing’s post-1949 architectural accomplishments include the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery, the Monument to the People’s Heroes, and the “Ten Great Buildings” to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the founding of the PRC built from 1950 to 1959. 1953 to 1968 saw the construction of cultural and sports facilities such as the Beijing Tianqiao Performing Arts Center, the Beijing Capital Theater, the Beijing Planetarium, the National Art Museum of China, the Beijing Gymnasium, the Beijing Exhibition Center, and the Capital Indoor Stadium. Landmarks since 1976 include the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, the Fragrant Hill Hotel, and the Jing Guang Center. In the 21st century, structures like the National Center for the Performing Arts and China Zun (CITIC Tower) symbolize Beijing’s contemporary innovative urban landscape, alongside the heritage of the 2008 Summer Olympics and the 2022 Winter Olympics venues, the Beijing Capital International Airport, and the Beijing Daxing International Airport.

Among these achievements, it is essential to adopt a people-centered lens when considering residential architecture—an often-overlooked category that comprises up to 80% of the built environment in many cities. The exploration and selective preservation of the diverse values of Shanghai’s Caoyang New Village represents a successful attempt to promote residential neighborhood renewal through a systems-thinking approach. At the level of residential heritage, renewal is not merely about addressing housing needs—it entails reimagining the domestic living spaces within communities. As the PRC’s first new village for workers, Caoyang New Village holds emblematic significance in terms of its design and architectural components. It also carries the collective memory of model worker families from 70 years ago, making it a vital reference point for understanding the early PRC housing history and the cultural values associated with its revolutionary legacy.  

Similarly, Beijing’s Baiwanzhuang Community, designed by architect Zhang Kaiji and completed between 1951 and 1956, stands as a pioneering model of dynamic urban planning and architecture. In the past, it faced preservation challenges due to its exclusion from designated historical blocks. The implementation of the revised law, through specific regulations and guidelines, can facilitate the renovation of such “old neighborhoods,” ensuring the preservation of cultural memory and the invaluable heritage of residential communities in the PRC.

Jin Lei is deputy director and secretary-general of the 20th-Century Architectural Heritage Committee at the Chinese Society of Cultural Relics.

Edited by REN GUANHONG