CREC: Cultural heritage to keep track of the past

China Railway Cultural Heritage team conducts the preservation work of the northern area of the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang. [Photo provided to China Daily]

With the accelerated advancement of the Belt and Road Initiative, the protection and inheritance of cultural heritage in countries and regions involved in the BRI are both urgent and meaningful.

The cultural heritage of the ancient Silk Road, which has spanned thousands of years and stretched across the countries and regions involved in the BRI, not only reflects the history and reality in terms of time, but also serves as a historical witness to the mutual understanding and friendship among peoples of different countries.

China Railway Group Ltd, one of China's major transportation infrastructure developers, has not only contributed to the linking of China and the world, but also extended its efforts to cultural heritage rehabilitation with its distinctive brand, China Railway Cultural Heritage, under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Over the past 40 years, members of the China Railway Cultural Heritage team have passed through Hexi Corridor, the main artery of the ancient Silk Road, crossed the Tianshan Corridor, continued westward to the Fergana Valley, an intermountain depression in Central Asia, and guarded the precious relics along the ancient routes.

With their efforts, they have contributed to the inheritance of the splendid Silk Road civilization and the promotion of international cooperation and exchanges.

Cultural preservation

China Railway Cultural Heritage's endeavors to protect the treasures of the Silk Road began with the renowned Dunhuang Grottoes in Gansu province.

Dunhuang is a key hub of the ancient Silk Road and a main channel for cultural exchanges between China and the West. The China Railway Cultural Heritage team has completed rehabilitation projects in the Yulin Grottoes and the northern area of the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang.

During the rehabilitation process, experts have employed advanced technologies to address issues such as unstable rock formations, weathering and desert erosion, and filled the gaps in related protection technologies.

The China Railway Cultural Heritage members have effectively preserved the natural landscape and cultural scenery of the sites, achieving new milestones in the conservation of the famous grottoes.

Since then, the China Railway Cultural Heritage team has gradually extended its footprint to the heartland of the Silk Road, from the Kucha Grottoes to the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, a complex of Buddhist cave grottos situated near the Flaming Mountains in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, and the Kizil Grottoes in Xinjiang, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

In addition to protecting the cave treasures along the ancient Silk Road routes, the technical team of China Railway Cultural Heritage has explored reinforcement and protection technologies suitable for earthen architectural heritage in the northwest region of China.

They have participated in the rehabilitation work at Jiayuguan Pass, a famed part of the Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) in Gansu.

More than 600 years ago, Jiayuguan Pass was the only intersection of the ancient Silk Road and the Great Wall. To address the stability and durability issues of the city walls, the cultural heritage team spent five years exploring and developing specialized protective materials and tools.

They used their perseverance and commitment to ensure that the beacon towers and watchtowers, which have been standing for thousands of years, continue to convey the spirit of "looking out" and "guarding" on this important site along the ancient Silk Road.

Innovation and inheritance

Located in the uninhabited area of Lop Nur, the ancient city of Loulan was a famous Silk Road city during the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220) and the Jin Dynasty (265-420).

The environment there is extremely harsh, with 80 days of strong winds each year on average and surface temperatures reaching 65 C in July and August.

The China Railway Cultural Heritage team, under these extreme conditions, has conducted continuous monitoring of the environmental factors affecting the site, carried out detailed studies of sand erosion and site damage patterns, and implemented meticulous restoration work on the site's structures.

In addition to the restoration work, the team explored cross-disciplinary innovation and conducted a project called Digital Loulan to protect and showcase cultural heritage through technology.

Using an integrated monitoring system of "sky, space and ground", it achieves remote monitoring of the archaeological site, surrounding landforms and weather changes.

The project also includes three-dimensional representation and 720-degree panoramic virtual tours, allowing people to transcend time and space to review the historical changes and witness the brilliance of the Loulan civilization that stood for thousands of years.

Creating a better future

Through cultural exchanges and collaborations, the China Railway Cultural Heritage team has left its footprints along the Belt and Road, assisting in the protection of world cultural heritage on an international scale.

It has participated in the restoration project of the Khiva ancient city in Uzbekistan, which is located in the Khorezm region of southwest Uzbekistan.

This historical city, situated on the ancient Silk Road, has witnessed the prosperous trade and cultural exchanges between the East and the West.

In the restoration process, the China Railway Cultural Heritage team used minimally invasive techniques to reinforce and protect the structures, preventing further deterioration of the ancient city built in the 18th century.

The restoration achievements have been highly recognized by both China and Uzbekistan.

In May 2017, the Joint Statement on Further Deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between China and Uzbekistan expressed appreciation for the Khiva ancient city restoration work, and both countries expressed their commitment to continue cooperation in archaeology, cultural heritage protection and restoration, and professional training.

As a guardian of cultural relics and promoter of cultural heritage, China Railway Cultural Heritage team contributes to the mutual learning and communication of civilizations among different countries.

The BRI is rooted in history and cultural heritage, reflecting the shared spiritual wealth of humanity. As a central State-owned enterprise, CREC has completed nearly 600 tasks related to the rehabilitation of cultural relics, including 43 World Heritage conservation projects, following the historical context in its development.

In the future, the China Railway Cultural Heritage team will continue to inherit and innovate technologies, respond to the national call and focus on the diverse cultural heritage resources in countries and regions involved in the BRI. Its mission is to inherit and promote excellent traditional culture, enhance exchanges between different ethnic groups, and contribute to economic globalization and the advancement of human civilization.

China Railway Cultural Heritage team participates in the protection work at Jiayuguan Pass. [Photo provided to China Daily]

wangjinhui@chinadaily.com.cn