The Jinci Temple, a historic site dating back to the Song Dynasty (960-1279), in Taiyuan, North China's Shanxi Province Photo: Li Hao/GT

More than 30 experts in cultural heritage conservation from China and France convened at Jinci Temple in Taiyuan, North China's Shanxi Province, widely recognized as the oldest surviving imperial garden in China. After thorough field investigations, studies, and in-depth discussions, the experts jointly released a set of proposals on Monday aimed at the systematic preservation of the heritage site and its surrounding environment. 

Using the proposals as a "blueprint," a solid foundation has been laid for the long-term collaborative preservation of the cultural heritage site and its surrounding environment based on the cultural landscape approach, Zhang Chunyan, Party committee secretary of the School of Architecture at Tianjin University, said at the event.

The proposal underscored the need for holistic approaches to preserving both cultural heritage sites and their adjacent environments, coordinating regional development with conservation efforts, and addressing the growing challenges posed by climate change. 

The joint statement also emphasized an integrated strategy that revitalizes both natural and cultural heritage, systematically addresses regional development challenges, and promotes multi-sector collaboration, Zhang told the Global Times, adding that "Jinci Temple is a typical cultural landscape that can provide reference."

The statement is a key achievement of the China-­France academic workshop dedicated to the systematic protection of the heritage site and its setting. Jointly hosted by the Tianjin University and Taiyuan municipal cultural relics bureau, the workshop focused on several critical challenges: safeguarding the integrity and development of heritage structures, preserving the relationship between built heritage and the natural environment, disseminating and inheriting traditional culture, and creating mechanisms that harmonize regional protection, utilization, and tourism development.

To address these complex challenges, the expert team engaged in immersive field research and thematic discussions. Their investigations centered on the Jinci cultural landscape, with a comprehensive survey of the surrounding ecosystem, traditional villages, and agricultural heritage. 

The team conducted meticulous inspections of Jinci's ancient architectural core, assessing the state of building conservation, the preservation of stone relics, and the historical water systems interwoven throughout the site. 

The research scope also extended to the Tianlongshan and Longshan Grottoes, as well as to traditional villages such as Diantou and Chiqiao, where the experts explored the distinctive architectural styles and historical-cultural values embedded in these communities, according to a press release from the School of Architecture at Tianjin University.

Complementing the site visits, the workshop hosted three specialized seminars, tackling topics such as protection and development of Jinci's heritage architecture and systematic conservation of Jinci and its surrounding environment. These sessions fostered robust dialogue among Chinese and French experts and scholars, deepening mutual understanding and cooperation, the Taiyuan Daily reported.

A broad consensus emerged from these exchanges. The experts agreed that heritage conservation must be rooted in the local community, with special attention to mobilizing residents, preserving indigenous skills, and cultivating young talent for future inheritance. They stressed the importance of strengthening communication among all parties, prioritizing field research, listening to local voices, and conducting in-depth studies on both the land and its people, said Zhang.

Liu Yuwei, director of the Taiyuan municipal cultural relics bureau, remarked that protecting cultural relics and heritage is fundamentally about safeguarding the cultural lifeblood of the city. 

Fran?oise Ged, head of the contemporary Chinese architecture observatory at the Cité de l'architecture et du patrimoine in Paris, highlighted the core of the French approach: "multi-dimensional integration." She explained that heritage conservation should combine scientific research with humanistic interpretation, and that heritage management must balance technical precision with social inclusivity.

Originally built during the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534), Jinci Temple stands today as the largest, most enduring, and best-preserved ancestral temple-style classical garden in China. The site boasts over 100 structures spanning the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties (960-1911), offering a living testament to the country's rich and layered history, according to the China News Service.