An exhibition of ancient books restoration achievements. (PHOTO: VCG)

By CHEN Chunyou

China released its plan to strengthen the protection of historical and cultural heritage during the 14th Five-Year Plan period on November 8.

According to the plan, the protection system will cover ancient buildings, historical sites, natural landscapes, cultural settings and intangible cultural heritage.

In order to enhance the role of sci-tech innovation in cultural heritage protection, some important measures will be taken, which include attaching importance to cultivating talent in heritage institutions.

The application of modern science and technology in archaeology will be strengthened, says the plan. The study of cultural relics, including isotope analysis, trace element analysis, DNA research and organic residue analysis, will also be enhanced.

Digital archaeology will be accelerated to serve the collection, management, analysis and application of archaeological information. Warehouses for archaeological specimens in key national areas will be built, according to the plan.

In addition, digital and information-based technology will be employed to promote high-precision restoration of the scattered overseas cultural relics, such as the Dunhuang posthumous writings.

Wu Yuanbin, director general of the department of science and technology for social development of the Ministry of Science and Technology, said that China will continue to strengthen basic research and interdisciplinary studies in the next five years.

The research of the technological application in cultural heritage protection will be arranged in key national labs. Comprehensive experimental platforms for scientific research will be built by relying on the National Scientific and Technological Innovation Center of Cultural Heritage and the Nanhai base of National Center for Archaeology, National Cultural Heritage Administration, said Wu.

Nowadays, China is home to 36 national archaeological parks, among which 11 are UNESCO World Heritage sites. The country aims to build no less than 15 such parks during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, said Lu Qiong, the director general of department of policies and regulations of National Cultural Heritage Administration.

According to the plan, a structure-optimized system of cultural heritage protection with distinctive features and multiple functions will be preliminarily established in China by 2025.

By 2035, China will put in place a cultural relics protection and management system commensurate with the goal of developing the country into a cultural power, and the development of sci-tech innovation personnel will provide strong support for the protection, research and utilization of cultural relics.