Beijing Cultural Heritage Protection Center

Beijing Cultural Heritage Protection Center (CHP) is an independent Chinese grassroots non-profit organization, supporting local communities across China to protect their cultural heritage. Officially registered as an NGO in Beijing in 2003, our work is vital because China’s rapid development and social change is dramatically affecting its cultural landscape. CHP gives Chinese people a voice to protect the future of their past through capacity building, education, training, networking and support. Our belief is that people make change. CHP’s main focus areas are cultural heritage protection and civil society building, ethnic minority cultural revitalization and media mobilization. Our Website

[beijing-chp-blog]

November 19th, Sunny Shadows Event

[thegroovethief]

[beijing-chp-blog]

thegroovethief:

Fusing traditional Mongolian music with modern Chinese sensibilities, Hanggai are striking a bold musical path where mundane pop music in the norm.  This is a band on the verge of greatness, now touring internationally with their unique north-Asian sound.  Here’s a video of appropriate scenery accompanying their song “Wuji,” and check out their Myspace page for more free music.

[zhongguozhaopian]

[beijing-chp-blog]

zhongguozhaopian:

Archaeologists! At the tomb of Qin Shi Huangdi.

[offiindia-blog]

[beijing-chp-blog]

offiindia:

Hidden behind the billboards and restaurants of Changchunjie district Beijing, lay the remnants of a Hutong.   Despite the demolition, some structures remain, and continue to provide housing for a small community of laborers and their families. The juxtaposition of high-rise department stores and apartments that overlook this small plot of land highlight the duality of Modern China.  Those that have reaped the benefits of Chinas newly accomplished modernity, and those yet to do so.

  One builder proclaims, “We have a hard life, but it is the real life that we live.”

  The walls of his modest home are lined with the fantasy of hope – numbers from the State run ‘Welfare Lottery’.  This national lottery is hugely popular in China.  Each ticket costs two Yuan and has the potential to reward as much as 15 Million Yuan should the beholder manage to match the six numbers.  According to the Finance Ministry, lottery sales accumulated 138 Billion Yuan within the first eight months of 2011.  An Increase of 33.4 % from last year.      

[zhongguozhaopian]

[beijing-chp-blog]

zhongguozhaopian:

Forbidden City

[apennyplain-deactivated20121222]

[deluxeduck]

[beijing-chp-blog]

deluxeduck:

from the ‘Totems’ series by Alain Delorme, Shanghai 2009-2010.

[beijing-chp-blog]

New legislation in Hungary endangers archaeological sites. Orsolya Láng translated information at the Hungarian facebook community ’600-ana Régészetért’ – ’600 for Archaeology’, which is posted here by permission: According to archaeologists, a new draft law recently submitted to the Hungarian Parliament could mean the end of heritage protection in Hungary. The most serious point in the draft is that first phase test-excavations related to large-scale investments (e.g. motorway constructions, major state investments) would be limited to a time period of at most 30 days. Furthermore, any necessary follow-up preventive excavations could not last longer than another 30 days either. This would not be applied to simply to the sites themselves – which would also be equally irresolvable - but to the whole of the investment area!

[beijing-chp-blog]

WTD 2011 is a call to all those involved in tourism to act in a way that is conscious and respectful of culture, which promotes intercultural dialogue and ensures that local communities fully participate in, and benefit from, the development opportunities of tourism.

Taleb Rifai, UNWTO Secretary-General

[beijing-chp-blog]

World Tourism Day is an opportunity to reflect on the importance of tourism to global well-being. As we travel, let us engage with other cultures and celebrate human diversity. On this observance, let us recognize tourism as a force for a more tolerant, open and united world.

Ban Ki-moon,  UN Secretary-General

[lovestatu]

[beijing-chp-blog]

lovestatu:

Leshan Da Fo by Pat Rioux on Flickr.

[beijing-chp-blog]

Saturday, November 19th

Sunny Shadows: The Ancient Art of Chinese Shadow Play

In danger of becoming a forgotten craft, Chinese shadow puppetry is an exquisite form of storytelling that originated in the Han Dynasty. Not only is it a captivating and lively form of entertainment, but it is also an elegant folk art. See our website for information: CHP Sunny Shadows Event.

We want to introduce this gem of Chinese culture to today’s youth.  It is our hope that the kids will fall in love with shadow play, and as a result, gain greater appreciation and awareness for their cultural heritage. This way shadow art can be passed down and preserved through the generations.

Event Details:

1) Shadow play performance

2) Quiz portion for kids (with prizes)

3) Learn basic techniques from puppet masters

The afternoon’s event will be held at the newly renovated Shichahai Shadow Art Hotel, which boasts traditional-opera style décor and a magnificent shadow art theater.

  Don’t miss this fun and educational opportunity to experience Chinese shadow play!

  Date: Saturday, November 19, 2011

Time: 4-5:30pm

Venue: No. 24  Song Shu Jie, Xicheng District, Beijing.

(北京市西城区松树街胡同24号) website: Shichahai Sandalwood Boutque Hotel

Ticket: Children (ages 4+) and parents – 40RMB; Members – free

Register via [email protected] or [phone]. Please include your name, contact information, and number of attendees.

For more information see our website: http://en.bjchp.org/?p=4647

  *Reminder: There is very limited parking space in the area. We strongly suggest you find another form of transportation besides driving. 

[thedumpling-anethnography-deact]

[beijing-chp-blog]

thedumpling-anethnography:

The dumpling may seem like an incongruous piece of dough; flabby and often served half drowned in a sauce or soup, but when given time and space to be explored in all their savory soft goodness, dumplings are surprisingly versatile and I have yet to find a culture that does not have a them in...

[gardenofthefareast]

[beijing-chp-blog]

gardenofthefareast:

Boy Riding a Goat, 15th-century Ming dynasty Chinese scroll painting by Lü Wenying, Honolulu Academy of Arts

[beijing-chp-blog]

The Fahai Temple murals are one of China’s most important artworks left almost untouched since the Ming Dynasty.

[zhongguozhaopian]

[beijing-chp-blog]

zhongguozhaopian:

Confucius Temple, Beijing.

 This is just around the corner from CHP's office...it's great working in Beijing's hutong!

[design-china]

Nod Young

[beijing-chp-blog]

design-china:

Based in Beijing, Nod Young is a prolific artist whose passion lies in typography and graphic design. He draws heavily on Chinese culture and tradition to inform his working process, and has continuously pushed the boundaries of creativity in China. I’ll be re-blogging my interview with Nod soon; meanwhile, check out his latest on Flickr.