Abstract

There is a World Heritage Craze in China. China claims to have the longest continuous civilization in the world and is seeking recognition from UNESCO. This book explores three dimensions of the UNESCO World Heritage initiative with particular relevance for China: the universal agenda, the national practices, and the local responses. With a sociological lens, this book offers comprehensive insights into World Heritage, as well as China’s deep social, cultural, and political structures.

Haiming Yan is Associate Research Fellow at the Chinese Academy of Cultural Heritage.

“This book makes several important contributions to the heritage literature. It fills a huge gap in the literature and should be required reading for anyone seriously interested in global heritage conservation.” · Diane Barthel-Bouchier, Stony Brook University

“It was an eye-opening journey through the complex pathways of international ‘soft power’ playing out in China’s unique landscape of centralized government power and immensely rich and diverse cultural heritage.” · Pei-Lin Yu, Boise State University