China Heritage Watch Weekly Digest – 4th to 10th February 2013

News:

Relics Unearth History of Shanghai Shipping (China Daily)

The discovery of hundreds of artefacts dating back to the Tang Dynasty in Qinglong (青龙), Shanghai, may prove that Shanghai’s history as a shipping centre goes back further than previously thought.

Mogao Grotto Murals Prepped for Digital Display (China Daily)

More than 50 of the Mogao Grottoes’ (莫高窟) murals have been preserved in digital images and will be on public display at Zhejiang University (浙江大学) later this year.

China’s Terracotta Warrior Army is Deteriorating (Smithsonian.Com)

Researchers are concerned that China’s famed terracotta army and other relics may disintegrate unless proper environmental control systems are installed in museums and open spaces.

Ancient Bronze Mirrors Exhibited in Anhui (Xinhua)

Over 150 ancient bronze mirrors are currently on display in Hefei (合肥), Anhui Province.

Zip-Lines: Traditional Transportation Method Along Nujiang River (Global Times)

Photos of residents using zip-lines to cross the Nujiang River (怒江) in the Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture (怒江傈僳族自治州) in Yunnan Province.

Ancient Printing Leaving its Mark (Shanghai Daily/UNESCO)

A short article on Chinese wooden movable-type printing, which was inscribed on UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding in 2010.

Stele Split During Theft, Suspects Remain at Large (Global Times/People’s Daily)

A Qing Dynasty stele was damaged by looters when they attempted to steal it from the ruins of the Fahai Temple (法海寺) in Beijing’s Shijingshan District (石景山区). The suspects remain at large and heritage and legal experts say this case highlights the flaws in Beijing’s cultural heritage protection laws.

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Blogs:

Christmas in the Other China: The Ancient Tea Road and Ancient Tea Trees of Jinggu (ChinaWatch2050)

Gary writes about his fieldwork in Jinggu Dai and Yi Autonomous County (景谷傣族彝族自治县), Yunnan Province.

6 Snake Phrases for the Year of the Snake (FluentU)

Christina ushers in the Year of the Snake by sharing six snake phrases and idioms.

Pamir People (The World of Chinese)

Daniel meets some of the nomadic Kyrgyz farmers of Western Xinjiang.

Vipers & Beasts in the Year of the Little Dragon (The China Story)

Geremie explains why the Year of the Snake is often regarded with some trepidation.

Offering to the Chinese gods (Photo credit: sniggie)

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