• Cultural Heritage in Practice Lecture Series •

Beyond Steel and Concrete:
Tourism & Restoration at Archeological Sites Along China’s Silk Road

China's Silk Road, words that evoke mystery and adventure. Even a short trip might evoke feelings and images of what ancient travelers might have seen. While desert, mountains and sky are steadfast, sites and monuments struggle to stand the test of time. These monuments require much needed help to be preserved, however restoration seems geared towards satisfying tourists rather than ensuring that these monuments continue tell their story. Despite these challenges, modern restoration is needed now more than ever as these monuments help signal to future generations who we are. We need to forgo our preoccupation with the latest technology and instead listen to the monuments’ stories, to imagine how people lived long ago.

© Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum für Asiatische Kunst

The site of Qizil, taken between 1906-1914. 

This lecture will offer some insight on these issues by showing photographs of monuments found at ancient Silk Road sites of Qiuci, Turfan and Dunhuang. By comparing old and new photographs, Professor Giuseppe Vignato will illustrate the way restorations in the last few decades have enveloped existing monuments in steel and concrete, materials we have become all too familiar with. 

Vignato in Qumtura

Professor Giuseppe Vignato studied Archaeology at the School of Archaeology and Museology of Peking University. PhD dissertation on the rock monastery of Kizil. Since 2007, Prof. Vignato has been teaching Mediterranean and Roman Archaeology, Xinjiang Buddhist Archaeology, Silk Road Archaeology at the Peking University. He has authored a monograph in Chinese, co-authored a second one in English with A.F. Howard, and published several articles chiefly on the archaeology of the rock monasteries of Kuča.

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Beyond Steel and Concrete: Tourism & Restoration at Archeological Sites in Along China’s Silk Road

Date: Sunday, August 20  

Time: 16:00-17:30 Lecture, 17:30 Q&A

Location: UPDATED: The Courtyard Institute (28 Zhonglao Hutong, Dongcheng District)

Price: 75 RMB Advance Ticket (Includes drink), 25 RMB Student ticket (No drink), 100 RMB at-the-door.  

Language: English

日期：8月20日，周日
时间：讲座16:00-17:30，问答环节17:30开始
地点： UPDATED: 四合书院（东城区，中老胡同28号）
票价：预售75元（包含酒水），学生票25元（不含酒水），现场购票100元
活动语言：英语

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This event is part of the Cultural Heritage in Practice Lecture Series organized by the Beijing Cultural Heritage Protection Center (CHP) , the Courtyard Institute, anySCALE, and Capital M. This lecture series spotlights successful heritage related projects with the goal of sharing best practices. For information on CHP's work, past events, and upcoming events please follow our wechat public account (BJ_CHP) 

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Beijing Cultural Heritage Protection Center