Chaozhou, a city steeped in tea culture and adorned with woodcarvings in its ancient temples, ancestral halls, and residences, shines like a brilliant pearl in eastern Guangdong. In 2025, the bid for the "Chaozhou Ancient City" to be recognized as a World Heritage Site was included in Guangdong Province's government work report for the first time. It's China's only "living ancient city" with residents, vibrant local life, and traditional customs.

Regarding the confidence in the ancient city's bid for heritage status and the subsequent progress, the Party secretary of Chaozhou He Xiaojun and the head of the Guangdong Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, Cao Jin, shared their insights in an interview. He Xiaojun stated that the confidence in Chaozhou Ancient City's bid stems from widespread support and the city's unique characteristics. After more than 1,600 years, the ancient city has managed to preserve a wealth of cultural relics, including national key cultural relics protection units such as the Guangji Bridge, Xu Fuma Mansion, and Kaiyuan Temple. It also boasts 90 historical buildings and four representative historical and cultural blocks, along with thousands of ancient quadrangle courtyards and buildings dating back to before the Republic of China era.

Cao Jin noted that this aligns with the current concept of holistic protection and dynamic inheritance of cultural heritage. Nowadays, the protection of cultural heritage places greater emphasis on diversity, inclusiveness, and sustainability, shifting from a "static" to a "dynamic" and "living" state, exemplified by Beijing Central Axis.

In the past two years, the tourism market of Chaozhou Ancient City has been booming. According to the popular hotel booking increase list during the "National Day" holiday in 2024 by Tongcheng Travel, Chaozhou ranked fourth nationwide. During holidays, at the sites of ancient buildings such as the Guangji Bridge, Guangji Gate Tower, and Hanwen Gongci Shrine, performances of intangible cultural heritage projects like Chaozhou gongs and drums, Chaozhou woodcarving, Chaozhou embroidery, Chaozhou inlaid porcelain, and Yingge dances are held. Domestic and international tourists not only witness the charm of Chaozhou culture but also feel the warmth and vitality of the Chaozhou people, gaining a strong sense of participation and experience.

He Xiaojun mentioned that in the future, Chaozhou will delve deeper into its historical and cultural resources, integrating the bid with the enhancement of people's well-being, and building a diversified cultural and tourism system led by ancient city tourism. With the first "Intangible Cultural Heritage" Chinese New Year approaching, He invites friends from all over to enjoy Chaozhou cuisine, taste Gongfu tea, and explore the Song Dynasty-style landscape, experiencing Chaozhou culture and lifestyle.

Source :Lingnan on the Cloud

推动“潮州古城”申遗首次写入省政府工作报告，信心何在？

潮州，这座受茶文化滋养的城市，木雕艺术遍布古朴庙宇、祠堂与民居，宛如粤东大地的璀璨明珠。2025年，“潮州古城”申遗首次被写入广东省政府工作报告，它是国内唯一有原住民居住、保留浓郁烟火气与传统民俗的“活着的古城”。

对古城申遗的信心来源与后续推进等问题，潮州市委书记何晓军及省文物考古研究院院长曹劲接受了采访。何晓军称，潮州古城申遗信心源于各方支持及自身特质。历经1600多年，古城内完整保存了丰富的文物资源，有广济桥、许驸马府、开元寺等全国重点文物保护单位，有历史建筑90项和具有代表性的历史文化街区4片，还存有上千座古四合院及民国时期以前的古建筑。

曹劲表示，这契合当下文化遗产整体保护和活态传承的理念。如今文化遗产保护更注重多样性、包容性与可持续性，从“静态”向“动态”“活态”转变，如北京中轴线便是例证。

近两年，潮州古城旅游市场日益火爆。同程旅行2024“十一”假期热门酒店预订涨幅榜显示，潮州位列全国第4名。每逢节假日，在广济桥、广济门城楼、韩文公祠等古建筑所在地，都会举办潮州大锣鼓、潮州木雕、潮绣、潮州嵌瓷、英歌舞等非遗项目展演，国内外游客不仅看见了潮州文化的魅力、还感受到潮州人民的热情与活力，获得满满的参与感和体验感。

何晓军称，未来潮州将深入挖掘历史文化资源，把申遗与增进民生福祉结合，构建以古城旅游为龙头的多元文旅体系。值首个“非遗”中国年到来，何晓军诚邀各地朋友前来吃潮州菜、品工夫茶、游山水宋城，体验潮文化与潮生活。

文｜记者 周欣怡
图｜记者 宋金峪
翻译｜史洋溢
英文审校｜赵凡