Fujian deputies promote preservation of Taiwan-related cultural relics

Heightened efforts are needed to better protect Taiwan-related cultural relics in Fujian province and the shared memory treasured by compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, deputies to the National People's Congress from Fujian said.

Taiwan-related cultural relics refer to relics that reflect its political, economic and cultural exchanges with the Chinese mainland, epitomizing the shared ancestry and origins of compatriots across the Strait, as well as the historic, artistic and scientific values, according to the government of Fuzhou, Fujian.

These include ancestral shrines, ancient mansions and ancient tombs.

As many as 1,515 such cultural relics have been registered in Fujian, and "boasts the richest resources" of the relics, Huang Lei, president of the Federation of Taiwan Compatriots of Nanping, a city in northern Fujian said.

However, there are concerns relating to their ineffective protection and development, she said, suggesting a tiered system to protect the relics.

Huang called for a comprehensive investigation of the relics, to classify them into different categories in terms of their importance, and develop different maintenance measures.

She also urged the compilation of a list of endangered relics and prompted activities to rescue them, encouraging all walks of life to join the protection.

Lu Luanmei, a member of the standing committee of the Fujian provincial committee of the China Democratic League, said an inter-department system covering various authorities, including those of cultural relics management, natural resources management and urban-rural development, is needed for joint protection efforts.

Lu said financial support for repairing the relics should be expanded, and encouraged compatriots on both sides of the Strait to work together to protect the relics.

Lu called on the government to provide funding for repairing the relics that are privately owned. These sites can be turned into free sight-seeing destinations to promote the local tourism industry, she said, suggesting that a certain percentage of the industry's income can be given to the site owners as reward.

Lu also called for the formulation of regulations concerning the protection of Taiwan-related cultural relics to set clear requirements for how to carry out the work.

In addition, Huang encouraged local authorities to conduct special exhibitions and commemorative events about the relics to attract more residents in Taiwan and further inspire awareness in Taiwan compatriots, specifically young people, of where their "roots" lie.