Chongqing- The On-site Promotion Meeting for Key Grotto Temples Conservation and Utilization and Establishment of Archaeological Specimens Storehouse was held at Dazu District on May 20. Yu Huiwen, Secretary of the CPC Dazu District Committee, summarized the progress of the study on conservation of Dazu Rock Carvings: Dazu District issued Chongqing's first special regulations on cultural heritage — Chongqing Dazu Rock Carvings Conservation Regulations; Dazu Stone Cultural Relics Conservation Center, Dazu Rock Carvings Monitoring and Early Warning Center, and Dazu Rock Carvings Security Center came into being; an array of projects to establish cultural relics conservation and utilization facilities were wrapped up, including the rescuing protection of the Thousand Hand Guanyin statue and upgrading of the Baoding Mountain Rock Carvings Scenic Area; Dazu Rock Carvings Research Institute was upgraded to a deputy-department-level organization; Dazu Study Research Institute was established in Sichuan Fine Arts Institute; Dazu Rock Carvings was included in the national unified history textbooks for the first time. These fruits laid a solid foundation for the conservation and utilization of national key grotto temples. In addition, Yu mentioned that Dazu District would create a Dazu Rock Carvings Cultural Park and increase the prestige of Dazu Rock Carvings Research Institute at a faster pace, allowing cultural relics to serve the public.

The On-site Promotion Meeting for Key Grotto Temples Conservation and Utilization and Establishment of Archaeological Specimens Storehouse

Attendees included heads of cultural relics and development and reform departments from 12 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government). The heads of cultural relics departments exchanged opinions on conservation, exhibition, and utilization of grotto temples; Ou Xiaoli, Director of the Department of Social Development, National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), put forward specific requirements on the preparation of project applications about national key protected cultural relic units and archaeological excavation direction reserves, construction of protection facilities for such key cultural relics as grotto temples, and building of archaeological specimens storehouses in key areas. Hu Bing, Deputy Director of National Cultural Heritage Administration, made the final speech, highlighting relevant work.

Dazu Rock Carvings

The meeting was co-sponsored by National Cultural Heritage Administration and NDRC. Construction of infrastructure for conservation and utilization of key grotto temples can encourage other national key protected cultural relic units to improve their infrastructure and effectively protect the environment. This move is conducive to give full play of grotto temples' role in cultural exchanges, help cultural relics contribute more to the building of systems for the inheritance of excellent traditional Chinese cultures and public cultural services, satisfy the public's growing cultural need, and stimulate coordinated local, regional economic and social development. Furthermore, the archaeological specimens storehouses are expected to develop more standardized, normative, and technology-powered archaeological institutions, enabling archaeology to boost the cultural relics industry and provide better conditions for archaeological research, cultural relics conservation, and cultural popularization.

The conference participants went to Baodingshan and Beishan to investigate the protection and utilization of key cave temples.