Chongqing - As part of the Cultural and Natural Heritage Day celebration, Wenfeng Tower, located in Chongqing's Dazu District, welcomed the public once more. 

After undergoing extensive restoration for a year and a half, it is a testament to the successful implementation of the first Public Hearing for Administrative Public Interest Litigation Cases on Cultural Heritage Protection.

The hearing took place at the Cultural Heritage Protection Center of the Chongqing Municipal People's Procuratorate, providing invaluable insights into the intricate process of restoring and preserving this cherished landmark. 

Restoration Efforts

"South Tower and North Tower stand as the landmark of Dazu District. They hold profound affection and love from the local community. However, the South Tower has suffered significant damage over time," said Kuang Yunfu, a dedicated supervisor.

In September 2021, Kuang alerted the Dazu District Procuratorate to the fact that several stones had fallen off the tower and numerous scratches caused by visitors were visible. The area surrounding the tower was also strewn with plastic bottles and food packaging.

Upon confirmation, the Dazu District Procuratorate officially filed a case and issued a pre-litigation prosecutorial proposal for administrative public interest litigation to protect the South Tower. The local authority responsible for cultural relics was encouraged to raise over 400,000 yuan (about $55,961) in protection funds, and the Dazu Rock Carvings Research Institute was entrusted to carry out the comprehensive restoration of the cultural relics.

"The restoration efforts primarily focused on the tower's upper section, which had sustained considerable damage, with some parts of the pagoda fracturing," explained Chen Huili, a relic expert who had worked on the Dazu Rock Carvings restoration. He asserted that law plays an irreplaceable role in preserving cultural relics alongside applying science and technology.

The renovation, which included reinforcing vulnerable areas, cleaning surface contaminants, and sealing cracks, continued for a year and a half. The 150-year-old ancient pagoda transformed from a structure "riddled with scars" to one that is "radiant and rejuvenated."

Before the hearing, the Dazu District Procuratorate organized a site inspection, inviting deputies to the Chongqing Municipal People's Congress, members of the Chongqing Municipal Committee of the CPPCC, and supervisors to participate.

During the hearing, officials lauded the collaborative efforts of relevant departments. Their strong sense of responsibility played a pivotal role in effectively preserving Wenfeng Tower's cultural significance.

Preserving Cultural Heritage: The Role of Procurators

Before the hearing, the Dazu District Procuratorate organized a site inspection, inviting members of the Chongqing Municipal People's Congress, the Chongqing Municipal Committee of the CPPCC, and supervisors to participate.

During the hearing, officials lauded the collaborative efforts of relevant departments. Their strong sense of responsibility played a pivotal role in effectively preserving Wenfeng Tower's cultural significance.

The hearing marked a milestone as the first case entrusted to the Cultural Heritage Protection Center of Chongqing Procuratorate since its establishment. The Protection Center consists of Case-Handling, Exhibition, and Study and Research areas. Supported by assistant procurators, the procurators in the Case-Handling Area receive reports, handle relevant cases, conduct investigations in collaboration with experts, and facilitate hearings.

The Protection Center has partnered with professional institutes, such as Dazu Rock Carvings Research Institute. It has initiated various educational programs, like mock hearings, law courses, and cultural heritage lessons, making the center an excellent destination for both learning and exploration.

Chongqing is home to an impressive 1.483 million movable cultural relics, 26,000 immovable cultural relics, and 53 pieces of national intangible cultural heritages.

However, safeguarding this vast cultural heritage has faced challenges due to the limited number of professional teams, leading to frequent incidents, according to Lin Bizhong, Vice Director of the Chongqing Cultural Relics Archaeological Research Institute.

Peng Jinrong, Director of the Fifth Procuratorial Department of the Municipal Procuratorate, underscored the proactive measures Chongqing's procuratorates have taken in recent years. Handling 155 cases, they have offered invaluable proposals for protecting cultural relics.

To enhance the efficiency of public interest litigation about cultural heritage protection, Chongqing's procuratorates are now focusing on establishing a comprehensive platform. This platform will integrate investigation clues, facilitate coordination, and expedite the litigation process.

（Yang Yuanchun, as an intern, also contributed to the report.）