Chongqing - On November 22, the Baiheliang International Symposium was held in Chongqing's Fuling District, gathering over 40 experts in the fields of hydrological heritage from countries such as China, the United States, Egypt, France, the Netherlands, Australia, Mexico, and India. 

The conference focused on protecting hydrological heritage and the joint World Heritage application of Baiheliang Ancient Hydrological Inscription and Egypt's Nilometer.

Baiheliang (White Crane Ridge) in Fuling District, Chongqing. (Photo/Hu Jianzhong)

In October 2023, the work of jointly applying for UNESCO World Heritage status for the Baiheliang inscriptions and the Nilometer was initiated. 

Baiheliang, dating back to the Tang Dynasty (764 AD), records over 1200 years of low water data, earning the title of "the world's first ancient hydrological station." 

The Nilometer, an ancient Egyptian instrument used to measure the Nile's water levels, is scattered along the river, with the notable one on Rhoda Island included in this application.

At the symposium, Li Yunpeng, an engineer from China Water Conservancy Hydropower Science Academy, highlighted the intrinsic connection between Baiheliang and the Nilometer despite their geographical distance. Both sites are currently on the World Cultural Heritage tentative list. The joint application is expected to foster global cultural exchange and pioneer a new model for world heritage conservation.

"However, challenges exist in the joint application process," said Li Yunpeng. 

The prominent universal value is a crucial criterion for the nomination of World Cultural Heritage. However, with the changes over time, the current Baiheliang no longer serves a hydrological monitoring function. How to articulate the value and significance of Baiheliang to UNESCO, emphasizing its importance, to ensure that the joint nomination by China and Egypt receives priority consideration is a pressing issue that deserves attention.

Bai Jiujang, director of the Chongqing Cultural Relics and Archaeology Institute, proposed a specific implementation plan for the joint application. He suggested accelerating the establishment of a joint application mechanism with Egyptian civil and official entities, enhancing communication, and accelerating the compiling of the "Joint World Heritage Application Document of the Egyptian Nilometer Inscriptions and Chinese Baiheliang Inscriptions."

Carolina Castellanos, an associate professor at Columbia University's Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation, said, "The purpose of seeking UNESCO World Heritage status is to better protect." 

She noted the unique charm and narrative power of hydrological heritage, allowing people to revisit historical and legendary events and reassess fragments of human civilization, including transportation, migration, ancient technology, and trade.

Experts also discussed the challenges of global climate change on the preservation of hydrological heritage, calling for increased interdisciplinary and cross-regional collaboration under the broader context of understanding the effects of and combatting climate change. They advocated for the application of advanced and suitable technologies in heritage preservation.