Press conference: Beijing's Heritage Restored and Revitalized

Foreign reporter

I have a question for Mr. Du, if we could. The question is from a report in China Daily about cloud seeding program. Could you tell us a little bit about the cloud seeding program and could you please explain specifically how do you think it will be able to be used in terms of protecting the Olympic events, particularly the Opening Ceremony?

Du Shaozhong

I am afraid it is a scientific experiment to increase rains in an artificial way during the Olympic Games. It is really not within the jurisdiction of the environment protection bureau. I am afraid I am not in any position to make any promise in this regard.

French television

It is a question for Mr. Sun. You said that you have provided enough access to the internet for us to report. Can you explain to us what do you mean by 'enough access' to us?

Sun Weide

We will provide our reporters with sufficient and convenient internet access so that their reporting of the Olympic Games will not be affected. Perhaps I think I made myself clear earlier about the Chinese government's position towards 'Falun Gong'.

French Television

What about the Amnesty International?

Sun Weide

I am not sure about the specific website. I don't think you have problems to access the internet when doing your reporting.

Beijing Youth Daily

I am from Beijing Youth Daily. My question is for Mr. Kong. You said that China has been learning some practices from European countries and I do appreciate that. I do think that you will make your job in preservation especially in sharing the heritage with people by providing free access to many of these cultural heritage sties and museums. Such as British Museum, Notre Dame in Paris, Cologne Cathedral, all of these are free.

But still in China, we found that people still have to pay high rate to get in to the cultural heritage sites to see the artifacts. So going forward, do you have any idea or comments to make in terms of sharing with the vast Chinese residence of the cultural heritage?

Kong Fanzhi

This is a very important question. Yes, after the preservation we would like to play its role of education and information to the public. In terms of 33 museums now, some of them are open free to the public, to local people and foreigners. As for the local heritage building, we are doing a certain amount of analysis of this situation. Because for some sites, we have to have entrance in order to control the number of visitors, so that the site will not be overwhelmed. For example, Zhengyang Gate, if overwhelmed, would be in danger itself. We did our best to do the opening to the public. In fact, some secondary and primary school students can visit the Forbidden City for free. We have 500 daily quotas for such visits. For people at the age of about 70, we have concessions rates. As for the visitors collectively organized by school, they are free.

Foreign reporter

I just have a question about the operation of the press and media inside the MPC. Is BOCOG or other Chinese agencies monitoring the internet activities inside MPC, in other word, emails, stories or internet sites that we might be looking at?

Sun Weide

The usage of the internet of MPC follows the rules and regulation of the IOC. We facilitate your use for your reporting.

Xinhuanet.com

I have two questions. First goes to Director Kong. On the selection of the sites and venues, how do you balance the modern buildings that is going to be built and the preservation of the cultural heritage? Can you give us some specific data and numbers?

The second goes to Mr. Du. Did the renovation of the old city implement the concept of 'Green Olympics', energy saving, and etc? Would the renovation of the old city itself clean up the air and also improve the air condition?

Kong Fanzhi

So for the first question, how do we balance out the building of the venues and the preservation of heritage? Well, we first start off with the planning itself. That is to say in the planning of the venues, we have made reports on preserving the heritage above ground. We've also done archeological work preserving the relic and artifacts underground.

So you can see from this map, the Bird's Nest, and to the left, the Water Cube, then below is a very important site, the Beiding Niangniang Temple.

In fact, the original plan for the Water Cube is not exactly on that spot. However, in order to preserve the Beiding Niangniang Temple, we have moved the Water Cube 100 away from the original plan in order to preserve this temple. You can see the Beiding Niangniang temple. We have stone carving displayed inside.

That was for the preservation of the sites above ground. As for the preservation of the artifacts underground, we have explored and excavated 18 venue sites, excavating a great number of artifacts.

(Referring to the pictures in the screen) That is the exploration of the site, the archaeological excavation site. So these are the recovered artifacts such as the porcelain and the ceramics from the eastern Han Dynasty, and some jade pieces.

Du Shaozhong

You have pointed out the relationship between the renovation of the old city and the energy saving measures. Indeed, we have taken into consideration the environmental protection and energy saving in the course of the renovation and the course of heritage preservation. In fact, the renovation of the old city and the heritage preservation are two sides of the same coin. Environmental protection has been taken into account right at the start of the renovation of the old city.

Let me give you a specific example. When we deal with the low-lying houses, we have converted the little coal-burning stoves into some sort of electric-heating which has given us a lot of environmental benefits. As we know, the coal burning has produced a lot of pollution especially the sulfur dioxide and the dusts. Now that they are converted into electric heating, and a lot of benefits have been reaped. That is to say, it protects the health of the people and the heritage themselves. We are continuing such efforts. We plan for improving such heating for 50,000 households and it seems that we will reach 60,000 households. This work will be continued next year.

Australian newspaper

I would ask Mr. Kong. Back to Qianmen, the area around that which is the shopping streets, the area around it is just rubble, most of it is not bound, some of it has been redeveloped by the government. How will the development become an old China theme park? How is this commensurate with the idea of protection and renovation when you actually knock down the buildings?

Kong Fanzhi

Well for the Qianmen area, in order to explain what we are doing, we have to go back into history. In fact, the area has been developed a long time ago. Now, if you look at that problem of the Qianmen area, you have to consider it in a comprehensive manner because it would involve transportation and improving the living conditions for the residents themselves. The remnants of the urban planning of Qianmen area are 200 years ago back to the Qing Dynasty and the streets are very narrow. So taking all these together, Qianmen has become a very dilapidated area.

In fact, there has been some demolition of some buildings in this area. However, some have been demolished because we have to have access for cars so we have to facilitate traffic. Inevitably some buildings have been demolished. Some buildings have been demolished because we need to put in urban facilities and infrastructure, unavoidably some buildings above ground will be impacted. There is also demolition of the poor houses that has been put together on one point. For some buildings that we have renovated, we have downsized them in the course of renovation, which might give you the impression of the buildings being demolished. I would also like to reassure you that for the buildings that are identified by the government as the heritage sites, they are very well protected.

Foreign reporter

I have a question for Mr. Sun. This morning, I was trying to access the sites regards to Tibet, the Free Tibet Campaign and Tibet government. I also tried to access to sites relating to June 4, 1989 on the YouTube footage. I could not access any of that material on the internet system here at MPC. I wonder if these websites are being blocked, and if so, why?

Sun Weide

I think I have explained it fully earlier. As I said, during the period of the Games, we will facilitate reporters' interviews and reporting. Furthermore, all reports on the Games will not be affected.

That is the end of the press conference. Tomorrow, at 11 a.m., we will have press conference on Medical Security of Beijing Olympic Games. At 2 p.m. tomorrow, we will organize accredited media reporters to visit renovated Temple of Ancient Monarchs and Qianmen. You are very welcome to come.