Historic Preservation

The Forbidden City with Matthew Hu

The Forbidden City with Matthew Hu

On this episode of Barbarians at the Gate, Matthew Hu of the Beijing Cultural Heritage Preservation Center joins Jeremiah and David Moser to look at the Forbidden City's past, present, and future and the challenges of restoring and exhibiting the museum’s 1.8 million artifacts.

Weekend Walking with the Lamas: A Quick Guide to Visiting Yonghegong

Weekend Walking with the Lamas: A Quick Guide to Visiting Yonghegong

Yonghegong, also known as The Lama Temple, reopened to the public last month and remains one of the city’s most fascinating religious sites.

Barbarians at the Gate: Beijing Remixed with Preservationist Matthew Hu (Hu Xinyu)

Barbarians at the Gate: Beijing Remixed with Preservationist Matthew Hu (Hu Xinyu)

In this episode, Jeremiah and David talk with Matthew Hu, former Managing Directory of the Beijing Cultural Heritage Protection Center, Co-founder of the Beijing Courtyard Institute, and a longtime activist for the preservation and restoration of historic Beijing architecture and historical landmarks.

China’s competing legacies on show at National Palace Museums in Beijing and Taipei

China’s competing legacies on show at National Palace Museums in Beijing and Taipei
  • The mid-century scramble to stop priceless art and artefacts falling into the wrong hands saw country’s collection of imperial artefacts splinter

  • Nationalists transported their treasures to Taiwan, while newly minted People’s Republic allowed Forbidden City to preserve posterity

Beijing's 'Great Brickening' Encroaches Deeper Into Residential Areas

Beijing's 'Great Brickening' Encroaches Deeper Into Residential Areas

While “The Brickening” has so far mostly affected commercial properties, including wiping out many well-known and beloved food and beverage institutions, the next phase in Beijing’s ongoing urban rejuvenation will start to affect residents of areas designated as historical and cultural conservation zones. These areas are mostly located within the Second Ring Road north of the Forbidden City.

The Politics of Protection: Beijing Makes UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site Bids

The Politics of Protection: Beijing Makes UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site Bids

Beijing authorities have made a bid for 15 landmarks in the Chinese capital to join the list of World Cultural Heritage sites by 2035, a move that’s not without controversy.

Excellent Ming-Era Architecture and Artifacts on Display at Re-Opened Zhihua Temple

Excellent Ming-Era Architecture and Artifacts on Display at Re-Opened Zhihua Temple

Zhihua Temple, one of the best-preserved repositories of Ming-era architecture and artifacts in the city, has reopened after extensive renovations.

2017 Year in Review: Beijing's Changing Urban Landscape and a Few Predictions for the Coming Year

2017 Year in Review: Beijing's Changing Urban Landscape and a Few Predictions for the Coming Year

2017 was a year of change for Beijing, but then again what year since 1421 hasn’t been a year of change for the city?

Imperial-Era Tombs Discovered on Site of New Beijing Mega-Airport

Imperial-Era Tombs Discovered on Site of New Beijing Mega-Airport

Workers building Beijing’s mega-airport of the future have stumbled over a bit of the city’s past.

Postcards From Dashilan: Retracing the Development of Beijing’s Former Commercial Hub

Postcards From Dashilan: Retracing the Development of Beijing’s Former Commercial Hub

Beijing has seen a lot of changes this year, but is this something new? Beijing has always been in a state of flux.

An Ode to Beijing's Urban Renewal, With Apologies to Bruce Springsteen

An Ode to Beijing's Urban Renewal, With Apologies to Bruce Springsteen

Everything gets chai’d that’s a fact
But maybe somethings get
chai’d which won’t come back
Brick up your hutong right, make your street look pretty
And meet me tonight, in China’s capital city

Historic Courtyards and Residences That Could (or Should) Be Opened to the Public

Historic Courtyards and Residences That Could (or Should) Be Opened to the Public

Have you ever walked down a hutong past a grand gate and stopped to wonder just what was hidden behind those high brick walls?

Historic Courtyards and Residences That Could (or Should) Be Opened to the Public

Historic Courtyards and Residences That Could (or Should) Be Opened to the Public

Have you ever walked down a hutong past a grand gate and stopped to wonder just what was hidden behind those high brick walls?

Beijing's Mystery Canal: Centuries-Old Brook Reimagined in Qianmen Neighborhood

Beijing's Mystery Canal: Centuries-Old Brook Reimagined in Qianmen Neighborhood

Last month, state media buzzed about the restoration of an ancient brook, a long-lost waterway transformed into a beautiful new park in Beijing. The trouble was, the brook didn’t seem to exist on any historical maps of the city. 

Audio: What do people look for when they come to Beijing?

Audio: What do people look for when they come to Beijing?

The final installment of my conversation with Bruce Connolly of Radio Beijing AM774. What do people want to see when they come to Beijing? Do international visitors and domestic tourists expect different things when visiting the capital?