Cultural heritage 'tourism'? Sculptures can speak!
Updated: 2026-03-09
In an interview with the "Dialogues with Thinkers" of China Daily, Hang Kan, director of the Yungang Research Institute and a deputy to the National People's Congress, emphasized that cultural heritage should not be "touristified". Instead, tourism should serve as an effective means for the public to appreciate China's outstanding traditional culture. Sculpture, as one of humanity's oldest forms of visual art, acts as a universal language that transcends borders. The Yungang Grottoes in Datong, Shanxi province, which integrate artistic elements from India, Central Asia, and Greece, are a vivid testament to the exchange and mutual learning of civilizations. "Galloping forward" reflects his hopeful vision for cultural heritage protection during the 15th Five-Year Plan, with a particular expectation that technology will empower the safeguarding of cultural treasures.



