The 2026 UNESCO World Heritage Volunteers (WHV) initiative has launched its global recruitment for the Foguang Temple Volunteer Project, with applications open worldwide until July 13.

This initiative is jointly organized by the Shanxi Coshare Innovation Institute of Energy and Environment and the Shanxi Academy of Ancient Architecture and Painted Sculptures and Murals Protection. 

The project will take place from August 1 to 10, during which volunteers will be required to be on-site at Foguang Temple for the entire duration. The focus will be on the contemporary challenge of cultural heritage preservation in the context of climate change, encompassing six key areas: protection, public education, cultural advocacy, collaborative dialogue, value interpretation, and visual documentation.

Foguang Temple is located in Shanxi province's Wutai county, with its East Main Hall the largest and best-preserved wooden structure from the Tang Dynasty (618-907) in China, often hailed as "China's foremost national treasure in ancient architecture".

Volunteers will engage in the temple's daily protection and management, offer guided tours to visitors, and participate in hiking patrols of the tomb pagoda and surrounding protected areas. They will also plan bilingual exhibitions on the Zushi Pagoda, create foreign-language audio guides, and design a system of signs promoting respectful tourism. At the conclusion of the project, a "Foguang Temple World Heritage Respectful Tourism Initiative" will be published.

Applicants must be between 16 and 55 years old, in good health, and possess a genuine passion and responsibility for cultural heritage preservation. Strong communication skills and a spirit of teamwork are also essential. Interested candidates should submit their application forms to jintonic8@163.com by July 13.