World Heritage Institute of Training and Research-Asia and Pacific - Review | Cooperation between Xiamen, CNR and WHITR-AP Shanghai

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Review | Cooperation between Xiamen, CNR and WHITR-AP Shanghai

　 PublishDate：2026-01-04　 Hits：39

From 19 to 25 November 2025, Ms. Marie-Noël Tournoux, Project Director of the World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for the Asia and the Pacific Region, Shanghai Centre (WHITR-AP Shanghai), on the invitation of the School of Architecture and Civil Engineering of Xiamen University (XMU-SACE) participated in the first joint meetings and exploration mission organized in Fujian Province within the framework of the Strategic cooperation between the Institute of Heritage Science of the National Research Council of Italy (CNR-ISPC), XMU-SACE and WHITR-AP Shanghai.

Group photo at Xiamen University with XMU-SACE, CNR and WHITR-AP Shanghai

Following the 5 year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on “Cultural Conservation and Enhancement of Urban and Rural Settlements along the Maritime Silk Road” signed in April 2019 between the Department of Social Sciences and Humanities of the National Research Council of Italy (CNR-DSU), XMU-SACE, and WHITR-AP Shanghai, a new MoU was signed in July 2024 between XMU-SACE, the CNR-ISPC and WHITR-AP Shanghai. The purpose of this MoU is to undertake research and training on the “Cultural Heritage Conservation and Enhancement of Urban and Rural Settlements”, with a particular focus on World Heritage Sites in Fujian Province, China.

Within the framework of the previous MoU, XMU-SACE, CNR-DSU and WHITR-AP, the partners extensively conducted research on a series of Fujian Tulou, which are components of the World Heritage property as well as sharing experiences on safeguarding and valorising heritage with students and local communities alike.

The joint work focused on a holistic and interdisciplinary approach on the heritage value assessment, considering not only buildings but the wider setting as well as traditional building technics. Ths joint project allowed to elaborate specific documentation and to develop a conservation methodology. Furthermore, the partners undertook a scoping study on the historic qilou buildings in Xiamen and a detailed study of a pilot area.

Fujian Tulou

New Chapter in Cooperation

With a confirmed common interest on the role of culture and heritage as driving forces for sustainable development, this new phase of the cooperation aims is to further conduct research and training programs in order to connect cultural heritage conservation and urban and territorial development initiatives and to create synergies locally and internationally among Italy and China and the Asia and Pacific Region.

Roundtable discussion at Xiamen University

More specifically the November mission allowed to hold on 19 November the first in-person tripartite meeting between partners to discuss in detail the joint work plan activities and define the key expected outcomes of the 3 key cooperation areas (1) education of urban and rural cultural heritage conservation, (2) research, (3) organizing workshops and Summer Schools in China and Italy. The roundtable meeting gave partners the occasion to present their respective institutions including a summary of the outcomes of activities implemented between 2019 and 2024 within the framework of the first MoU.

On-site Field Trip

The mission enabled to undertake the first on site field trip to launch an exchange of methodology campaign on surveying and documenting built heritage in Nanyan village in Ningde City and to explore Fulin village, Jinjiang City, Quanzhou City, an overseas Chinese hometown, Youxi village and Chongren village in Guangze county, Nanping City and discuss surveying, documenting and management of archeological sites in Hejiatan, Guangze County, Nanping City.

Nanyan village leaders and village dwellers, XMU-SACE students and the XMU-SACE, CNR and WHITR-AP team in Nanyan village

Detail of lattice window

Detail of wood carving

Nanyan village agricultural setting

On site methodological exchange in Nanyan village with XMU-SACE students and the three partners focused on selecting one historic building and starting and testing the survey process with a special emphasis on detailed description, critical observation, state of conservation analysis, defining heritage values and phasing the work to be further conducting. In parallel the village as a whole and its wider setting, intangible features and social characteristics were explored to embrace all the different historical scales and layering.

Nanyang Village

Detail of the wood structure of a historic house in Nanyang

Nanyan village, view of the wider setting seen from a historic trail

Additionally, at every stage of the mission several lectures and small group presentations were given to XMU-SACE students and the Nanyan village local community.

Lecture in Nanyan village

Historic covered bridge in Youxi village

Inside of the Youxi covered bridge

Chongren village historic streets

Historic tree in Chongren village

Contributed by Marie-Noël Tournoux & Tang Zhuping (Intern)

Edited by Liu Zhen

Reviewed by Shao Yong

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