2014 International Symposium on Historic Urban Landscapes on 9th and 10th December was hosted by UNESCO, Tongji University and ICOMOS China, organized by WHITRAP Shanghai and Advanced Research Institute of Architecture and Urban-Rural Planning, Tongji University, and supported by Academic Committee on Historical and Cultural Cities - Urban Planning Society of China. It brought together the implementing agencies and partners, as well as interested professionals from China and abroad, to take stock of progress made in HUL implementation in a diverse range of contexts. In total 100 participants came from different Chinese institutions, as well as international institutions and organizations.

At the opening of the Symposium, the book launch took place of Reconnecting the City. The Historic Urban Landscape Approach and the Future of Urban Heritage, edited by Francesco BANDARIN and Ron VAN OERS, and was handed out to the majority of participants.

The Symposium established an International Scientific Committee for the Historic Urban Landscape Programme in China, which is chaired by Francesco BANDARIN, Special Advisor on Heritage to UNESCO’s Director-General and Professor at the University Institute of Architecture of Venice. This Committee will meet once a year and has been tasked with the elaboration of an agenda for HUL implementation in China. This agenda is currently under development and will shortly be circulated to the symposium participants for endorsement. The Symposium was preceded by a concise Training Course, in which 23 international professionals (from India, Nepal, Malaysia, Indonesia, Germany, Italy, China and the United States) were updated on the concept, background and latest developments as regards HUL. The training concluded with a site visit to one of the HUL Pilot Projects in China, i.e. the Hong Kou District in Shanghai.