Living Heritage in Wheat Fields: China’s New Practice of Balancing Conservation and Development

Beijing. In Baling Village of Gongyi, located in central China’s Henan Province, the wheat harvest season is underway. Harvesters are moving across golden wheat fields, while centuries-old stone statues stand silently amid the farmland. The sight of agricultural life, historical heritage and modern technology in one place has become a distinctive example of China’s approach to cultural heritage conservation.

Stone statues dating back to the Northern Song Dynasty stand around the Yongtai Mausoleum area in Gongyi. These statues were carved during the Northern Song period, from 960 to 1126. The name Baling itself means “Eight Mausoleums.” The village is home to 1,027 surviving stone relics and has been described as an “open-air museum of ancient sculpture.”

Cultural relics are usually displayed inside museums, behind glass cases or in protected halls. But the statues of Baling remain connected to farmland, rural life and the fertile land shaped by the Yellow River. As wheat is harvested in the fields, the statues appear as silent witnesses to history.

Liang, a tourist from China’s Sichuan Province, said the experience of visiting the area is different from that of a museum. According to him, history can be felt directly across these fields. He said no museum can offer such a unique experience.

However, questions have also been raised about the protection of these statues in an open environment. Some people wonder why the statues are not placed inside glass or enclosed protective structures. Zhu Xingli, head of Gongyi’s cultural relics administration, said the statues have endured freezing winters and intense summers for centuries. According to him, glass coverings could block airflow and trap heat, creating a sauna-like environment that could put the relics at greater risk.

Zhu said preserving the area is not only about protecting the statues themselves, but also about maintaining the relationship between the relics and the natural and cultural landscape that has surrounded them for generations. For this reason, a conservation approach has been adopted that does not separate the statues from the fields, villages and traditional life around them.

For amateur photographer Liu Liheng, this coexistence is the main attraction of the area. He tries to capture high-speed trains, ancient stone statues and golden wheat fields in a single frame. In his words, it is a conversation between China’s past and present.

Baling is one example of China’s broader efforts to protect its vast cultural heritage while keeping it connected to contemporary life. China launched its latest nationwide cultural heritage survey in 2023. Scheduled to conclude this month, the survey has not only re-examined around 767,000 heritage sites recorded in the previous census, but has also identified more than 130,000 additional heritage locations.

Beyond the Song Dynasty stone carvings in open fields, a large number of cultural relics are also preserved in museums across China. The country currently has more than 7,000 registered museums. According to official data, these museums held around 45,000 exhibitions in 2025 and received 1.56 billion visits.

Saturday marks China’s Cultural and Natural Heritage Day. According to the National Cultural Heritage Administration, cultural authorities and institutions across the country will hold more than 7,000 online and offline events to mark the occasion.

As China’s thinking on conservation continues to evolve, heritage protection is no longer limited to museum walls. Beijing’s Central Axis is also presented as an example of balancing heritage conservation with urban development. The 7.8-kilometer north-south corridor connects many of Beijing’s historical landmarks and is one of China’s 60 World Heritage sites.

In the Caochang neighborhood near Tian’anmen Square, restoration projects have preserved old buildings and ancient guild halls. Vacant courtyard compounds in the area have been transformed into boutique hotels with modern facilities, while remaining integrated with the surrounding residential community.

Hao Dongxue, deputy general manager of Tianjie Group, which manages the restoration project, said the traditional architectural character has been preserved while modern amenities have been introduced. According to him, such projects have also helped improve the wider neighborhood.

Local resident Jiao Shuqin said the restored area still retains the atmosphere of traditional Beijing. She said the gray brick walls, old trees and courtyards are still there.

From stone guardians standing in wheat fields to restored historic neighborhoods in the capital, China’s approach to heritage conservation reflects a national strategy that seeks to balance preservation with development. It advances the view that cultural heritage should not be treated merely as an object of the past, but as a living resource connected to present life and future generations.

According to Du Xiaofan, director of the Center for Land and Cultural Resources Research at Fudan University in Shanghai, the main purpose of heritage protection should not be only to preserve the past. Rather, it should sustain the spiritual and cultural ties between humanity and heritage and make them meaningful for future generations.