Microsoft Word 2007 ichrie conference Proceedings Final-Final 06-06-07. doc

Non-government organizations (NGOs) 
Beijing Cultural Heritage Protection Center (CHP) is China’s leading civil society dedicated to mobilizing 
communities to protect the nation’s rich and diverse cultural heritage. In its Old City Preservation projects, Beijing 
Hutong is listed as the major area of effort for the agency in calling for protections of heritage from damage and 
demolitions. The organization engages community and residents in participating in the process of cultural policy 
reform. It enlists public pressure to encourage the implementation of government cultural laws and organizes 
cultural heritage awareness events. NGOs like CHP act as pressure groups for cultural preservation. 
Tsinghua University, with a long history of concern about Beijing city heritage planning (Sit, 1995; Wu, 
1999), is one organization that is attempting to lobby the government to choose an approach that will retain the 
traditional Hutongs in the city’s modernization process. Researchers and architects from the university claimed 
Beijing’s culture and traditions, such as the Hutongs life style, to be the city’s identity in the “global village”. After 
all, the traditional and cultural presentation of the city can add to its international appeal.
The World Bank has also actively participated in the preservation of the Hutongs by monitoring and 
funding cultural preservation projects. Another agency that consulted on Beijing’s cultural policy and modern 
development is an intergovernmental organization - the United Nation Education, Science and Cultural Organization 

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