Attendees to the conference held to launch the list of the third batch of 20th-century Chinese architectural heritages pose for a photograph. [Photo/ynu.edu.cn]

Historic buildings belonging to Yunnan University (YNU) were hailed for their architectural heritage at a conference held to announce the list of the third batch of 20th-century Chinese architectural heritages, in Nanjing, capital of East China’s Jiangsu province, on Nov 24. 

With the support of the Chinese Society of Cultural Relics, the Architectural Society of China, the government of Nanjing and Southeast University, the conference was held by the 20th-century architectural heritage committee of the Architectural Society of China, the government of Xuanwu district in Nanjing, the Institute for Scientific Research and the School of Architecture at Southeast University, as well as the Chinese Architectural Heritage and Architectural Review journals. 

Xiu Long, chairman of the Architectural Society of China; Zhang Guangjun, president of Southeast University; Zhong Xunzheng, academician from the Chinese Academy of Engineering; Liu Jingliang, a master in engineering surveys and design; Huang Yuan, vice-president of the Chinese Society of Cultural Relics, as well as nearly 600 teachers and students from Southeast University, attended the conference, which was chaired by Jin Lei, vice-president of the 20th-century architectural heritage committee of the Chinese Society of Cultural Relics. 

Zhang Guangjun and Xiu Long delivered speeches at the conference. Huang Yuan, vice-president of the Chinese Society of Cultural Relics, announced the list of the 20th-century architectural heritages with YNU historical buildings included on the list. 

Li Huaiyu, curator of the YNU archives center, attended the event and received the award on behalf of the university. He was also invited to take part in a meeting following the awards ceremony. 

YNU’s appearance on the list is recognition of the university’s efforts to preserve its historic buildings and architecture. 

At present, the China Society of Cultural Relics and the Architectural Society of China have announced 298 items of architectural heritage in three batches. 

The 20th-century Chinese architectural heritages have been taken from across 25 provinces, cities and autonomous regions of China, covering categories such as cultural education, industrial heritage and residential designs –– based on the styles of architecture. 

The judging panel consists of 97 experts and academics in architecture and cultural relics, with some of them from the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Being time-honored is not the only requirement for those architectural items making the list. Judges will also take into account the historical, artistic and scientific values of the candidate buildings.

Representatives of different styles of architectural heritage show off their award plaques for the title of “20th-century Chinese architectural heritage”. [Photo/ynu.edu.cn]

The “20th-century Chinese Architectural Heritage” award is pictured. [Photo/ynu.edu.cn]