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SZ seeks 'historic' label
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Windy Shao
EVERYONE knows that Shenzhen is only 20 years old. At least, that's the public perception. However, this could all change, as the city plans to apply for the designation "famous historic and cultural city", a label boasted by 99 old cities in the nation.
Zhou Jun, a doctoral degree holder from Beijing University who now works for the city's Cultural Relics Management Committee, is one of the researchers working hard to prove the city's long historic and cultural background. Zhou said the committee is drafting a formal report, backed by plenty of evidence, to persuade the municipal government to put the application on its agenda.
The inclusion of recently-found evidence found at the city's Tiezai Mountain archaeological sites in a catalogue of China's 40 most important archaeological discoveries of 2000 adds weight to the committee's research. The site is of such great importance that it has also been named a candidate for the nation's top 10 new discoveries last year.
Peng Quanmin, another researcher on the committee, explored the city's long history in his book, Shenzhen City's Development History. He claimed that its history can be dated back 6,000 years. Recorded history shows that the central government designated an officer to take charge what is now Nantou, Nanshan District in 110 BC, and the area, used to be called as Nantou Old City, was one of South China's most important political, economic, and cultural centres during the powerful Ming (1368-1644AD) and Qing (1644-1911AD) dynasties. Bao'an, another of the city's districts, was formally established as a county 1670 years ago.
Researcher Wu Cengde describes three turning points in China's history that took place in Shenzhen. In the first, General Lai Enjue clashed with the British army in 1839, in the opening shots of the historic Opium War. In the second, Dr. Sun Yat-son organised his first armed revolt in 1900. Last but not least, Shenzhen was opened as a special economic zone to the outside world in 1980, spearheading the nation's economic reforms.
According to Zhou Jun, the application may take several years, and there is much we Shenzheners must do to ensure its success, especially by ensuring the protection of the city's cultural relics. In the end, though, what matters is not whether the application succeeds, but to give people a deeper understanding of the city's powerful cultural and historic legacy so they may respect and protect its ancient relics.
Background knowledge
Requirement for the label
1. The city should have been a political, economic and cultural centre in ancient times and have cultural relics to prove it. Or have witnessed important historic events in recent history (1840-1949AD) and preserves related cultural relics. Or preserves well the ancient relics that have great significance in history, science, culture and art.
2. Should preserve well ancient structures that have distinct features and are of great historic and cultural value.
3. Should have cultural relic sites in urban area or near it and their protection is of great importance to the city's development.
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