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  • unesco Shaolin Temple

    Greetings and A Mi Tou Fou,

    There is news that has been printed in today's China Daily Newspaper English version about Shaolin Si and it's standing as a Geopark. Quoting the newspaper it states that "Eight renowed Chinese tourism sites have joined Unesco's first group of geoparks. Each of the parks has it's own special features". The parks listed are Lushan geopark in Jiangxi Province, Shilin Geopark near Kunming in yunnan ProvinceDanxiashan geopark in Guangdong Province, Yuntaishan geopark in Henan Province but is the least known of the 8 parks. It is in Jiaozuo city Xiuwu County. Songshan geopark in Henan Province Deng Feng city and th ehome of Shaolin Temple. The geopark covers 450 square km. There are many signe written in chinese and english that outline the various attractions within the park area. Huangshan geopark in Anhui Province, Wudalianchi geopark in north China Helongjiang Province and includes the volcano that is there. Last is Zhangjiajie geopark in the Wuling Mountains of Hunan province

    They go on to state what a geopark is which I will quote for you again, "Unesco's definition of a geopark must be a "geological site of scientific significance, rartity or beauty; cannot be solely of geological significance but must also have archaelogical, ecological, historical or culture value. The eight Chinese geoparks selected certainly conform to those definitions and criteria. Before the recent listing, however, most of the parks have had acutally been known for their beautiful landscapes or rare natural vistas, although their geological significance remained abscure."

    Under the heading of Songshan Geopark it states the following information about Shaolin si and the geopark. It is amazing to know that the geological importance is as big as the shaolin temple gong fu history and now that it is listed people visiting will also know about this little known fact. The decription is as follows: Located in Northern Henan Province and covering 450 square km, the Song Shan mountains are famous for having a complete collection of outcrops of stratigraphic section and the boundaries of angular unconformities formed by three Precambrian (the geological time between 4.5 billion years ago and 543 million years ago) tectonic movements.

    Outcrops of the Archean Era (3.8 billion to 2.5 billion years ago), Proterozic Era (2.5 billion to 543 million years ago) and Cenozoic Era (65 million years ago to the present) have been found there. Three major tectonic movements, the Songyang Movement of 2.5 billion years ago, The Zhongyue Movement of 1.85 billion years ago and teh Shaolin Movement of 570 million years ago were named after local attractions in the area. The boundaries of angular non-conformities and basal conglomerates there are very prominate. The area is also known as the "textbook of geological history"

    Okay dont get on me about the english there it is not my english but what was printed in the paper to explain about the parks and Shaolin Si's standing at UNESCO.

    A mi tou fou
    Shi Xingrui

  • #2
    The move to get Shaolin on UNESCO's world heritage list is nothing new. I wrote about it a long time ago. In fact, the destruction of the Shaolin village, along with the renovation and creation of the new highway from Zengzhou to Shaolin, are just two of the things that have occurred within the past few years, in order to achieve this goal.

    Not sure when they're coming up for evaluation. No doubt this geopark certification stuff is just one step towards their desired goal. Thanks for bringing this to light.
    Experienced Community organizer. Yeah, let's choose him to run the free world. It will be historic. What could possibly go wrong...

    "You're just a jaded cynical mother****er...." Jeffpeg

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    • #3
      Well maybe I am reading the paper wrong or you misunderstand what I wrote but the paper quotes that these eight parks have joined the list of unesco geoparks. In fact the line in the paper says the following:
      "As eight Chinese parks were put on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)'s first list of "geoparks" in early February in Paris many have begun to learn about Geoparks, a new term in the tourism glossary. And some of the destinations are likely to become fresh new desinations for travelers." I could be wrong in how I read the paper and the quote but it sounds a lot like it is not just a try anymore but a reality! As for the highway from Zheng Zhou to Deng Feng and Louyang it was completed a few months ago from Deng Feng to Zhen Zhou. In December they had a celebration to open the hignway for use during Chinese New Year which was in January. When I came back from Boading and Beijing late in December it had been annouced that very day that it was open. I used it to come home to Deng Feng. From the out lying area of Zhen Zhou to Deng Feng by car it takes 30 minutes. This is a great thing if you are using car or private taxi. The busses unless they are big toruist busses from Zhen Zhou dont use the super highway becasue they can not stop and pick up passengers. The bigger tour busses dont want to stop because they are already loaded with people heading to the temples in Deng Feng so this new highway is a good thing for them. It lets you off the higway right at the tollgate entering Deng Feng. It is called the Zheng Shao freeway.

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      • #4
        Yes, I heard it was done. It was a mess the last time I was there , which was this past summer.

        As for UNESCO, I'm not sure, but I think there may be a difference between a "geopark" and a "world heritage site". So, I'm not sure the process is finished. It's not easy to become a world heritage site. And it would most definitely be a feather in Yongxin's cap.

        Congrats to the big boy on that one, once it becomes a reality.
        Experienced Community organizer. Yeah, let's choose him to run the free world. It will be historic. What could possibly go wrong...

        "You're just a jaded cynical mother****er...." Jeffpeg

        (more comments in my User Profile)
        russbo.com


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        • #5
          If you read further into what I quoted about unesco you will see that it is more difficult to become a member of unesco then to be just a cultural heritage site. "Unesco's definition of a geopark must be a "geological site of scientific significance, rartity or beauty; cannot be solely of geological significance but must also have archaelogical, ecological, historical or culture value. The eight Chinese geoparks selected certainly conform to those definitions and criteria. SO you see just to be a cultural heritage spot would have been great for Shaolin Si but to be a UNESCO geopark is even more prestiges. You must have cultural significance as well as the other items listed. The process is DONE!

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          • #6
            The 754 properties which the World Heritage Committee has inscribed on the World Heritage List (582 cultural, 149 natural and 23 mixed properties in 129 States Parties)

            The World Heritage Committee has inscribed the following properties on the World Heritage List. The List, arranged alphabetically by nominating State Party, is current as of 3 July 2003. The list will be updated following the next meeting of the Committee in July 2004


            1987 The Great Wall
            1987 Mount Taishan
            1987 Imperial Palace of the Ming and Qing Dynasties
            1987 Mogao Caves
            1987 Mausoleum of the First Qin Emporer
            1987 Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian
            1990 Mount Huangshan
            1992 Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area
            1992 Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area
            1992 Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area
            1994 Mountain Resort and its Outlying Temples, Chengde
            1994 Temple and Cemetery of Confucius, and the Kong Family Mansion in Qufu
            1994 Ancient Building Complex in the Wudang Mountains
            1994, 2000, 2001 Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace, Lhasa
            1996 Lushan National Park
            1996 Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area
            1997 Old Town of Lijiang
            1997 Ancient City of Ping Yao
            1997, 2000 Classical Gardens of Suzhou
            1998 Summer Palace, an Imperial Garden in Beijing
            1998 Temple of Heaven: an Imperial Sacrificial Altar in Beijing
            1999 Mount Wuyi
            1999 Dazu Rock Carvings
            2000 Mount Qincheng and the Dujiangyan Irrigation System
            2000 Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui - Xidi and Hongcun
            2000 Longmen Grottoes
            2000, 2003 Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties
            2001 Yungang Grottoes
            2003 Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas

            Time will tell. I think it's not done yet.
            Experienced Community organizer. Yeah, let's choose him to run the free world. It will be historic. What could possibly go wrong...

            "You're just a jaded cynical mother****er...." Jeffpeg

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            • #7
              Just an update on the reconstruction and Disneyification of Shaolin. (I've written extensively about this in the Shaolin Journals section of these forums)
              The bamboo garden and the wooden monks that were inside of the temple grounds on the left hand side just after the main gate is no longer there.
              About 4 weeks ago this was demolished and is now under reconstruction. There is a pagoda like building being built in this area now.

              For those of you who have pictures and videos of this area treasure them.
              You will not see this the same way again.


              Dr. Uwe Schwenk
              For those of you who didn't know, they've destroyed some buildings in Shaolin, and have rebuilt them "according to plans of the temple from pre-1928". Apparently, they found Japanese photos of the area from before the 1928 fires. The rebuilding of the temple is part of Yongxin's, and the local Henan gov't's, move to get Shaolin on the UNESCO heritage site list

              It's also part of a major renovation of the area. A new Disneyland.

              It's going to be one hell of a money making machine.
              Experienced Community organizer. Yeah, let's choose him to run the free world. It will be historic. What could possibly go wrong...

              "You're just a jaded cynical mother****er...." Jeffpeg

              (more comments in my User Profile)
              russbo.com


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              • #8
                Anybody surprised..................

                Anybody,


                anybody?
                practice wu de

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                • #9
                  The bamboo garden was beautiful. Huge, old bamboos set in a garden type area. All gone to recreate a Shaolin temple from1928. Kind of like Epcot.
                  Experienced Community organizer. Yeah, let's choose him to run the free world. It will be historic. What could possibly go wrong...

                  "You're just a jaded cynical mother****er...." Jeffpeg

                  (more comments in my User Profile)
                  russbo.com


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                  • #10
                    It is sad, don't get me wrong, but saddly, unsurprising.
                    practice wu de

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                    • #11
                      Atleast they made some weapons out of that bamboo. Right? *cries*
                      Becoming what I've dreamed about.

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                      • #12
                        at least they didnt build a casino. i can see it now. a bunch of monks shootin craps, and if you beat em in poker they do lohan fist on you and take their money back.
                        "Life is a run. In attack we run, in defense we run. When you can no longer run, time to die" - Shichiroji "Seven samurai"

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                        • #13
                          Originally posted by doc
                          For those of you who didn't know, they've destroyed some buildings in Shaolin, and have rebuilt them "according to plans of the temple from pre-1928". Apparently, they found Japanese photos of the area from before the 1928 fires.

                          Doc,

                          I have a number of the Japanese Fotos as well. Once I have the Tiet Sin Kuen out of the way I will upload them.


                          I am adding one here to give you an idea.


                          Uwe
                          Attached Files

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                          • #14
                            I find this curious Uwe. Are you sure that this is Shaolin? The mountain in the background appears to have no trees or foliage, and does not "match" anything that I can remember in Shaolin. In fact, the enviromnent appears to be more desert like than anything near Songshan.
                            Experienced Community organizer. Yeah, let's choose him to run the free world. It will be historic. What could possibly go wrong...

                            "You're just a jaded cynical mother****er...." Jeffpeg

                            (more comments in my User Profile)
                            russbo.com


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                            • #15
                              The backround looks too vague to me to see if there is foliage..
                              practice wu de

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