Showing posts with label Heritage & Nostalgia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Heritage & Nostalgia. Show all posts

16/08/2026

Elvis Presley: 49th Aniversary

Born: 8 Jan 1935, Died: 16 Aug 1977, Age:42, He would had been 91 years old today

Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley in Jailhouse Rock (1957)

Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), also known simply as Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th century. His energized interpretations of songs and sexually provocative performance style, combined with a singularly potent mix of influences across color lines during a transformative era in race relations, led him to both great success and initial controversy.

Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, and relocated to Memphis, Tennessee with his family when he was 13 years old. His music career began there in 1954, recording at Sun Records with producer Sam Phillips, who wanted to bring the sound of African-American music to a wider audience. Presley, on rhythm acoustic guitar, and accompanied by lead guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black, was a pioneer of rockabilly, an uptempo, backbeat-driven fusion of country music and rhythm and blues. In 1955, drummer D. J. Fontana joined to complete the lineup of Presley's classic quartet and RCA Victor acquired his contract in a deal arranged by Colonel Tom Parker, who would manage him for more than two decades. Presley's first RCA Victor single, "Heartbreak Hotel", was released in January 1956 and became a number-one hit in the United States. Within a year, RCA would sell ten million Presley singles. With a series of successful network television appearances and chart-topping records, Presley became the leading figure of the newly popular sound of rock and roll.

In November 1956, Presley made his film debut in Love Me Tender. Drafted into military service in 1958, Presley relaunched his recording career two years later with some of his most commercially successful work. He held few concerts, however, and guided by Parker, proceeded to devote much of the 1960s to making Hollywood films and soundtrack albums, most of them critically derided. In 1968, following a seven-year break from live performances, he returned to the stage in the acclaimed television comeback special Elvis, which led to an extended Las Vegas concert residency and a string of highly profitable tours. In 1973, Presley gave the first concert by a solo artist to be broadcast around the world, Aloha from Hawaii. Years of prescription drug abuse severely compromised his health, and he died suddenly in 1977 at his Graceland estate at the age of 42.

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09/08/2026

Happy 61th National Day 2026

Singapore National Day 9 Aug 2026
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20/07/2026

Remembering Bruce Lee 2026


Bruce Lee Grave Site in Seattle
Buried next to Lee is his son Brandon, who was also an actor and martial artist. Brandon was killed at the age of 28 in a fluke accident on the set of The Crow

The Bruce Lee grave site is very simple. The headstone simply has a picture of Bruce Lee, his name in English and Chinese, the dates of his life, and it reads “Founder of Jeet Kune Do”. On the foot of the grave is an open black book. On the left side of the book is a yin and yang symbol with Chinese writing, and on the right it says “Your inspiration continues to guide us toward our personal liberation”.

Named one of the top 10 celebrity grave sites in the world, thousands of people visit every year. There are always flowers, coins, and other trinkets resting on the plot. It’s an emotional pilgrimage for some while others simply just want to see where the martial arts legend is buried. Whether you’re a fan of Bruce Lee or not, it’s a pretty neat experience to visit his grave site.

Have you ever visited the Bruce Lee grave site in Seattle? We’d love to hear from you about your experience. Please leave a comment below or connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Don’t forget to also visit Seattle Bloggers for more places to check out in the Emerald City!


Bruce Lee: American-born actor
Bruce Lee was born on 27 Nov 1940 & passed away at the age of 32 on 20 Jul 1973

Bruce Lee, Chinese name Li Jun Fan, (born November 27, 1940, San Francisco, California, U.S.—died July 20, 1973, Hong Kong), American-born film actor who was renowned for his martial arts prowess and who helped popularize martial arts movies in the 1970s.

Lee was born in San Francisco, but he grew up in Hong Kong. He was introduced to the entertainment industry at an early age, as his father was an opera singer and part-time actor. The younger Lee began appearing in films as a child and was frequently cast as a juvenile delinquent or street urchin. As a teenager, he took up with local gangs and began learning kung fu to better defend himself. At that time he also started dance lessons, which further refined his footwork and balance; in 1958 Lee won the Hong Kong cha-cha championship.

Lee’s parents were increasingly disturbed by his street fighting and run-ins with the police, and they sent him to live in the United States shortly after he turned 18. He lived with family friends in Seattle, where he finished high school and studied philosophy and drama at the University of Washington. While in Seattle he opened his first martial arts school, and in 1964 he relocated to Oakland, California, to found a second school. It was about that time that he developed his own technique—jeet kune do, a blend of ancient kung fu, fencing, boxing, and philosophy—which he began teaching instead of traditional martial arts. He drew the attention of a television producer after giving a kung fu demonstration at a Los Angeles-area karate tournament, and he was cast as the sidekick Kato in the television series The Green Hornet (1966–67).

Bruce Lee 李 小 龍
Born on 27 Nov 1940 & passed away at the age of 32 on 20 Jul 1973

Bruce Lee (Chinese: 李小龍; born Lee Jun-fan, 李振藩; November 27, 1940 – July 20, 1973) was a Chinese-American martial artist and actor whose career spanned Hong Kong and the United States. He was the founder of Jeet Kune Do, a hybrid martial arts philosophy drawing from different combat disciplines that is often credited with paving the way for modern mixed martial arts (MMA). Lee is considered by critics, media, and other martial artists to be the most influential martial artist of all time and a pop culture icon of the 20th century, who bridged the gap between East and West. He is credited with promoting Hong Kong action cinema and helping to change the way Chinese people were presented in American films.

Born in San Francisco and raised in British Hong Kong, Lee was introduced to the Hong Kong film industry as a child actor by his father. However, these were not martial arts films. His early martial arts experience included Wing Chun (trained under Yip Man), tai chi, boxing (winning a Hong Kong boxing tournament), and apparently frequent street fighting (neighbourhood and rooftop fights). In 1959, Lee moved to Seattle. In 1961, he enrolled in the University of Washington. It was during this time in the United States that he began considering making money by teaching martial arts, even though he aspired to have a career in acting. He opened his first martial arts school, operated out of home in Seattle. After later adding a second school in Oakland, California, he once drew significant attention at the 1964 Long Beach International Karate Championships of California by making demonstrations and speaking. He subsequently moved to Los Angeles to teach, where his students included Chuck Norris, Sharon Tate, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. In the 1970s, his Hong Kong and Hollywood-produced films elevated the Hong Kong martial arts films to a new level of popularity and acclaim, sparking a surge of Western interest in Chinese martial arts. The direction and tone of his films dramatically influenced and changed martial arts and martial arts films worldwide.

He is noted for his roles in five feature-length Hong Kong martial arts films in the early 1970s: Lo Wei's The Big Boss (1971) and Fist of Fury (1972); Golden Harvest's The Way of the Dragon (1972), directed and written by Lee; and Golden Harvest and Warner Brothers' Enter the Dragon (1973) and The Game of Death (1978), both directed by Robert Clouse. Lee became an iconic figure known throughout the world, particularly among the Chinese, based upon his portrayal of Chinese nationalism in his films and among Asian Americans for defying Asian stereotypes. Having initially learnt Wing Chun, tai chi, boxing, and street fighting, he combined them with other influences from various sources into the spirit of his personal martial arts philosophy, which he dubbed Jeet Kune Do (The Way of the Intercepting Fist). Lee died in July 1973, aged 32. Since his death, Lee has continued to be a prominent influence on modern combat sports, including judo, karate, mixed martial arts, and boxing, as well as modern popular culture, including film, television, comics, animation, and video games. Time named Lee one of the 100 most important people of the 20th century.

Fans flock to Hong Kong to mark 50th anniversary of Bruce Lee's death
Bruce Lee, born in San Francisco 1940 but raised in Hong Kong, passed away at the age of 32 on July 20, 1973

Fans from Hong Kong and around the world gathered at the feet of a Bruce Lee statue on Thursday 20 July 2023 to pay tribute to the late kung fu legend on the 50th anniversary of his untimely death.

Standing in front of the life-size bronze statue with Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour behind them, a stream of fans snapped pictures, bowed and laid down flowers. Others performed moves from Lee's own brand of kung fu: "Jeet Kune Do" and threw "nunchucks" - a chained double truncheon weapon that was popularised by Lee in several films. Those who traveled to Hong Kong for the anniversary included people from mainland China, Asia and Europe.

"I have loved Bruce Lee since I was very young," said Bruce Shin from South Korea who sported a brush cut and large framed sunglasses, imitating Lee. "His body and figure was so mysterious. I wanted to be like him and did weight training for 50 years," Shin added while making high pitched yelps and unleashing rapid-fire punches. Lee, who was born in San Francisco but raised in Hong Kong, passed away at the age of 32 on July 20, 1973 from a brain swelling, just days before the release of his global blockbuster movie 'Enter the Dragon'.


Bruce Lee fans gather in Hong Kong to commemorate 50 year anniversary of martial arts legend's death
Fans gather in front of the statue of martial arts icon Bruce Lee to commemorate the 50th anniversary of his death in Hong Kong, on July 20, 2023.  (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

Fans of late martial arts legend Bruce Lee, who broke negative stereotypes around Asian men in films, gathered in Hong Kong this week to commemorate their idol’s death half a century ago, remembering his legacy and his life philosophy on persistence.

Lee, who was born in San Francisco but raised in the Asian financial hub, was famous for his martial arts talent and his fight against racist portrayals of Asians on big and small screens in the 1960s and 70s. He died at the height of his fame due to an allergic reaction to painkillers when he was 32. The 50th anniversary of Lee's death on Thursday drew fans to exhibitions in Hong Kong on his life and career. They also laid flowers at his statue at the Avenue of Stars, a tourist attraction modeled on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on the Kowloon shore of Victoria Harbor.

A government-run museum organized a camp for students to learn about Lee's legacy by introducing them to Jeet Kune Do, the martial arts style that Lee invented and practiced. The museum also screened his films. Many of Lee's supporters said his philosophy inspired them since they were young, even though many only learned about him and his works after his death.

related:


Fifty years on, Bruce Lee's legacy squares up to modern life in Hong Kong
Bruce Lee developed his own martial arts form, "Jeet Kune Do"

Fifty years after the death of Bruce Lee, who galvanised the imaginations of generations of young people worldwide with feats of kung fu immortalised on screen, it sometimes seems as if his legacy of the martial art he practiced is fading in Hong Kong.

Born in San Francisco but brought up in the Asian financial hub which would make him famous, Lee died of brain edema aged 32 on July 20, 1973, just six days before the release of "Enter the Dragon", his most popular film.

Lee's contributions to martial arts, film, and philosophy have inspired legions of fans across the world, but the legacy that endured for half a century is sometimes seen as a relic of the past in the former British colony.


50 years after his death, Bruce Lee remains a star, a role model, an enigma
Hong Kong has embraced Bruce Lee as a native son. Pictured is a statue of the martial arts star and actor near the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront in the city. Photo: Shutterstock

The legacy of martial arts legend Bruce Lee has endured at the 50th anniversary of his death in part because there are so many Bruce Lees.

Since his 1973 death under mysterious circumstances at age 32, Hong Kong has embraced Lee as a native son, China as an anti-Japanese nationalist, Asian-Americans as a role model, blacks and Latinos as a fighter of white oppression, the developing world as a foil against colonialism.

“Think about how many people try to own Bruce Lee and how many narratives there are,” said Paul Bowman, cultural studies professor at Cardiff University and lead editor of Martial Arts Studies, an academic journal. “He functions as a kind of fantasy object or muse for people in different contexts.”



Fans of martial arts legend Bruce Lee fondly remember his life philosophy 50 years after his death

Fans of late martial arts legend Bruce Lee, who broke negative stereotypes around Asian men in films, gathered in Hong Kong this week to commemorate their idol’s death half a century ago, remembering his legacy and his life philosophy on persistence.

Lee, who was born in San Francisco but raised in the Asian financial hub, was famous for his martial arts talent and his fight against racist portrayals of Asians on big and small screens in the 1960s and 70s. He died at the height of his fame due to an allergic reaction to painkillers when he was 32. The 50th anniversary of Lee's death on Thursday drew fans to exhibitions in Hong Kong on his life and career. They also laid flowers at his statue at the Avenue of Stars, a tourist attraction modeled on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on the Kowloon shore of Victoria Harbor.

A government-run museum organized a camp for students to learn about Lee's legacy by introducing them to Jeet Kune Do, the martial arts style that Lee invented and practiced. The museum also screened his films. Many of Lee's supporters said his philosophy inspired them since they were young, even though many only learned about him and his works after his death.


Bruce Lee at 80: the martial arts legend and his legacy jeet kune do, the unique way of fighting he developed
Bruce Lee in a scene from The Way of the Dragon (1972). The martial arts legend would have turned 80 years old on Friday 27 Nov 2020. Photo: Criterion Collection

The best-known legacy of Bruce Lee, who would have turned 80 this Friday is of course his movies. But the martial arts legend also developed a unique way of fighting called jeet kune do, a Cantonese term which translates as something like “the way of the stopping fist” or more poetically, “the way of the intercepting fist.”

There are many distinct styles of fighting in kung fu – hung gar, wing chun, and tai chi to name a few of the more famous ones. But the best starting point for understanding jeet kune do is realising that Lee never wanted it to be a style.

Lee’s intention was quite the opposite, in fact. He developed jeet kune do because he thought that the idea of a rigid fighting style was too limiting.


What killed Bruce Lee? 4 leading theories medical and martial arts experts proposed after his shock death 50 years ago on 20 Jul 1973
Bruce Lee on the set of “The Big Boss”. Lee died two years after the movie’s 1971 release, and in the years since, competing theories have been posited as to what exactly killed the martial arts star. Photo: Yau Leung

Bruce Lee’s unexpected death on July 20, 1973 sent shock waves across the world.
Today, fans continue to mourn and pay emotional tributes to the martial arts legend, but people still don’t really know why he died.

At the time, doctors cited a fluid build-up in Lee’s brain as the official cause of death, but they did not give a clear explanation as to why the excess accumulation of fluid occurred.

Ahead of the 50th anniversary of Lee’s death, we recall some of the theories put forward to explain his death:
  • Cannabis use - When Lee died in 1973, he was just 32 years old. At the time, doctors at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Hong Kong attributed his death to cerebral oedema – brain swelling. The condition, which is life-threatening, is the body’s way of reacting to trauma, a stroke or infection.
  • Hypersensitivity to aspirin or meprobamate - Shortly before Lee died, he was in actress Betty Ting Pei’s home on Beacon Hill Road, in Kowloon, Hong Kong, and complained of a bad headache.
  • Heatstroke - In his biography Bruce Lee: A Life, author Matthew Polly posited another theory – heatstroke – for why Lee died.
  • Drinking too much water - In December 2022, a study published in the Clinical Kidney Journal claimed that the real cause of Lee’s death could have been hyponatraemia, which occurs when there is a low concentration of sodium in the blood.


Bruce Lee's Death: Details of His Sudden Passing 50 Years Ago
Bruce Lee died at the age of 32 on July 20, 1973

In July 1973, Bruce Lee was working on a number of new projects, most notably the movie Game of Death. He’d been married to Linda Emery Lee for nine years, and they had two children together: 8-year-old Brandon and 4-year-old Shannon.

But on July 20, 1973, Lee went to take a nap after complaining of a headache and never woke up. An ambulance was called after he was found unconscious, but Lee was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital. Lee's sudden death at 32 years old was due to cerebral edema or swelling of the brain — though several theories have emerged over the years regarding the edema's cause. In the '70s, experts claimed the brain swelling was caused by a hypersensitivity to prescribed medication, while more recent studies suggest the edema could have been due to heat stroke or from drinking an excessive amount of water. His funeral was held in Hong Kong, where he died, though he’s buried in Seattle alongside his son, who died two decades later.

On the 50th anniversary of Lee's death, Shannon wrote a tribute addressed to her late father and brother in PEOPLE. "You both lived so vibrantly, so boldly, so viscerally, so truly, and it is that life that you embodied and shared so beautifully that has given me the courage and the desire to not just live but grow and blossom through the loss of you," she wrote. "Your energy is eternal, and it still communicates. It still hits. It still loves. And I love you—your big laughter, your big smiles." Here’s a look at what happened when Bruce Lee died and the legacy he left behind:
  • How did Bruce Lee die?
  • When did Bruce Lee die?
  • Where did Bruce Lee die?
  • How old was Bruce Lee when he died?
  • How did the public react to Bruce Lee’s death?
  • What legacy did Bruce Lee leave behind?


Bruce Lee's Daughter Shannon Pens Emotional Essay on 50th Anniversary of Death: 'I Love You'
Bruce Lee (died in Jul 1973) with wife Linda Emery & kids Shannon & Brandon (died in Mar 1993)

For Shannon Lee, 2023 is a year of incredibly emotional anniversaries. Fifty years ago, action movie juggernaut Bruce Lee died on July 20, 1973, at the age of 32. Starring in films like Fist of Fury and The Big Boss, Lee became the face of martial-arts cinema, ultimately defining the genre.

Bruce had two kids, Brandon and Shannon, with his wife Linda Emery before his untimely death. Brandon followed his father into the industry, working on cult classics like Showdown in Little Tokyo. Twenty years after Bruce's death, Brandon was killed on the set of The Crow in March 1993 after being shot by a costar with what they believed to be a blank but was actually a real bullet. Now, 50 and 30 years after the respective deaths of her father and brother, Shannon remains deeply affected by loving and losing them both so early.

Just 4 years old when her dad died from a cerebral edema, Shannon is now an actress, producer and board chairwoman for the Bruce Lee Foundation. She's also an executive producer of Warrior, a Cinemax series based on the writings of her father that debuted in 2019.


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04/07/2026

The Fourth of July 2026

Independence Day (United States)
Fireworks displays, such as these over the Washington Monument in 1986, take place across the United States on Independence Day

Independence Day, known colloquially as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the Declaration of Independence, which was ratified by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, establishing the United States of America.

The Founding Father delegates of the Second Continental Congress declared that the Thirteen Colonies were no longer subject (and subordinate) to the monarch of Britain, King George III, and were now united, free, and independent states. The Congress voted to approve independence by passing the Lee Resolution on July 2 and adopted the Declaration of Independence two days later, on July 4.

Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, family reunions, political speeches, and ceremonies, in addition to various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States. Independence Day is the national day of the United States.

The Founding & Discovery of America
Did the Chinese discover America before Columbus?

History has it that on October 12, 1492, Christopher Columbus landed in the Americas. But was he the first one to do so, really? Well, according to an ancient map, a Chinese explorer named Zheng He predated Columbus by over 70 years! Just how much do we know about this map and its supposed author? And is there any historical evidence to confirm these claims? In this gallery, we delve into the theory that states China reached the Americas first.

In 2006, a Chinese lawyer and collector named Liu Gang unveiled an old map at a Shanghai bookshop. The map was supposedly an 18th-century copy of a map from 1418. Unlike other European maps back then, this one depicted North and South America, as well as Australia and Antarctica. The man behind the map was supposedly Chinese explorer Zheng He (1371-1433). The Chinese Muslim eunuch traveled across the seas for 30 years. From 1405 to 1433, Zheng He is said to have set sail on seven voyages through the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Indeed, there are historical records of his trips to Southeast Asia, India, the Persian Gulf, and the east coast of Africa, as well as evidence of his using advanced navigational techniques and ships.

But according to former British submarine lieutenant-commander and author Gavin Menzies, Zheng He went even further, and was the first one to discover America. According to Menzies, the Chinese explorer did so in 1421—that’s 71 years before Columbus! Menzies laid out his theory in his 2003 book, entitled ‘1421: The Year China Discovered America.’ Menzies has welcomed the map as evidence, despite the fact that the map of America is dated three years (1418) prior to when Zheng He supposedly discovered the New World (1421). It goes without saying that the authenticity of the map has been disputed.
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30/05/2026

The Teochew 潮州 Chaozhou Culture

祖父祖母来自中国 Zǔfù zǔmǔ láizì zhōngguó
潮州古城7分钟The ancient city of Chaozhou

A Shout-out to the Gaginan

Residing in South China for about 1,700 years, the Teochew (Chaoshan in Mandarin) people are one of three ethnic groups who have lived in these lands for generations. Though they have long shared the region with the Cantonese and Hakka, they still maintain their own language and have inherited a unique culture.

According to modern Chinese geography, the Chaoshan region generally refers to the cities of Chaozhou, Shantou, Jieyang and Shanwei, located in the southeastern part of Guangdong province. People from this area refer to each other as gaginan (Teochew transliteration), or ‘my own people’ in English. 

One of the foremost characteristics ascribed to the Teochew is an instinct for trade and business, no matter if it’s a neighborhood grocery store or a global corporation. Amongst a long list of well-known Teochew entrepreneurs, the most notable are Li Ka-shing, formerly the richest man in China, and Ma Huateng, founder of Tencent, the company that created the almighty WeChat and QQ.


Teochews in Singapore
Teochews in Singapore 1997年電視系列片

The 20th century produced many successful overseas Teochew businessmen, who always devoted their energy and wealth towards the education and other fields of philanthropy. Watch the late Lien Ying Chow of Overseas Union Bank and other Teochews in Singapore share their stories and the philosophy behind their selfless contributions towards the larger society in this documentary produced by Shantou Television in 1997.


Singaporean woman on how she found her way back to her Teochew roots
Her then-three-year-old daughter’s fixation on Teochew opera led Eileen Hair on a path to rediscovering her roots

For younger Chinese Singaporeans, joining a clan association is something not many would consider. Especially taking into account that many of us can barely hold a conversation in our dialect.

But for Eileen Hair, who is the section head of the event management course at ITE College Central, joining the Teochew clan association in 2018 was like fulfilling her calling. However, what prompted the 43-year-old’s quest for membership at Teochew Poit Ip Huay Kuan wasn’t because she was encouraged to do so by her grandparents, nor was it out of a need to network with other businessmen in the clan.

It was her then-three-year-old daughter’s unexpected interest in Teochew opera at the 2016 Teochew Festival that encouraged Hair to dig deeper into her roots.

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18/04/2026

World Heritage Day 2026

International Day for Monuments and Sites
In 1982, UNESCO’s General Conference established 18 April as the International Day for Monuments and Sites. The Day is promoted by ICOMOS globally, and the theme for 2022 is ‘Heritage and Climate.’

Climate change is one of the defining issues of our time, and among the greatest threats facing cultural and natural UNESCO World Heritage monuments and sites. One in three natural sites and one in six cultural heritage sites are currently threatened by climate change.

In recent months and years, we have seen cultural and natural heritage sites, including many UNESCO World Heritage sites, threatened by wildfires, floods, storms and mass-bleaching events. UNESCO’s report, World Heritage forests: Carbon sinks under pressure, found that a staggering 60% of World Heritage forests are threatened by climate change-related events. Marine sites are equally under pressure. Two-thirds of these vital carbon stores - home to 15% of global blue carbon assets - are currently experiencing high risks of degradation, according to the UNESCO Marine World Heritage: Custodians of the globe’s blue carbon assets study, and if no action is taken, coral may disappear at natural heritage sites by the end of the century.

In response to this undeniable impact of climate change on World Heritage monuments and sites, UNESCO is working to build the capacities of countries and communities to prepare for and recover from climate-change related impacts and disasters. At the same time, we are committed to harnessing the potential of culture for climate action, which still remains largely untapped.



International Day for Monuments and Sites

In 1982, ICOMOS established 18 April as the International Day for Monuments and Sites, followed by UNESCO adoption during its 22nd General Conference. Each year, on this occasion, ICOMOS proposes a theme for activities to be organized by its members, ICOMOS National and International Scientific Committees, Working Groups and partners, and anyone who wants to join in marking the Day.

Building on last year’s theme “Complex Pasts: Diverse Futures” – for 2022, we call on you all to explore the theme: Heritage and Climate through open, constructive and intergenerational dialogues. In 2020, ICOMOS declared the Cultural Heritage and the Climate Emergency, recognizing the potential of cultural heritage to enable inclusive, transformative and just climate action through the safeguarding of all types of cultural heritage from adverse climate impacts, the implementation of risk-informed disaster responses, delivering climate resilient sustainable development; and this from a perspective of equity and justice.

The Future of our Pasts report, published by ICOMOS in 2019, also advocated for solidarity between heritage professionals and those communities most affected by, or least able to bear the cost of, climate change. Solidarity must form the basis of the actions that we take in this decade on our race to Climate Justice and Equity, and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. The International Day for Monuments and Sites – 18 April 2022 provides a timely opportunity to showcase strategies to promote the full potential of heritage conservation research and practice to deliver climate-resilient pathways to strengthen sustainable development, while advocating for just transitions to low-carbon futures. It is part of the ICOMOS Triennial Scientific Plan 2021-2024 and also supports the 2020 ICOMOS’ resolution on People-Centered Approaches to Cultural Heritage.


WORLD HERITAGE JOURNEY

Although most people have heard of the UNESCO World Heritage List, not many people actually know about the process behind it. How are sites selected? How are they maintained? Who pays for it? All of your World Heritage site questions are answered below, so read on for our world heritage question and answer series!

What is a World Heritage Site? Simply put, a World Heritage Site is a place or landmark that UNESCO (the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation) considers to be of Outstanding Universal Value to humanity. The definition of “Outstanding Universal Value” is intentionally vague, but it basically means the location has value that cuts across political, religious or ethnic lines. World Heritage Sites can be either a single location (eg one building or national park), or it can cover multiple locations (eg a group of similar buildings). Sites are classified as either Cultural heritage, Natural heritage, or a Mixed heritage site (which has Cultural and Natural aspects). Sites can also span countries!

As of early 2020, there are 1121 World Heritage Sites. These sites are spread across 167 countries and six continents – there aren’t any in Antarctica (yet!). 869 sites are Cultural, 213 are Natural, and 39 are Mixed. How are World Heritage Sites judged? There are ten criteria that UNESCO uses to judge a site. These are:
  • A masterpiece of human creative genius and cultural significance
  • An important interchange of human values over a span of time
  • A unique or exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilisation
  • An outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble which represents a significant stage in history
  • An outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use or sea-use
  • Directly associated with events or living traditions, ideas or beliefs
  • Superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty
  • An outstanding example representing major stages of Earth’s history
  • An outstanding example representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in evolution
  • Contains the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity


Exploring the world's first 12 heritage sites
The World Heritage List now includes over 1,000 sites all over the world. The first version of the list in 1978 included just 12, including L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic Park in Canada. The park has an 11th-century Viking settlement, the earliest evidence of the first European presence in the New World.

Checking off the world's most important natural and cultural wonders can be a herculean task.
The World Heritage List -- that most lauded and recognizable of preservation lists -- includes over 1,000 sites all over the world.

That number will almost certainly increase when the World Heritage Committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization meets June 28-July 8 in Bonn, Germany. Instead of sorting through that encyclopedic list, why not start at the very beginning with the first 12 sites? The Galapagos Islands in Ecuador, Yellowstone National Park in the United States and the Island of Goree in Senegal were among the 12 sites named to the first list in 1978.

Only countries that sign the convention creating the World Heritage Committee and list can nominate sites, and that was just 40 countries when the first nominations came out. Thirty-seven years later, 191 nations have signed the convention. "There is an incredible diversity of sites both natural and cultural around the world," said Mechtild Rossler, deputy director of UNESCO's World Heritage Centre, a 22-year veteran of the organization. "The beauty of this convention is that the text defining natural and cultural heritage is very broad."


A list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in China
Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian

Since joining the International Convention Concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage in 1985, China has 50 world heritage sites to date; of these 35 are cultural heritage sites, 11 are natural heritage sites, and 4 are cultural and natural (mixed) sites, ranking second in the world.

Since 2004, China has made the first large-scale renovations on seven world cultural heritage sites in Beijing – the Ming Tombs, the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace, the Grand Canal, and the "Peking Man" site at Zhoukoudian, all of which were planned for completion before 2008.

In addition, China has a rich non-material cultural heritage, with several of them inscribed on UNESCO's list of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.This is a list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in China. China has 50, ranking second in the world. These sites comprise some of the most essential part of China's valuable and rich tourism resources.


Which countries have the most UNESCO World Heritage sites?

Italy is home to the largest number of UNESCO world heritage sites in the world. After the annual announcement of new sites by the UNESCO committee, the country now boasts 58 world heritage locations. New additions are the porticoes, or sheltered walkways, of Bologna, the fourteenth-century fresco cycles of Padua as well as the Montecatini Terme of Tuscany, part of the designation of "The Great Spa Towns of Europe", which stretch across seven countries.

With the new announcement, Italy pulls ahead of China. Formerly head-to-head at 55 properties each, China could only add one site - the Song-Yuan era Emporium of the World in Quanzhou - leading to a total of 56 properties for the country. With 51 world heritage sites, Germany now ranks third ahead of Spain and France after having made a whopping five new additions. The Mathildenhöhe historic artists colony in Darmstadt, Jewish sites in Speyer, Worms and Mainz and appearances among the European spa towns are included in these as well as the Roman Empire Lower German Limes (shared with the Netherlands) and the Danube Limes (shared with Austria and Slovakia).

In total, the UNESCO list includes 1,154 monuments in 167 countries as world heritage sites. No matter how many additions a country could make, any new property on the list is sure to boost tourism when winning the prestigious label. The U.S. remained at 24 listed sites in 2021, thereby leaving the top 10. The listed properties include the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone National Park, the Taos Pueblo and Philadelphia’s Independence Hall. The UK added two properties - the slate landscape of Northwest Wales and Bath as part of the spa towns of Europe - but sadly also lost one. The Maritime Mercantile City in Liverpool was deleted due to new building developments in its area.


What is a World Heritage Site?
Antonine Wall, Scotland, United Kingdom

World Heritage Sites are cultural and/or natural sites considered to be of ‘Outstanding Universal Value’, which have been inscribed on the World Heritage List by the World Heritage Committee. These places or buildings are thought to:
  • have special importance for everyone
  • represent unique, or the most significant or best, examples of the world’s cultural and/or natural heritage
Outstanding Universal Value is considered to transcend national boundaries and to be of importance for future generations. World Heritage status is a high accolade that brings with it responsibilities and international scrutiny.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) seeks to protect and preserve such sites through the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. This international treaty was drawn up in 1972. Governments of countries that have ratified the Convention (States Parties) identify and nominate suitable sites to the World Heritage Committee for inscription on the list maintained by UNESCO.


World Heritage Day — 7 Wonders of the World
Christ the Redeemer

Since 1983, after the approval by the 22nd UNESCO General Conference, International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) has been celebrating the International Day of Monuments and Sites. The theme of the erstwhile World Heritage Day in 2017 is Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Tourism. This theme was carefully chosen to relate it with the United Nations International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development.

A nation’s heritage describes its cultures, traditions and values. Hence, this priceless legacy from the ancestors ought to be protected and preserved. This day gives an opportunity to spread awareness among the people about the importance, vulnerability and the measures to conserve the cultural heritage. Another objective for observing the day is the cultural exchange among humans. Cultural exchange gives a clear apprehension about the credos and principles of different countries. Hence, it engenders a peaceful coexistence.

Thereby, we present to you those heritage sites which the public has chosen to be the Wonder of the World.


World Heritage Site
UNESCO World Heritage plaque at Þingvellir National Park in Iceland

A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, scientific or other form of significance. The sites are judged to contain "cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity".

To be selected, a World Heritage Site must be a somehow unique landmark which is geographically and historically identifiable and has special cultural or physical significance. For example, World Heritage Sites might be ancient ruins or historical structures, buildings, cities,[a] deserts, forests, islands, lakes, monuments, mountains, or wilderness areas. A World Heritage Site may signify a remarkable accomplishment of humanity, and serve as evidence of our intellectual history on the planet, or it might be a place of great natural beauty. As of July 2021, a total of 1,154 World Heritage Sites (897 cultural, 218 natural, and 39 mixed properties) exist across 167 countries. With 58 selected areas, Italy is the country with the most sites on the list.

The sites are intended for practical conservation for posterity, which otherwise would be subject to risk from human or animal trespassing, unmonitored, uncontrolled or unrestricted access, or threat from local administrative negligence. Sites are demarcated by UNESCO as protected zones. The World Heritage Sites list is maintained by the international World Heritage Program administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 "states parties" that are elected by their General Assembly.[9] The programme catalogues, names, and conserves sites of outstanding cultural or natural importance to the common culture and heritage of humanity. The programme began with the "Convention Concerning the Protection of the World's Cultural and Natural Heritage",[10] which was adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO on 16 November 1972. Since then, 194 states have ratified the convention, making it one of the most widely recognised international agreements and the world's most popular cultural programme.



World Heritage Day

Every day people all over the world celebrate their cultural heritage, simply by living their lives in a way that embodies who they are and where they came from. But one day a year is set aside to celebrate the joint history and heritage of the human race. World Heritage Day encourages us to celebrate all the world’s cultures, and to bring awareness to important cultural monuments and sites, and to espouse the importance of preserving the world’s cultures.

World Heritage Day, which is also known as the International Monuments and Sites Day, celebrates the work carried out by the ICOMOS – International Council on Monuments and Sites. The day is all about increasing the awareness of the importance of the diversity of cultural heritage and preserving it for generations in the future. Ancient monuments and buildings are an asset to us all around the world. However, they need to be protected to ensure that they continue to be an asset for years and years to come. Therefore, the day is a collective effort of communities around the globe.

On this day, there are a number of different events that happen all over the world. This includes a wide range of activities, conferences, and visits to heritage sites and monuments. For those who are unaware, a heritage site is basically a place that is of cultural significance. It preserves the legacy of intangible attributes and physical artifacts of a society or group that is inherited from previous generations. There are truly some incredible heritage sites and monuments around the world. This includes the Machu Picchu, which is situated in the lush and mountainous terrain high above the Urubamba River in Peru. There are lots of amazing sights in Egypt, and the Pyramids of Giza are one of them. Other places of note include Bagan in Myanmar, Angkor Wat in Cambodia, and the Great Wall of China.


What Is UNESCO World Heritage?
From masterpieces of creative genius to beautiful natural landscapes, these sites reveal the most compelling chapters of Earth's history

Best of the best: That's the lofty standard for making the World Heritage List. Nations lobby hard to get their glorious buildings, wilderness, and historic ruins on the list, a stamp of approval that brings prestige, tourist income, public awareness, and, most important, a commitment to save the irreplaceable.

In November 1972 the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) inaugurated the list by adopting a treaty known as the World Heritage Convention. Its continuing goal is to recruit the world community in identifying cultural and natural properties of "outstanding universal value."

UNESCO officials do not see the list as a mere trophy case of superlative places. World Heritage status commits the home nation to protect the designated location. And if a site—through natural disaster, war, pollution, or lack of funds—begins to lose its value, nations that have signed the treaty must assist, if possible, in emergency aid campaigns. As of January 2017, 193 of the world's nations have signed the treaty.

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Singapore Botanic Gardens
The Bandstand © Singapore Botanic Gardens

Situated at the heart of the city of Singapore, the site demonstrates the evolution of a British tropical colonial botanic garden that has become a modern world-class scientific institution used for both conservation and education. The cultural landscape includes a rich variety of historic features, plantings and buildings that demonstrate the development of the garden since its creation in 1859. It has been an important centre for science, research and plant conservation, notably in connection with the cultivation of rubber plantations, in Southeast Asia since 1875.

The Singapore Botanic Gardens is situated at the heart of the city of Singapore and demonstrates the evolution of a British tropical colonial botanic garden from a ‘Pleasure Garden’ in the English Landscape Style, to a colonial Economic Garden with facilities for horticultural and botanical research, to a modern and world-class botanic garden, scientific institution and place of conservation, recreation and education. The Singapore Botanic Gardens is a well-defined cultural landscape which includes a rich variety of historic landscape features, plantings and buildings that clearly demonstrate the evolution of the Botanic Gardens since its establishment in 1859. Through its well-preserved landscape design and continuity of purpose, the Singapore Botanic Gardens is an outstanding example of a British tropical botanic garden which has also played a key role in advances in scientific knowledge, particularly in the fields of tropical botany and horticulture, including the development of plantation rubber.

The Singapore Botanic Gardens contains all the attributes necessary to express its Outstanding Universal Value and fully contains the original lay-out of the Botanic Gardens. A number of specific attributes including historic trees and plantings, garden design, and historic buildings/structures combine to illustrate the significant purposes of the Singapore Botanic Gardens over its history. The integrity of the property could be further strengthened by developing additional policies directed at the replacement and retention of significant plants. The authenticity of the Singapore Botanic Gardens is demonstrated by the continued use as a botanic garden and as a place of scientific research. The authenticity of material remains in the property is illustrated by the well-researched historic trees and other plantings (including historic plant specimens), historic elements of the designed spatial lay-out, and the historic buildings/structures which are being used for their original purposes or adapted to new uses that are compatible with their values.

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