7.1.10 Public Participation

Although human factors are the main cause of urbanization risks that may eventually destroy architectural heritage sites, they can also be the main force of heritage protection.Therefore, stimulation of the positive aspects of human factors and establishing appropriate preventive conservation strategies is the key to conserve heritage sites from man-made disasters and risks, especially in an urban setting.

First of all, daily usage of the heritage sites can be closely related to increases in public awareness.Positive public awareness of heritage protection encourages owners, users and communities to appreciating the significance of heritage sites, and consciously safeguard their integrity.Strengthening urban disaster education and emergency activities is vital during daily usage.Heritage management departments should organize training for disaster risk reduction and conduct emergency prevention exercises regularly, to improve the ability of a public emergency response to protect heritage when disaster inevitably occurs.

Furthermore, through cooperation with educational and research institutions, these famous residences can be used as historical education bases for students, research centers, and as other means for communication with the public.Combined with the heritage sites, school curriculum modifications can especially achieve excellent teaching and practice results, increasing the viability and awareness of these sites to turn them into a widely recognized public good.(https://www.daowen.com)

Meanwhile, many cultural relics enthusiasts, cultural researchers, artists, heritage protection volunteers, retired elderly persons, teachers and students in schools can make positive contributions to heritage sites.It is possible to engage them in aiding with census, data collection, supervision and protection of architectural heritage sites in varying degrees.For example, Lu An, an American-Chinese social activist and media worker who was born in Nanxin Street in Jinan, has been devoting himself to the investigation of the ancient streets and historic personalities’ residences in Jinan for several years.He has in turn generated valuable historical data in this field.Collaboration of this nature can have a positive impact not only locally, but nationally or internationally, providing an impetus for others to get involved in similar projects.

It is worth emphasizing that public participation is not only limited to involvement in preservation activities, but also in the decision-making and institutional development of the historic personalities’ residences protection and development.Currently in Jinan, for example, the determination, protection and conservation of heritage sites is largely decided and managed by the government working with experts and scholars.People’s awareness and participation is therefore relatively weak.This area should be strengthened and encouraged through engagement, thereby developing a new awareness of culture and history in the region.