Experts pool wisdom for cave temple conservation amid climate change

Cecilie Christensen, founder of World Heritage Catalysis and a member of ICOMOS, said that excessive tourism, which also contributes to the rise in carbon emissions disrupting ecological balance and contributing to climate change, has become a factor leading to the deterioration of cultural heritage sites.

Christensen called for experts and scholars to continue sharing practical experience, pooling collective wisdom, and collaboratively addressing the challenges faced by global cultural heritage conservation, to finally realize the sustainable development of world heritage.

Li Qun, head of China's National Cultural Heritage Administration, said that cave temple preservation has long been a significant subject in the field of international cultural heritage protection. Over the years, professional institutions from China, Japan, the United States, Britain, Australia, and Italy have established cooperation in this field.

Statistics showed that there are 2,155 cave temples and 3,831 cliffside sculptures scattered across China.