What is the significance of protecting historical sites?

Protecting historical and cultural heritage and safeguarding national cultural heritage are important cultural foundations for connecting national emotional ties, enhancing national unity, maintaining national unity and social stability, and are also prerequisites for maintaining world cultural diversity and creativity and promoting common development of mankind. To this end, the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China regards strengthening the protection of cultural heritage as an important historical mission to promote the great development and prosperity of socialist culture and realize the all-round construction of a well-off society. General Secretary Hu Jintao emphasized in the report of the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China that "Chinese culture is an inexhaustible motive force for the Chinese nation to forge ahead in unity." He also called on the whole party and people to "strengthen the excavation and protection of national culture, attach importance to the protection of cultural relics and intangible cultural heritage", "carry forward" Chinese culture and build the spiritual home of the Chinese nation. "It can be seen that strengthening the protection of historical and cultural heritage and building an advanced socialist culture are the inevitable requirements for implementing Scientific Outlook on Development and building a harmonious socialist society, which is of great significance.

Cultural heritage is a precious and non-renewable resource. With the trend of economic globalization and the acceleration of modernization, the cultural ecology of China is undergoing tremendous changes, and the cultural heritage and its living environment are seriously threatened. Many historical and cultural cities (blocks, villages and towns), ancient buildings, ancient sites and scenic spots have been destroyed. Illegal trade in cultural relics, illegal excavation of ancient sites and tombs, and smuggling of cultural relics have not been effectively curbed in some areas, and a large number of precious cultural relics have been lost abroad. Due to over-exploitation and unreasonable utilization, many important cultural heritages have died out or been lost. In areas where ethnic minorities live in compact communities and cultural relics are relatively abundant, the disappearance of ethnic or regional cultural characteristics has accelerated due to changes in people's living environment and conditions. Therefore, strengthening the protection of historical and cultural heritage is imminent and more realistic and urgent. Local people's governments at all levels and relevant departments should fully understand the importance of protecting cultural heritage from the perspective of being responsible for the country and history and safeguarding national cultural security, further enhance their sense of responsibility and urgency, and earnestly do a good job in protecting historical and cultural heritage.