Beijing's Heritage - China - September 2005
1,699 views · Published 21 May 2012 · 15:30 · Indexed 17 October 2026
Channel: Journeyman Pictures · 2012 · News & Politics
As China gears up for the 2008 Olympics, Beijing's historic quarters are being threatened by developers. Can anything be done to protect its cultural heritage? "What's happening to old Beijing today is a form of cultural genocide," complains resident Ed Lanfranko. "The past is being obliterated -- sold out to build a new Beijing." Courtyard homes, unique to Beijing, are being knocked down to make way for new developments. Nothing is safe from the wrecking ball. With no freedom of speech or form of protest, residents whose homes are earmarked for destruction are virtually powerless. "I want to protest. I want to voice my opinion. In China this is impossible," despairs Ding Ai. It seems that the past has no place in modern Beijing. ABC Australia
