In 2000, members of the Sino-Japanese research team at the Niya site launched a website, www.wenbao.net, to solicit support from around the world.
Titled "The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Website," it provides information in Chinese, English and Japanese about major archaeological finds in the country, the protection of Chinese cultural heritage sites and Chinese Government policies and regulations for the sector.
Much of the information has never been released before, including photos from the Niya site, photos of important relics recently unearthed in the country, and interviews with high-rank officials of local cultural heritage administrations.
The website was started in 2000 by Yasutaka Kojima, the Japanese team leader of the Niya project, and Chinese architect Sun Yuexin, who is also a member of the Niya research team.
It is well known in cultural heritage protection circles, but its establishers want more intellectual and financial support to expand its influence, as they believe cultural heritage sites can be properly protected only through the common efforts of society as a whole.
(China Daily March 12, 2004)
