On the evening of Dec.4th, 2013, the 20th Asia-Pacific Heritage Forum was held in WHITRAP Shanghai, with the theme of “Cultural Heritage Protection in Chinese Modern Cities: Shanghai and Wuhan Experience Sharing and Exchange”. Experts from related field in two cities were invited to have a discussion on the challenges and responses they met in protection of cultural heritage.

The forum was hosted by Dr. Li Xin, the deputy director of WHITRAP Shanghai. It opened with an introduction to modern history of heritage preservation in Wu Han by Dr. Tang Huihu, deputy secretary-general of Wu Han municipal government. Then, vice president of Tongji University, Prof. Wu Jiang analyzed the historical links between the two cities and reviewed the development of heritage preservation in modern Shanghai. Other guests and speakers also got involved in the discussion with attendees. Mr. Wang Anshi, former chief engineer of Shanghai Municipal Housing Management Bureau introduced the role of the Internet. Prof. Zhang Song from CAUP, Tongji University pointed out some policy flaws in the reconstruction of old city areas. Dr. Ding Yuan, chief planner of department of culture in Hubei province also joined the discussion. In-depth exchanges showed that Shanghai and Wuhan share much in common in their urban history, culture and modern heritage protection practices. The forum marks a good start for further cooperation between the two.