Beijing boosts cultural assets through intellectual property

Targeted conservation efforts aim to pass on capital's treasures to future generations

Intellectual property is crucial for the growth of a city's cultural sectors. As the capital of China and a national cultural hub, Beijing is renowned for its abundant cultural assets. In recent decades, Beijing has cultivated numerous internationally recognized cultural IP assets by preserving its age-old traditions and nurturing contemporary cultures.

As a city with over 3,000 years of history, Beijing boasts eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Great Wall, the Palace Museum and the Central Axis. It is also rich in intangible cultural heritage, such as Peking Opera and the culture of hutong, or alleyways.

Further cementing its cultural foundations, Beijing is home to 135 historical sites under national-level protection, 144 national representative intangible cultural heritage items and 117 Chinese time-honored brands. These resources have laid a solid foundation for fostering Beijing's cultural IP assets.

To protect and pass on such cultural treasures, Beijing has introduced a series of initiatives in recent years, such as the Plan for Building Beijing's Historical and Cultural Heritage Protection and Inheritance System (2023-35) and the Regulations on the Protection of Beijing's Central Axis as a World Heritage Site.

Targeted conservation methods have been devised for cultural heritage with different characteristics. For example, the preservation of the Summer Palace involves not only maintaining ancient structures but also managing the surrounding natural environment. These measures ensure holistic protection of the structure itself and its surroundings while fostering a new framework for cultural IP development.

Wang Li, an associate researcher from the Institute of Media and Public Opinion at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, said that emotional and evocative elements from Beijing's storied past — such as the red walls and yellow tiles of the Palace Museum, along with its feline inhabitants — can foster cultural pride and historical identity.

In addition, Beijing is expanding its IP landscape by nurturing emerging cultures and implementing policies such as the plan for its development as a national cultural center for the period between 2019-35, alongside allocating funds for the cultural and creative sectors.

The city has established cultural hubs such as the 798 Art District and Langyuan Station, integrating resources like art galleries and design studios into former industrial sites, reinforcing its identity as a "city of design".

Beijing is also harnessing technology to develop cultural IP assets. By utilizing 5G, artificial intelligence, big data, cloud computing, virtual reality and other cutting-edge technologies, the city has boosted its tourism sector and developed new cultural business models.

Attractions like the Fahai Temple Mural Art Center, the SoReal Metaverse Park at Shougang Park and the digital Old Summer Palace use technology to present cultural heritage in entirely new ways, according to Wang.

Beijing is also embracing foreign arts and promoting their integration with local cultures. By organizing events such as the Beijing International Film Festival, Beijing Design Week and Beijing Music Festival, the city showcases international film, fashion and music from all over the world. Many outstanding foreign art groups and artists are invited to perform and exhibit, enhancing cross-cultural communication.

Drawing on global IP development practices, Beijing is crafting its own cultural and creative brands. For instance, the Palace Museum incorporates Western designs into its cultural and creative offerings through co-branded products, promoting Chinese culture to global audiences.

Beijing is enhancing the influence of its cultural IP assets by promoting the integration of culture with technology, tourism, commerce and other fields. Wang said that Beijing's approach of blending tradition with modernity and merging commerce with culture provides a "Beijing solution" for integrating culture and tourism in megacities worldwide.

fanzitong@chinadaily.com.cn