The Zuojiang River rock art, represented by the Huashan Cliff Paintings, is the largest surviving group of cliff paintings in China. After enduring centuries of natural and human damage, these ancient artworks will now receive legal protection. On June 6, reporters learned from the Autonomous Region Legislative Affairs Office that the "Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Zuojiang River Rock Art Protection Measures (Draft for Solicitation of Comments)" (hereinafter referred to as the "Draft for Comments") has been finalized and is currently open for public feedback.
A special fund for Zuojiang River rock art protection is planned
Current situation: The Zuojiang River rock art in our region is currently applying for UNESCO World Heritage status. The "Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention" issued by UNESCO require that all sites listed as World Heritage must be under long-term and effective legislative protection, meaning specific protective regulations must be established. However, our region currently lacks such legislation.
Protective measures: The "Draft for Comments" defines the scope of protection, including: paintings and symbols (collectively referred to as Zuojiang River rock art) created by the ancient Luoyue people and their descendants using ochre pigments on cliffs within the Zuojiang River basin in the autonomous region, as well as related relics and the natural environment. It also clarifies that the Zuojiang River rock art belongs to the state, and all organizations and individuals have the obligation to protect it according to the law, as well as the right to stop and report any acts of damage or destruction.
The "Draft for Comments" outlines the protective responsibilities of the government and relevant departments. It mandates that city and county governments where the Zuojiang River rock art is located must develop protection plans, implement protective measures, include necessary funding in their local fiscal budgets, and incorporate the protection of the rock art into urban and rural planning.
Additionally, the autonomous region will establish a special fund for the protection of Zuojiang River rock art, dedicated to its conservation, management, and restoration. Due to the remote location and poor accessibility of the Zuojiang River rock art, daily protection and management by cultural heritage authorities have been challenging. The "Draft for Comments" also stipulates that township (town) governments and village (residential) committees near the rock art sites must cooperate with relevant departments in its protection.
Climbing on cliff paintings will be fined
Current situation: The cliff paintings nestled among towering mountains and steep ridges have endured centuries of wind, sun, natural erosion, and weathering. Currently, sand mining along the Zuojiang River is rampant due to a lack of regulation. In key river sections, the presence of sand dredging boats and noise pollution negatively impact the overall landscape of the rock art. Moreover, within the protected areas of the rock art, unresolved issues include villagers cutting trees and picking plants due to the absence of land expropriation. There are also reports of villagers catching snakes, digging nutrient-rich mud from the rock art caves for fertilizer, and even looting artifacts. All these activities are detrimental to the preservation of the rock art.
Protective measures: The "Draft for Comments" specifies "emergency protective measures" for rock art damaged by natural weathering or natural disasters. It also outlines various protective measures, such as prohibiting farming, deforestation, tomb construction, soil extraction, mountain excavation, stone quarrying, building artificial attractions, sand mining, and discharging pollutants in the protected river sections of the Zuojiang River rock art. It bans drawing, carving symbols or text, climbing, constructing structures, and conducting blasting, drilling, or excavation on the cliff surfaces within the protected area. Special cases requiring construction or such activities within the protected area must be legally approved. Infrastructure projects like highways and railways should avoid passing through the protected zones.
Those who draw, carve symbols or text on cliff surfaces will be ordered to restore the original appearance and fined between 1,000 and 5,000 yuan. Climbers on cliff paintings will be ordered to cease illegal activity and fined between 500 and 2,000 yuan. Those who repaint or touch up the rock art, deface or damage it, or add new drawings, symbols, or text will be ordered to restore the original appearance within a set period and fined up to 10,000 yuan. Using strong light directly on the paintings or setting up unauthorized scaffolding for tracing will result in an order to stop the illegal act and a fine between 500 and 1,000 yuan.
Users of rock art must pay maintenance fees
Current situation: Currently, apart from the Huashan Cliff Paintings in Ningming County, which have a dedicated protection station, other rock art sites lack specialized protection facilities, and the management system is incomplete. Furthermore, the Huashan protection station faces financial constraints. While basic staff salaries are secured, there is no funding for daily management, events, transportation, or subsidies for fieldwork. Tourism revenue is not reinvested into the protection of the rock art.
Protective measures: To properly balance cultural heritage protection and development, the "Draft for Comments" proposes that users or operators filming movies, TV shows, advertisements, live performances, or conducting tourism operations at rock art sites must be responsible for maintaining the site and its natural environment, and pay a fee to the cultural heritage management authority, specifically for the protection of the Zuojiang River rock art. The amount will be agreed upon in a protection agreement.
The "Draft for Comments" also states that operators using Zuojiang River rock art sites as tourist attractions must sign a protection agreement with the cultural heritage management authority overseeing the site, specifying protective measures. The Zuojiang River rock art cannot be treated as corporate assets, and it is forbidden to install unauthorized electrical wiring, water pipes, lighting, or appliances on the rock surfaces. Unauthorized installation of such facilities will result in an order to remove them and restore the original appearance, along with a possible fine between 10,000 and 50,000 yuan.
Regarding social participation, the "Draft for Comments" encourages citizens, legal entities, and other organizations to contribute to the protection of Zuojiang River rock art through donations and other means. Those with the capacity may voluntarily sign agreements with local cultural heritage management authorities to take responsibility for protecting one or more rock art sites. (Reporter Guo Yanqun)