From November 11th to 12th, 2024, Culture, Creativity and Management Programme, in partnership with Tourism, Hospitality, and Event management Programme, had the honor of welcoming Mr. Shawn Wong, a cultural Heritage Conservation Planner, for an immersive two-day lecture series on cultural heritage appreciation at CC323.

The series was segmented into three distinct parts. On the morning of the first day, Mr. Shawn Wong set the stage with an introduction to cultural heritage cognition. He meticulously outlined the definition of cultural heritage and its practical applications while providing a comparative analysis of cultural heritage systems within China and across the globe from both domestic and international perspectives.

On the afternoon of day two, Mr. Wong steered the second and third lectures, themed "Cultural Heritage Appreciation" and "City Interpretation and Appreciation". In the second lecture, he delved into various elements of cultural heritage such as artifacts, architectural ensembles, canal heritages etc., using case studies to illustrate their profound influence on our communities in Asia and beyond. Both teachers and students gleaned knowledge from these studies and drew inspiration from his lectures.

In his final presentation, Mr. Wong shared his expert insights on several distinctive cities with great fervor. He explained that understanding a city's geographical environment, historical evolution, urban texture and form unravels its core essence. His lively introductions spanned several capital and trade cities, and interspersed with interactive Q&A sessions, which fostered active participation from all attendees. Finally, the lecture series concluded amidst resounding applause.

Mr. Shawn Wong is a cultural Heritage Conservation Planner, a Registered Cultural Relic Conservation Designer, an Architectural Engineer, a Member of ICOMOS China, and an Expedition Leader of Chinese National Geography. He has contributed to the conservation work at world heritage sites such as Jingmai Mountain, Kulangsu Island, Macau, and the Temple of Heaven, as well as dozens of national grade cultural relic sites in China. Additionally, he has planned and organized multiple domestic and international cultural heritage investigations and training activities.

Text: Weilu WANG

Photos: BAO Xiwen, LIU Chu