UNESCO official praises Suzhou in cultural heritage preservation

The third Suzhou: Splendor of Jiangnan Culture Academic Forum was recently held in Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu province.

The event was sponsored by the publicity department of the Suzhou government and the Suzhou federation of philosophy and social sciences.

The culture of Jiangnan, the region south of the Yangtze River, is an essential part of the charm and aesthetics of traditional Chinese culture, and Suzhou is a representative of Jiangnan culture.

At the forum, Amareswar Galla, UNESCO Chair on Inclusive Museums and Sustainable Heritage Development, praised Suzhou for its efforts and progress in preserving its World Heritage sites.

"Jiangnan-Suzhou is more than the ordinary. It is the intersection of the best of historical cultural landscapes and historical waterscapes," he said. "What is impressive is that the over 200 gardens at the Suzhou World Heritage site and its hinterland are well preserved."