Confronting the challenges of economic globalization and cultural homogenization, we are addressing the vexed question that many countries have commonly faced: how and to which extent we can ensure the continued existence of heritage, while conserving the uniqueness of different communities’ identities and celebrating the diverse values of mankind. The Living Heritage, a people-centered and everyday-life oriented conservation approach to cultural heritage management, may just offer us a new insight as to how to balance the delicate dynamic between preserving our cultural inheritance and making changes to them.

Following the inscription of Gulangyu on the World Heritage List in the 41st World Heritage Congress 2017, the total number of China's world cultural heritage sites has reached 36 (including cultural landscapes), which is front rank of the world. The conservation of cultural heritage has gradually become the main vehicle for national development and rejuvenation and has played a pivotal role in the recent national strategies such as "the Belt and Road” in China.

On the occasion of the 30 anniversary of China’s first batch of the world heritage sites being inscribed on the list in 1987, it is necessary to review and recognize the achievements and experiences of China. The Heritage of China Conference is inviting researches to raise the discussions focus on the fields of heritage and conservation principles and concepts, preservation and conservation practices, heritage legislation and management, transformation of historical built environment and revitalization of traditions in the process of rapid urbanization, furthering our scope research on heritage studies and conservation practice.

For these important research issues, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, the Administrative Committee of Suzhou National Historical and Cultural Famous City Protection District, University of Liverpool (UK) work collaboratively to hold the Second International Conference on Heritage of China – under the theme "Continuity and Celebration of Living Heritage of China ", due to take place from 6th -9th September 2018 in Suzhou, China. Professionals and scholars from all over the world are warmly invited to attend and contribute, sharing your real-world experience in practice and/or research findings.