World Monuments Fund Opens New Regional Office in Beijing, China

New York, NY—March 26, 2025: World Monuments Fund (WMF) is proud to announce the opening of its new regional office in Beijing, reinforcing its long-standing commitment to preserving China’s cultural heritage. The establishment of this office makes WMF the first official registration of a foreign NGO in the country dedicated to cultural heritage preservation, a distinction made possible by invitation of the Beijing City Government. With nearly three decades of work in the country, this milestone marks a new chapter in WMF’s international engagement and expands its ability to collaborate with local partners on the protection of historic sites.

"Our work in China, particularly our long-standing partnership with the Palace Museum, has been fundamental to our success in preserving some of the country’s most iconic heritage sites for over thirty years," said Bénédicte de Montlaur, President and CEO of World Monuments Fund. "World Monuments Fund’s work at the Qianlong Garden and the creation of the CRAFT training program with Tsinghua University are just a few of the many examples of how we are safeguarding historic places while equipping future generations with the skills to protect them. With our new office in Beijing, we look forward to expanding our efforts with local partners to preserve even more of China’s extraordinary heritage.

World Monument Fund’s work in China began with the listing of the enigmatic San Xing Dui Archaeological Site, (3rd - 1st millennium B.C.E.) in Sichuan Province on the inaugural World Monuments Watch in 1996, a biennial, nomination-based advocacy program. Since then, WMF has raised over $20 million in international funds to support 10 sites, working with local partners to protect imperial landmarks, historic marketplaces, vernacular architecture, and sacred spaces. A cornerstone of these efforts is its partnership with the Palace Museum in Beijing, which began in 2000 and led to the restoration of the Qianlong Garden, an 18th-century masterpiece within the Forbidden City. The culmination of a 25-year collaboration, this project remains a model for international cooperation in heritage conservation. WMF’s collaboration with the Palace Museum on the protection of Qianlong Garden will come full circle later this year with an inauguration of the garden’s reopening and its new interpretation center. In 2013, WMF expanded this partnership by launching a master’s degree program in architectural conservation with Tsinghua University, which is actively training the next generation of heritage professionals.

"The establishment of this regional office marks an exciting new chapter for World Monuments Fund in China," said Han Gao, Chief Representative of the World Monuments Fund regional office in China. "With decades of experience working alongside Chinese institutions, we are eager to expand our efforts, support new preservation initiatives, and further engage with local experts and communities. This office will allow us to strengthen collaborations and take on new projects that celebrate and protect China’s rich cultural heritage."

World Monuments Fund in China already has a range of initiatives underway. In January 2025, the Buddhist Grottoes of Maijishan and Yungang were included in the 2025 World Monuments Watch program, bringing attention to their exemplary conservation and the need for sustainable tourism solutions. As part of WMF’s Cultivating Resilience program, in partnership with Tencent Charity Foundation and the Shanxi Cultural Relics Institute, a conference will be held in May 2025 focused on addressing the impact of climate change on the preservation and sustainability of Shanxi's rich cultural heritage. Most notably, an inauguration ceremony will be held in September 2025 with the Palace Museum for the completed conservation of the Qianlong Garden and the creation of a new interpretation center, providing the public access to guided tours of the restored interiors of the Qianlong Garden for the first time ever.

The WMF in China office is located in the Beijing Stone Art Museum and an official inauguration ceremony took place on March 26, 2025 with the Beijing City Government. A celebration took place later in the evening attended by Bénédicte de Montlaur, President and CEO of World Monuments Fund; Zhang Lixin, Director of Beijing Cultural Heritage Bureau; Lou Wei, Deputy Director of The Palace Museum; and Ge Yan, Secretary-General of the Tencent Charity Foundation, among others. As part of the organization’s 60th anniversary, the occasion underscored the shared commitment between World Monuments Fund and its Chinese partners to ensuring the continued protection of the country’s cultural treasures.
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About World Monuments Fund

World Monuments Fund is the leading independent organization devoted to safeguarding the world’s most treasured places to enrich lives and build mutual understanding. For 60 years, working at more than 700 sites in 112 countries, its highly skilled experts have applied proven and effective techniques to the preservation of important architectural and cultural heritage sites around the globe. Through the World Monuments Watch—a biennial, nomination-based program—WMF uses cultural heritage conservation to empower communities and improve human well-being. In partnership with local communities, funders, and governments, WMF seeks to inspire an enduring commitment to stewardship for future generations. Headquartered in New York City, the organization has offices and affiliates worldwide.