Luo Zhewen

Acclaimed Chinese historical site expert Luo Zhewen died in Beijing on Monday night.

Born in 1924, the 88-year-old specialist devoted himself to protecting historical buildings for over 70 years. He worked in various related departments including Ministry of Culture and State Administration of Culture Heritage.

Luo published a number of books on historical architecture: Ancient Pagodas in China, Zhongguo Gudai Jianzhu Jianshi (a brief history of Chinese ancient architecture), The Great Wall, and Zhongguo Diwang Ling (the mausoleum of Chinese emperors).

In 1985, Luo cooperated with urban planner Zheng Xiaoxie and cultural relic expert Shan Shiyuan. They successfully petitioned for the Great Wall to be added as a world culture relic in the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. 

Luo's plight to protect the Great Wall started in the late 1940s, when he assisted in the renovation process of the Badaling section, which opened to tourists in 1953.

Luo was active until the very end. At the age of 79, he led a research group to the site of the Silk Road, gathering information about the Great Wall built during the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD) and the relics of Kroran in 2003.

Luo attributes much of his achievements to his revered teacher and mentor, Liang Sicheng, one of the so-called "Father of Modern Chinese Architecture."