On July 2, 2025, UNESCO's Director-General for Natural Sciences, Lidia Brito, announced that the "Tuo Cheng Creative Program (TCCP) – Exploring Sustainable Development Pathways for Heritage Conservation and Revitalization in China's Underdeveloped Regions Through Public Participation" project has been officially included in the first batch of approved projects under UNESCO's International Decade of Science for Sustainable Development (IDSSD) (2024-2033). This initiative, led by Professor Yang Xiaochun from Shenzhen University and implemented by postdoctoral researcher Dr. Wang Jianming (currently at Zhejiang University of Technology), was showcased during the STI Forum on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development held at UN Headquarters in New York on May 7 this year.
Funded by Shenzhen University's 2035 Excellence Research Program and supported by the People's Government of Tuocheng Town, Longchuan County in both financial resources and human expertise, this project stands as the first multidisciplinary initiative led by a professor from Shenzhen University's School of Architecture and Urban Planning. It has successfully obtained UN authorization to integrate research, teaching, and practical applications. The inaugural collaborative partners include Professor Ken Ueda from Chiba University (Japan), Associate Professor Xi Lin from Zhejiang University of Technology, Dr. Jirimu Tu from Inner Mongolia Normal University, and Dr. Mengqian Niu from Zhejiang University of Media and Communications. During the project's execution, graduate student Yinye Rui received funding from Shenzhen University's 2024 Graduate Innovation Achievement Cultivation Program. This successful selection not only highlights Shenzhen University's academic strength and global influence in urban-rural planning—particularly its research on promoting sustainable urban development through cultural heritage preservation and revitalization—but also establishes a foundation for deepening international cooperation between China and other nations through multi-disciplinary collaboration. The project team will actively participate in and jointly safeguard the sustainable development ecosystem of global heritage conservation and revitalization.

Figure 1: The "TCCP" project is exhibited at the Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for Sustainable Development Goals (STI Forum) at the United Nations Headquarters
The "Tuo Cheng Creative Program (TCCP)" addresses the challenges in cultural heritage preservation and revitalization in China's underdeveloped regions. Since August 20,2023, project teams have conducted 17 field surveys using a "cultural anthropology + design studies" methodology. From the outset, the initiative has closely aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focusing on four key areas: Goal 4 (Quality Education), Goal 9 (Industrial Innovation and Infrastructure), Goal 15 (Protection of Life on Land), and Goal 17 (Partnerships for Implementation). Emphasizing local residents as the main participants and regional diversity as the goal, the project utilizes Tuocheng Ancient Town's original resources—people, culture, land, industry, and scenery—to implement multi-level community-building practices: "resource exploration, resident participation, connecting local elites, attracting enterprises, and co-creation sharing." This approach gradually establishes a "multi-stakeholder co-creation mechanism" for talent development, community co-construction, and public engagement. Currently, with strong support from Longchuan County governments in Guangdong Province, the initiative is effectively exploring contemporary development pathways for cultural heritage preservation and revitalization in underdeveloped regions like Tuocheng Ancient Town.

Figure 2: Overall objectives and action plan of the "TCCP" project

Figure 3: "Tuo City Innovation Plan (TCCP)" connects overseas Chinese and young people returning to their hometowns, and promotes the sorting out of property rights and revitalization of historical buildings
Within the ten-year research cycle spanning 2024 to 2033, the project team will actively implement UNESCO's Open Science Recommendations. We will provide open access to partners and scholars interested in this initiative, while attracting more researchers, practitioners, investors, and the public to participate in the "Tuo Cheng Creative Program(TCCP)". The team will continue publishing interim research findings publicly and conduct public education programs through both online and offline channels, offering outreach projects to local communities. Annual publications, briefings, workshops, and academic forums will be organized to share research outcomes with stakeholders. Capitalizing on the project's official approval, we plan to promptly initiate recruitment for the second cohort of partner organizations.
The "Decade of Science (IDSSD)", officially established by the United Nations General Assembly in August 2023 and led by UNESCO, is a global scientific initiative aimed at promoting global collaboration through science to accelerate the achievement of sustainable development goals. The Decade advocates for interdisciplinary integration of basic, applied, social, and humanities sciences, driving positive transformations in society, economy, and environment while building a science culture accessible and beneficial to all. Its core mission is to mobilize societal forces to ensure science serves the common well-being of humanity. To implement this initiative, UNESCO officially launched the "Decade of Science (IDSSD)" project call in October 2023. After rigorous global selection, the first batch of 57 projects, including this initiative, were included in the inaugural list of recognized projects under the Decade of Science (IDSSD).

Figure 4: Screenshot of the approval letter for the approved project

Figure 5: List of first batch approved projects