World Heritage Through the Eyes of Tan Huaiyu

Tan Huaiyu, guest speaker aboard the Peace Boat, delivered a series of captivating lectures that guided participants through the diverse and intricate landscape of World Heritage. Tan Huaiyu’s presentations were full of comprehensive and engaging exploration of World Heritage Sites, cultural diversity, and the historical significance of different regions. He actively encouraged the participants to visit these heritage sites and see for themselves with their own eyes. 

^{Introducing the world of World Heritage}

In the first lecture, he explored the wonders of Egypt's ancient civilization, delving into iconic sites such as the towering pyramids of Khufu, Luxor Temple, and the mysterious Karnak. Tan Huaiyu skillfully unraveled the secrets of deciphering ancient Egyptian writing, showcased through artifacts like the Rosetta Stone, a igneous rock that helped experts learn to read Egyptian hieroglyphs, in the British Museum. This was followed by the second lecture, titled 'The Birth of World Heritage', which followed the global dispersal of humanity over 40,000 years ago and the subsequent evolution of distinct civilizations. Tan Huaiyu explored the concept of shared human heritage, highlighting the fortuitous events that led to the creation of the World Heritage Convention 66 years ago. This lecture provided a comprehensive overview of the origins and types of World Heritage.

World Heritage Connecting India and Sri Lanka

As the voyage sailed closer to India, Tan Huaiyu provided a captivating exploration of India’s religious stories, myths, and the unique geographical features. The audience was treated to firsthand images from Tan Huaiyu's travels, revealing India's vastness, population, and rich biodiversity. The Deccan Plateau's volcanic history, the Ganges River's significance, and India's impact on neighboring civilizations were all explored through the lens of World Heritage. Furthermore, a lecture on India held in Chinese drew a sizable audience of Chinese-speaking participants, offering additional insights into India's cultural and natural heritage and its influence on Southeast Asia.

^{Introducing some of India's many World Heritage Sites}

Shifting the focus to Sri Lanka, Tan Huaiyu painted a vivid picture of the island's history and natural beauty. The lecture on Sri Lanka's World Heritage celebrated the unique cultural and historical treasures of this teardrop-shaped nation, exploring the impact of Theravada Buddhism, which translates to “The Way of the Elders” and is Buddhism's oldest existing school. 

Tan Huaiyu also enriched the onboard experience with an additional art event, themed 'Peace Boat I Discovered.' This popular session featured Tan Huaiyu's interpretations of various artworks found onboard, adding an artistic dimension to the journey. The engaging lectures and presentations offered passengers a unique and enlightening perspective on the diverse cultural and natural heritage our world has to offer.