The indiscriminate demolition of buildings and city neighborhoods with historical value, often in the name of urban renovation endeavors, is destroying the city's cultural roots as well as being terribly wasteful, a top official of the cultural heritage protection office said recently.

Rampant construction aimed at expediting the process of urbanization has made the protection of China's cultural heritage very difficult and challenging, Shan Jixiang, director of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, has warned.

Shan's concerns are certainly justified howsoever extreme his strong opposition to the renovation of ancient neighborhoods and dangerous old buildings may sound.

Of course, there is little harm if such renovation projects are limited to providing everyday conveniences to the residents of these historical districts, or reinforcing old buildings that are on the verge of collapse.

Yet, these are more often than not used as pretexts for wanton destruction to justify newer construction projects.

Shan is brave in speaking out, even though he may not have enough influence on those calling the shots.

Instilling a genuine sense of respect for cultural heritage into the culturally illiterate administrative hierarchy, although easier said than done, may be more effective.

By airing his concerns online, Shan was mainly communicating with ordinary Internet users. But, the more pressing task is to educate public officials and property developers who often display a notoriously insensitive disregard for the protection of our rich cultural heritage.