National Linear Cultural Heritage Network

The linear cultural heritages were largely been ignored in China in comparison with other types of cultural heritages. This kind of neglecting occurred to such important linear cultural heritages as the Silk Road and the Grand Canal. Through literature analysis and Delphi method, this paper identified China’s significant linear cultural heritages. A network of 19 linear cultural heritages accounting for about 250,000km length were identified. This linear cultural heritage network forms the cultural security pattern securing china’s cultural identity and can be integrated with the ecological network and greenway systems to serve the purpose of recreation, aesthetics appreciation, education, and become an integral part of national ecological infrastructure to serve the goal of harmony between the land and people.