Bagan is one of the most important religious sites in Myanmar. However, over the past decades, local communities have not been allowed to partake in its management. Weise describes the challenges of managing Bagan, particularly after the 2016 Chauk Earthquake and provides insight into the process of nominating Bagan for World Heritage status during the transition of the Myanmar Government through democratic elections. These changes have allowed local communities to raise their voices against continued mismanagement and the lack of local governance. Weise concludes that for living cultural heritage sites to be sustainable, communities need to be allowed to participate by expressing themselves within a context of safety and stability, thus helping to ensure cultural continuity.