Social groups encouraged to help preserve, use heritage buildings

The National Cultural Heritage Administration recently published a document encouraging social organizations, such as charities or interest groups, to participate more in the preservation and use of heritage buildings.

It is the first policy document from the administration to call for such groups to play a role in preservation. It includes the fundamental principles of preservation work, ways people can contribute and suggestions for local governments on how to support the effort.

According to a statement from the administration, China has more than 760,000 immovable cultural relics, including some 400,000 heritage buildings. Over 95 percent are either protected at the county level or have not yet been listed as protected sites.