The State Council has designated the second Saturday of June as the Cultural Heritage Day to boost public awareness of heritage protection in China.

The State Council issued a circular recently saying that great changes have taken place in China's cultural environment. Many cultural heritage sites have been seriously endangered.

The State Council requires that investigation in China's cultural heritage resources should be strengthened. And protection plan should be made to avoid excessive and improper development of cultural heritages.

Lots of historical cities, ancient towns and buildings, relics sites and scenic spots have been destroyed in recent years. Smuggling of antiques, theft of ancient tombs and relics sites are rampant in some regions, the circular said.

Improper development of cultural heritages and utilization of cultural relics in an excessive way have threatened precious cultural heritages. China will launch a series of key cultural heritage protection projects in the future. Measures will be taken to put the cultural relics market in order, the circular said.

China will also use three years to conduct a survey on the situation of intangible cultural heritages and work out a protection plan.

(Xinhua News Agency February 9, 2006)