China to advance national census of immovable cultural heritage

The leading group for the fourth national cultural heritage survey in China holds its third meeting in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 30, 2025. The meeting was attended by Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, and State Councilor Shen Yiqin. Both officials are heads of the group leading the census. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

BEIJING, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- China will step up its efforts to further identify cultural heritage and push forward its systematic preservation of already listed items, according to a meeting that reviewed the ongoing national census of immovable cultural heritage on Thursday.

The meeting was attended by Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, and State Councilor Shen Yiqin. Both officials are heads of the group leading the census.

The meeting called for solid work to strengthen the preservation of urban cultural heritage in the next stage of the census, particularly in cities and towns with long histories.

Authorities will expand public participation, build up institutional capacities at all levels, and ensure the efficient use of funds for cultural heritage protection.

As the census progresses, a national catalog of immovable cultural heritage will be created and made public, according to the meeting.

China completed national cultural heritage censuses in 1956, 1981 and 2007. The ongoing census began at the end of 2023.