Effective measures needed for ancient towns: deputies

Deputies to the National People's Congress have called for effective measures to protect ancient towns from damage by fire following several blazes in recent months.

Through 2013 and early 2014, several towns and historic sites in Yunnan and Guizhou provinces were gutted by fire, with traditional wooden structures particularly affected.

In June, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Finance issued a list of 646 renowned Chinese towns and villages worthy of protection.