Culture Special: Protecting ancient villages

Shandong province has launched a campaign to further strengthen protection of its traditional villages and towns amid the nationwide wave of rapid urbanization.

"The move is a crucial measure to protect cultural legacies because traditional villages and towns are precious sites in terms of research, and historical and cultural continuity," Xie Zhixiu, head of the province's cultural relics bureau, told China Daily.

The efforts include thorough investigation of all traditional villages and towns not already under State protection and establishment of a system that not only protects the sites, but also helps integrate tourism and improve rural settlements.