Stricter policies to protect traditional dwellings

China is to issue stricter policies on traditional dwellings in order to protect cultural heritage, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development said on Tuesday during the release of the results of the first national census of such buildings.

The census, conducted in 2012, identified as many as 15,000 traditional dwellings in 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, of which 2,555 have been listed in the national collection and given strict protection.

The traditional dwellings have also been placed into 599 different categories.