The Chinese government has approved the first batch of 30 national heritage sites, including 17 natural heritage and 13 natural and cultural heritage sites, the Ministry of Construction said Wednesday.

Among the 30 sites are Qinghai Lake in northwest China's Qinghai Province, Wutai Mountain known for its many ancient Buddhist temples in north China's Shanxi Province, and Jiuhuashan Mountain in east China's Anhui Province.

Chen Xiaoli, the ministry's chief planner, said the establishment of the national heritage system was an important development in China's national heritage protection system.

Sites on the national heritage list would have priority for candidacy for world heritage sites, she said.

Candidates for national heritage sites would receive guidance and assistance from the ministry regarding the protection of resources, establishing an administration, and the World Heritage Committee rules, to pave the way for their inclusion on the World Heritage List, she said.

China has 31 world heritage sites, second only to Spain and Italy.

Chen warned that all national heritage sites must strictly observe the rules for their management, or risk removal from the list.
 
(Xinhua News Agency July 6, 2006)