Editor's note: As China prepares to observe Cultural and Natural Heritage Day on the second Saturday in June, it provides an opportunity to reflect on the nation's efforts to conserve cultural heritage. People's Daily Overseas Edition spoke to Sun Yan, senior engineer at the key laboratory on archaeometry and cultural heritage conservation under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, about China's contribution to global cultural heritage protection. Below are excerpts of the interview. The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.

China joined the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage in 1985. Last year, the Xixia Imperial Tombs located in the Ningxia Hui autonomous region were included in the World Heritage List, bringing the total number of World Heritage sites in China to 60.

In recent years, China has made remarkable progress in protecting its cultural heritage. For example, between 2016 and 2025, several Chinese cultural heritage sites have been added to the World Heritage List, each embodying distinctive cultural values.

The Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City, which were included in 2019, bear witness to China's 5,000-year-old civilization. A large urban settlement dating back to the late Neolithic Age, Liangzhu boasts a massive ancient city and a sophisticated water conservation system, offering a unique glimpse into the origins of Chinese civilization.

The Beijing Central Axis, which was added to the list in 2024, stretches 7.8 kilometers and embodies the ideals of ancient Beijing, the capital of the Yuan (1271-1368), Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. The design of the axis features "balance" and "harmony", which reflect the importance of order inherent in traditional Chinese culture.

The Xixia Imperial Tombs, the mausoleums of the Xixia Dynasty (1038-1227), showcase distinctive cemetery architecture and exquisite stone carvings, providing fresh evidence of cultural exchanges along the Silk Road.

Over the past decade, China's approach to world cultural heritage protection has shifted from emergency rescue to systematic conservation. Remarkable strides have also been made in the legal and institutional frameworks supporting cultural heritage protection. The amended Law on the Protection of Cultural Relics, which came into force on March 1, 2025, provides a solid foundation for safeguarding cultural relics.

Digital technologies are now being widely used to enhance the management of heritage sites.

By studying and interpreting the values of China's cultural heritage, people gain a correct, multi-dimensional and comprehensive image of the country.

For example, following the inclusion of the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City in the World Heritage List, the international archaeological community has spoken highly of the development level of the city, as reflected by its water conservation system, social stratification and belief system.

Meanwhile, Chinese institutions have collaborated on archaeological research and conservation projects at World Heritage sites in Egypt, Honduras, Cambodia and other countries, sharing China's philosophies and technologies in archaeology and cultural heritage protection.

In 2023, China spearheaded the establishment of the Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia and the launch of the Asian Fund for Cultural Heritage Conservation. China remains committed to leveraging its expertise to contribute to global cultural heritage conservation efforts.