More protection: The Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City in Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/VCG]

A new regulation for the protection and management of the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City — a 5,000-year-old UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site located in Yuhang district of Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province — was recently reviewed by the municipal government.

The draft regulation emphasizes Liangzhu's World Heritage status and introduces stricter rules on land use, population control and construction within the heritage and buffer zones.

Clear boundary markers and penalties are included — for example, there are now fines of up to 50,000 yuan ($6,959) for unauthorized construction or damage to protected features or areas.

To balance preservation with local development, rural housing within the area will be renovated to better integrate with the site. Related archaeological survey costs will be covered by local governments, easing the burden on residents while ensuring relic safety.

The draft also encourages cultural revitalization: Immersive digital experiences in the heritage park, Liangzhu-inspired cultural products and public access to archaeological sites and newly unearthed relics.

What's more, July 6 will be designated as Hangzhou Liangzhu Day, with exhibitions, lectures and events to promote public engagement.

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019, Liangzhu now joins West Lake and the Grand Canal (Hangzhou section) in forming a three-pronged heritage protection framework that is unique to the city.

Visitors look at a cong, a symbolic jade artifact unearthed from the Liangzhu site. [Photo/VCG]