China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MCT) has released a list of seven state-level reserves which aim to protect unique and time-honored regional cultural systems – dubbed "cultural ecology" by the MCT.

The reserves were selected after evaluations by experts and field investigation in accordance with relevant regulations, said the MCT.

On the list are Southern Fujian Cultural Ecology Reserve in southeast China's Fujian Province, Huizhou Cultural Ecology Reserve in east China's Anhui Province, Regong Cultural Ecology Reserve in northwest China's Qinghai Province, Qiang Ethnic Cultural Ecology Reserve in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Wuling Mountain Tujia and Miao Ethnic Cultural Ecology Reserve in central China's Hunan Province, Marine and Fishing Ecology Reserve in east China's Zhejiang Province, and Qilu Culture (Weifang) Ecology Reserve in east China's Shandong Province.

The MCT will strengthen guidance and inspection of these reserves and carry out performance evaluation.

(With input from Xinhua)