China is to set up a batch of demonstration zones for the protection and use of cultural heritage resources, according to the National Cultural Heritage Administration (NCHA).

The areas should have set examples of effectively protecting and using cultural heritage resources, as well as promoting high-quality economic and social development, the agency said in a notice.

Municipal and county-level administrative areas can submit applications and the NCHA will select the winners based on experts' appraisals.

The winners will need to draft plans within three months for the construction of demonstration zones with specific objectives, tasks and measures, the agency said.

According to the NCHA, it will focus on the "balance of cultural relics protection and their economic and social development" in 2020, aiming at strengthening the pertinence and effectiveness of the preservation policy for cultural relics.

On the premise of ensuring the safety of cultural relics, the administration also encourages the regional institutions to innovate and integrate the resources of different types of cultural relics and to promote the development of cultural relics tourism.

(With input from Xinhua)