"Quanzhou: China's World Ocean Trade Center in Song Dynasty (960-1279) and Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368)" project will be reviewed at the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee this year, which will be held from July 16 to 31 in Fuzhou City, east China's Fujian Province.

The project is China's only UNESCO World Cultural Heritage application at the 44th session. The number of heritage sites in this project has increased from 16 to 22, said Zhang Lei, head of the world cultural heritage department at the National Cultural Heritage Administration on Monday at a State Council Information Office press conference. 

After the opening ceremony, the session will be held online, marking the first time in UNESCO's history that world heritage topics will be reviewed and discussed online.  

Quanzhou, the Chinese harbor city, was one of the most important Chinese ports along the historic Maritime Silk Road. A team from UNESCO visited the city in 1991, as part of the Organization's Maritime Silk Road expedition, in recognition of the role it played, according to UNESCO's official website. 

The session will review the World Heritage projects for 2020 and 2021, including 45 World Heritage List projects pending review and 258 world heritage status reports, Tian Xuejun, the vice minister of Education and director of Chinese National Commission for UNESCO said at the press conference. 

At present, China has a total of 55 world heritage sites, tied for first place with Italy, said Tian.  

(Cover image: Quanzhou City is located in east China's Fujian Province. /CFP)