Yuan Jiajun (third from left), governor of Zhejiang province, pays a field trip to Liangzhu relic site in Hangzhou July 9. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

Yuan Jiajun, governor of Zhejiang province, called on all parties to further explore Liangzhu culture and build it into a cultural hallmark of Zhejiang during a visit to the Liangzhu relic site July 9.

Liangzhu culture (3400-2250 BC) was a late Neolithic culture discovered 80 years ago by Chinese archaeologists in the town of Liangzhu, Hangzhou. The glorious and primitive culture played an important role in shaping ancient Chinese civilization. More than 500 sites have been excavated to date, spanning East China's Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces, and Shanghai.

The relic site was officially recommended in January by the National Commission of China for UNESCO as a candidate for world heritage status in 2019.

Yuan said protecting the Neolithic ruins and applying for recognition as a World Cultural Heritage Site are of great significance to cultural promotion and will be a milestone in the history of Chinese civilization.

After walking around the site, he stressed the importance of conducting further in-depth studies into Liangzhu culture and sharing the achievements of protection and utilization with the public by developing culture and tourism industries.

Moreover, as the application has entered the home stretch, Yuan urged all relevant departments to make sure the work goes on orderly and efficiently.

Yuan visits the Liangzhu Museum where more than 600 items about Liangzhu culture are on display July 7. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

Yuan exhorts officials to exert all-out efforts to ensure that the Liangzhu relic site is recognized as a World Cultural Heritage Site. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]