Longquan and Songyang, two county-level areas in Lishui, Zhejiang province, were included on a list of "provincial zones for cultural inheritance and protection", which was recently issued by the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism.

The two areas made the list due to their efforts to protect and promote celadon and rural culture. They are expected to make use of these distinct cultures to boost economic and social development.

Longquan, known for producing celadon, has ramped up efforts to strengthen the preservation and development of its culture in recent years.

In 2009, the traditional firing technique of the Longquan celadon was added to UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. It is also the first ceramic item to make the international list.

Songyang is known for its many well-preserved ancient villages. In recent years, it has been focusing more on cultural preservation and high-quality development and taking full advantage of the historical, economic, and social value of rural culture.

Next, the two areas plan to build demonstration zones and explore ways to integrate the development of culture and tourism.