China has 60 UNESCO World Heritage sites, the second most among all countries. President Xi Jinping's continuous guidance in applications for World Heritage sites has helped to better unveil their outstanding universal value to the world and boost international communication.

　　Following the inscription of the Central Axis on the list, Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, called for further efforts to preserve the country's cultural and natural treasures and renew their glamour in the new era. He also noted that such inclusions on the list have added new luster to world civilizations.

　　Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC in 2012, Xi has toured a number of World Heritage sites and made many instructions related to their significance and protection.

　　In 2016, after receiving a letter from four archaeologists about seeking World Heritage status for the archaeological ruins of Liangzhu city in Hangzhou, the capital of East China's Zhejiang province, Xi proposed the “three-benefits “principle guiding such applications. He said the projects should be beneficial to highlighting the historical and cultural value of Chinese civilization, to demonstrating the spiritual pursuits of the Chinese nation, and to showcasing for the world a comprehensive and authentic ancient and modern China.

　　In 2003, when Xi was the Party secretary of Zhejiang, he visited the Liangzhu site, a hub for a rice-cultivating and jade-worshiping culture dating back 4,300 to 5,300 years. He called for better protection of the site, which was then facing huge pressure, as it was being disturbed by nearby quarries. Lasting comprehensive protection and studies finally brought World Heritage status in 2019 to the “Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City“.