The arrangements for observing the day are a strong testament to China's commitment to preserving and sharing the beauty and essence of its time-tested legacies with the outside world.

　　This year's celebration holds even greater significance than usual, as it marks the 20th anniversary of the country's first designation of this special day, which, before 2017, was known as Cultural Heritage Day.

　　The past 20 years have seen an unprecedented boom in the heritage sector throughout the country. In 2006, museums nationwide attracted a total of around 150 million visits, a number that by 2025 had increased to 1.56 billion. China initially had 24 entries on the UNESCO World Heritage List, but the number has now risen to 60.

　　President Xi Jinping, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has consistently prioritized heritage protection in recent years. In a guideline statement released in 2016, for example, he described cultural relics as "a valuable legacy from our ancestors", emphasizing that conservation will benefit future generations.

　　He then pointed out that the relics are tangible manifestations of the fine traditional culture, or "the root and soul", of the Chinese nation.

　　Such resolution has its roots in eastern Zhejiang province 20 years ago. The saplings planted then have now grown into flourishing trees, and they set an example for the rest of the country and beyond.

　　In Yuhang district of Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang, are located the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City. Dating back 4,300 to 5,300 years, this vast prehistoric site was the hub of a regional state that worshipped jade and grew rice with highly-developed water conservation systems.

　　The site is considered to mark the dawn of Chinese civilization.