Historical and Cultural Block

Since the 1970s, China has gradually set up a hierarchical system to protect its urban history and culture. According to the Regulations on the Protection of Famous Historical and Cultural Cities, Towns and Villages issued by the State Council in 2008, this hierarchical protection system is composed of historical relics, historical and cultural blocks, and historical and cultural cities. Among them, historical and cultural blocks refer to the urban districts nominated respectively by the national, provincial, and municipal governments that are full of historical and cultural remains and can fully reflect the traditional features of a certain historical period or the unique local ethnic characteristics. As they are a kind of living cultural heritage where lots of residents are still living, attention should be made to the protection of not only the physical environment, such as urban tissue, street grid, historic buildings, and old trees, but also the living vitality and cultural diversity of the people.