Kaixiangong Village in Wujiang District, Suzhou City

Mingyuewan Village in Wujiang District, Suzhou City (Photo provided to Xinhua Daily)

Jiangsu had 46 villages newly recognized in the sixth list of China's traditional villages, bringing the number of such protected villages to 79, according to a press conference of the province's Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development on April 18.

As an economic powerhouse in China, the province's big population and well-developed economy have all made village protection more difficult. However, in recent years, Jiangsu has taken active measures to preserve historical and cultural heritage in the countryside.

Traditional villages are often at the heart of a region's history and culture. Yang Lixia, deputy chief of the Cultural Heritage Protection Office at the province's Department of Culture and Tourism, stated that efforts will be made to the improvement of the rural living environment and provide support in the maintenance, protection and funding.