Beijing Dongcheng District People's Court has strengthened protection of cultural heritage, handling 137 cases involving cultural relics and artworks auction contracts in the past decade.

Among the lawsuits, auction companies became plaintiffs in 79 cases, mostly suing buyers for payment of auction proceeds and commissions, Lu Chao, vice-president of the court, revealed ahead of China's 20th Cultural and Natural Heritage Day, which falls on Saturday.

When auction companies were the defendants, they were often sued by buyers seeking to have the auction contracts declared invalid or have them terminated, he added.

Given the high level of expertise required for cultural and art auctions, the court has established a specialized adjudication team composed of experienced judges, increasing research and coordination with government departments on new issues in this field, according to Yan Wei, chief judge of the court's Tiantan tribunal.

"We reported regulatory gaps or difficulties in the application of the law within the industry during the case handling to the industrial associations, helping them optimize self-regulation systems, enhance business awareness and improve risk prevention capabilities," she said.

"We also disclosed influential cases to those engaged in the cultural relics and art auction field, as well as to collectors, in order to guide them on enhancing the awareness of cultural relics protection," she added.

Dongcheng district, located in the heart of Beijing, is rich in cultural heritage with numerous protected sites and historical venues. It is home to leading auction houses and plays a crucial role in the city's strategy to establish itself as the main hub for international cultural relics and art auctions. The district is also the core area and trendsetter for the national cultural relics and art auction industry.

The court on Thursday also released a judicial report on cultural relics and art auction cases (2014-2024) to clarify adjudication rules for cases involving the auction of cultural relics and artworks, and to promote the healthy development of the industry and support the flourishing of the capital's cultural scene.