China plans to give out 37,000 free tickets to 74 of its UNESCO World Heritage and scenic sites to celebrate its first Cultural and Natural Heritage Day, Zhang Linwei, deputy head of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development's urban construction department, said last Friday.

The central government decided in late 2005 to establish a Cultural Heritage Day, which falls on the second Saturday in June, with the aim of enhancing people's awareness of protecting cultural heritage.

This year, the State Council decided to change the day into Cultural and Natural Heritage Day, which falls on June 10 this year, after some well-known scholars, including academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Liu Jiaqi and Yuan Daoxian, made suggestions last year, Zhang said.

"Establishing the day shows the high importance the central government attaches to the protection of cultural and natural heritages," he said.

He said each of the 74 heritage and scenic sites will offer 500 free tickets, and people can book tickets on the website of China Association of National Parks and Scenic Sites from May 15.Most of the 75 sites are either UNESCO World Heritage Sites or are preparing to apply.

"Chinese and foreigners can apply for the free tickets with their ID or passport number and it only takes about 40 seconds to make the reservation on a special platform the association put on its website. The tickets will be given based on 'first come first served'," said Liu Qiang, vice-secretary general of China Association of National Parks and Scenic Sites.

Zhang said the ministry will organize more than 10 other activities, including a launch ceremony for the first Cultural and Natural Heritage Day in UNESCO World Heritage Site Shennongjia National Nature Reserve in Central China's Hubei province and a free exhibition featuring China's achievement in cultural and natural heritage protection in Beijing, which will last from June to August.

"China has rich cultural and natural heritage of high cultural, scientific, historical and artistic values. The establishment of the day can attract more public attention to protecting these heritages," said Liu Jiaqi, the CAS academician.

China has 50 world heritages, the second highest in the world, including 11 natural heritages, 30 cultural heritages, four natural and cultural heritages and five cultural landscapes. It also boasts of 244 national level and 807 provincial level scenic sites.

houliqiang@chinadaily.com.cn