The Legal Affairs Office of the State Council released the draft of a regulation on the protection of historical cities, towns and villages on Thursday for public comment.

The draft aims at better conservation and management of these sites, which are part of China's cultural heritage.

The State Council published its first list of 99 historical cities, towns and villages in 1982, and another 28 sites have been added to the list in the past 25 years.

They are either ancient capitals, sites of major historical events or treasure houses of cultural relics.

The draft demands that governments at all levels strengthen their protection of historical cities, towns and villages, maintain their traditional layouts and styles, and preserve their integrity.

It said that there should not be any economic development at the expense of cultural heritage.

"The historical cities, towns and villages are under serious threat as some local governments are demolishing old buildings on a large scale.

"It should become the focus of people from all walks to preserve historical neighborhoods, as well as ancient villages amid rural construction," the Xinhua News Agency said on Friday.

According to the draft, the central and local governments will allocate funds for the preservation.

Any organization that has caused serious damage to historical buildings will be fined between 500,000 yuan and one million yuan ($64,100 - $128,200).