A senior official with the State Administration of Cultural Heritage said that regulations will be drawn up to identify and protect notable figures' former residences, qianlong.com reported on April 10.

Li Yaoshen, head of the policy and regulation bureau of the Administration, made the remarks at a news conference held on April 9.

"Famous figures' former residences are not only valuable historical and cultural resources, but also rare spiritual fortunes," said Li. "Those listed as fixed heritages must be protected in accordance with the law.

"However, it is a complicated issue that involves construction, urban planning, cultural relics and many other departments, and their treatments should be different in accordance with the varying situations of the different buildings," he added.

According to Li, some residences, after repeated restoration work, no longer appear as they once did, and many renowned figures had multiple houses in one or more places.

Li urged the cultural relics and heritage departments to map out detailed qualifications for former residences of famous people that should be protected while conducting in depth research into their historical values, while listening to public opinion.