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The former family residence of Zhou Enlai in Shaoxing, Zhejiang province. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

Shaoxing in East China's Zhejiang province recently announced a three-year plan to restore and preserve the former residences of celebrities in the city, local media reported on Aug 19.

With a history of more than 2,500 years, Shaoxing currently houses over 100 former residences of iconic figures like Wang Xizhi, the most prominent figure in the history of Chinese calligraphy, and Lu Xun, one of the most influential Chinese writers.

By 2023, the city will have complete archives of the existing residences, renovate over 20 residences that are in poor condition, and open more than 20 valuable residences to the public.

The former residences that are inhabited by owners that are not relatives of the celebrities will be purchased for better protection. Those inhabited by the celebrities' descendants will not be included.

The former family residence of the late Premier Zhou Enlai and the former residence of Yu Xiusong, one of the first members of the Communist Party of China, will be submitted for the upcoming recognition of China's key cultural relic protection sites.

The former family residence of Zhou Enlai was not only the home of 17 generations of Zhou's ancestors, but also an intact representative building of the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1636-1912) dynasties. It was listed as a Zhejiang key cultural relic protection site in 1997.

The former residence of Yu Xiusong is a typical Qing Dynasty (1636-1912) building and where Yu spent his youth. It was listed as a Zhejiang key cultural relic protection site in 2005 and has developed into a provincial patriotism education base.

"These sites are the cultural roots and soul of Shaoxing. The plan will activate them and help tell Shaoxing stories in a better way," said He Junjie, director of the municipal bureau of culture, radio, and tourism.

He added that the inscription of Quanzhou, Fujian province onto the UNESCO World Heritage List in July motivated Shaoxing, noting that "the city will continue to protect these relics with the standard of treating world heritages."