China's only UNESCO World Cultural Heritage application project in 2020 -- "Quanzhou: China's World Ocean Trade Center in Song Dynasty (960-1279) and Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368)" project -- of Quanzhou, a city in East China's Fujian province, will be reviewed at the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee next year.

Due to the global COVID-19 epidemic, the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee, which was scheduled from June 29 to July 9 in Fuzhou, capital of the province, was postponed to a later date in June or July next year.

All the projects and sub-projects originally scheduled for review in 2020 and 2021 will now be reviewed at the extended conference in 2021.

Quanzhou's application covers 22 heritage sites, all located in and around the city, including Luoyang Bridge, Anping Bridge and Zhenwu Temple.

In the Song and Yuan dynasties, old Quanzhou constructed a swathe of buildings and sites related to marine commerce and culture, as the Marine Silk Road entered a prosperous age.

Quanzhou, as a bridge between China and the world during that period, was a showcase for the nation's complete ocean trading system, advanced economic levels and diverse and inclusive cultural attitudes.

Anping Bridge is a key historical site in Quanzhou that is under protection. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]