A Tusi palace relics in Hailongtun Site,Zunyi, Guizhou province [Provided to China Daily]

Different types of relics — such as manors, government offices, judicial courts and forts — are located in the World Heritage protection zone. A necropolis of Tusi Yang recently unearthed in Hailongtun Site was chosen as one of the country's Top 10 Archaeological Discoveries of 2014 in a poll by China Cultural Relics News earlier this year.

"Complete chieftains' family trees and local chronicles are also well-protected, which proves contents in official historical records and helps us to understand the development of political, economic and military system in those areas throughout history," Tong said.

He said structural authenticity and integrity are among the most important concerns when UNESCO decides whether to include a site on its World Heritage list.

Today's residents of the Tusi areas, which include the Miao, Tujia and Mulam ethnic groups, have preserved the traditional folklore, beliefs and poetry of the Tusi era, which shows a dynamic cultural heritage, Tong said.