Beihai Park.[Photo/Xinhua]

The Beijing Horticulture Greening Bureau announced Thursday that 25 parks and gardens, including the Summer Palace and Beihai Park, are among the first batch to be inscribed on the "historical gardens" list.

The concept of "historical gardens" refers to those gardens and parks located within Beijing's jurisdiction that carry distinctive historical and cultural values and more importantly, played a pivotal role in the development of Beijing's urban landscape or cultural progression in a given historical period or in a particular area of Beijing. Gardens built upon heritage sites also are included in the list.

Beijing has a great number of world-class cultural relics. Why is it still necessary to set a "historical gardens" list? It can better promote Beijing's role as a historical city, the greening bureau said. Some of the gardens on the list were built on historical remains, so protecting them can help keep the unique architectural style and cultural features of those gardens, which is conducive to building an urban green system that is rich in historical and cultural treasures.

Related regulations will be made to enforce the full protection of the listed gardens, the differentiation of ordinary and historical gardens in terms of management can better protect Beijing's historical and cultural heritage.