It, too, was built in 1904. The building is now used as a cultural museum focusing on education, research and exhibition.

"We hope that the protection and use of historic buildings can better help promote the excellence of traditional culture," says Li, who is also the director and initiator of the association.

"What we need is to try to revive traditions and bring them to life in a contemporary way," he adds.

Statistics show that China has more than 760,000 immovable cultural relics, including some 400,000 heritage buildings. Many of these buildings need to be protected.