ZHANGJIAKOU, Hebei - China's traditional and cultural heritage needs to be better protected by the government, senior leader Li Changchun said Wednesday.

Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Political Bureau, made the comments during visits to several counties in Zhangjiakou city in North China's Hebei province between Monday and Wednesday.

Visiting a local museum for relics in the stone age, Li spoke with scientists and experts. He asked them to put more effort into exploring the origins of oriental human beings.

At Nanzhangzhuang village in Yuxian county, famous for the art of papercutting, Li joined local farmers and folk artists to discuss cultural heritage.

He encouraged the local government of Yuxian county to support the papercutting industry and promote its trademark to the world market.

"Intangible cultural heritage with market potential should be combined with tourism industry with the support of the government, " Li said.