Northeastern city of Shenyang will hold the World Cultural and Natural Heritage Expo for five months from June 9 to October 9, a local official said on Friday (Mar 16).

The expo, sponsored by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), will showcase natural and cultural heritage from the planet's past and present, said Song Qi, vice mayor of Shenyang, capital of Liaoning Province, at a press conference in Beijing.

The expo will display large numbers of pictures, models as well as written and video materials about most of the world heritage sites inscribed on the World Heritage list.

Forums and demonstrations of folk cultures will also be held during the period, Song said.

"More than 130 sites from 54 countries have applied to display their national treasures at the expo," Song said, without providing details.

Joining UNESCO's Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage in 1985, China has 33 world heritages sites, out of a total of 830 sites worldwide.

Editor: Wing