BEIJING — The National Cultural Heritage Administration has required more efforts to protect cultural relics against floods as heavy rainfall has lashed large parts of southern China since June.

Relics departments and museums across the country are asked to make contingency plans to prevent relics and rare trees from being destroyed by floods and geological disasters, according to a circular issued on July 10. 

Relics administrations should supervise and guide related departments and museums in screening and addressing safety hazards, the circular said.

It also requires museums and relics protection sites that have major safety hazards to shut down to ensure the safety of personnel as well as cultural relics.