Beijing, Xinhua -- For Italian photographer Di Bartolomeo Heros, Quanzhou in eastern China is like home.

The 44-year-old came from Bergamo, Italy to China in 2011 after falling in love with a Chinese girl through the Internet.

He settled in Quanzhou three years later after getting married.

Since then, Heros has kept documenting the changes and development in the eastern Chinese port city by taking photos.

"The place is my heart," said Heros, who’s also promoting Quanzhou and the city’s culture with his camera.

"I wish people can check and visit and know better about the city," said Heros.

Historical sites in Quanzhou won UNESCO World Cultural Heritage status on Sunday, bringing the total number of China’s UNESCO World Heritage sites to 56. 

Located on narrow plains along the coastline of Fujian, Quanzhou was one of the world’s largest ports along the historic Maritime Silk Road, particularly in ancient China’s Song Dynasty (960-1279) and Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368).