Anhui province has applied for 20 million yuan ($3.26 million) in government funds to protect and study Hui-style ancient buildings, Jianghuai Morning News reported on Wednesday.

According to a notice published on Tuesday by the Anhui housing and finance departments, private home owners can also apply for the fund, which will be mainly used to support renovation, maintenance, cultural and architectural study of Hui-style ancient buildings, particularly those built in the 1910s or earlier.

The Hui-style architecture, famous for its artistic sculptures, was mainly used in the old Anhui region, which includes areas of today's Anhui and Jiangxi provinces.

In April, kung fu film star Jackie Chan said he planned to donate four ancient Hui-style sandalwood houses to a Singaporean university, which triggered an angry reaction online and concerns about the protection of the Anhui's ancient houses, many of which have been damaged by weather or real estate developers.