China's Supreme People's Court (SPC) for the first time hosted an open house to nearly 40 invited public visitors on Friday, to mark the 9th National Day for the Publicity of the Law.

SPC spokesman Sun Jungong said the move was to let the public better know about the SPC, further increase their understanding of China's legal system, and raise their awareness of safeguarding the rule of law.

Sun said the SPC would "regularize" such activities and offer chances for more people to visit the court, get close to the judges and give advices on the development of China's judicial system. More than 1,700 local courts in China have conducted such activities.