Qingchuan county, Guangyuan, Sichuan province, launched a series of activities on June 9 to mark the upcoming Cultural and Natural Heritage Day that falls on June 11.

Fourteen artistic pieces, including Maliu embroidery, stone carving and paper-cutting works, with lifelike characters and animal patterns have been put on display in the exhibition area.  

In the experience area, visitors can pick up tools, such as scissors, needles, and hammers, and learn more about these creative time-honored crafts.

At the launch ceremony, a training class featuring Haocao gong and drum, an excellent folk music culture, was established. Li Fangfu, head of the county, said that efforts will be made on the cultivation of inheritors through the acceptance apprentices and the setting up of training classes.

In addition, the county plans to build intangible cultural heritage workshops and roll out cultural tourism routes that aim to protect, develop and utilize fine traditional Chinese culture, in a bid to benefit peoples’ lives.

Up to now, Guangyuan has five national intangible cultural heritage projects represented by Haocao gong and drum and Maliu embroidery, as well as 16 provincial-level items, including the Girls' Festival in memory of the Empress Wu Zetian of the Tang Dynasty (618-907).