Beijing approves regulation to protect intangible cultural heritage

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01:22

Municipal authorities in Beijing have recently approved a regulation aimed at protecting the intangible cultural heritage of the Chinese capital.

A general survey of the city's intangible cultural heritage found that cultural programs were facing threats of closure, shortages of venues, practitioners, and funds. The survey collected over 12,000 pieces of relevant information.

Handicrafts on display at the Overseas Chinese History Museum. /VCG Photo

Beijing has identified 325 items of intangible cultural heritage, and the regulation provides that in addition to the responsibilities and obligations of their inheritors, their designated protection agencies are also responsible for continuing their inheritance.

"After the regulation was enacted, the protection of intangible cultural heritage will be carried out under the legal protection scheme, which means that our work will have legislative authority, for instance, in terms of the cultivation of representative inheritors, representative programs, talents and other aspects," said Pang Wei, deputy director of Beijing's Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism.

Beijing will release a series of thematic management measures according to the regulation to strengthen protection of traditional culture.