China has spent 300 million yuan (about 44.8 million U.S. dollars) on protecting the intangible cultural heritage of Tibet Autonomous Region over the past 13 years.

According to the regional people's art museum, from 2006 to 2018, the central government spent 195 million yuan, while the regional government spent over 80 million yuan in the protection of intangible cultural heritage. City, prefecture and county governments also invested in this cause. The region stepped up its efforts in protecting Tibetan opera and the King Gesar epic, which were included on UNESCO's intangible heritage of humanity list.

Those working in intangible cultural heritage have enjoyed better living and working conditions with such support. In 2016, annual subsidies for those engaged in intangible heritage at national level inheritors increased from 10,000 yuan to 20,000 yuan per person, and subsidies for those at the regional level increased from 5,000 yuan to 10,000 yuan per person.

Tibet boasts a rich store of ethnic and folk culture. It currently has 89 representative national and 460 regional intangible cultural heritage programs.

(With input from Xinhua News Agency)