Two sessions focus on cultural heritage protection

Liu Yuzhu, a CPPCC member and head of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, said cultural relics can play an important part in implementing the rural revitalization strategy and poverty elimination target. As many cultural relics are mainly distributed in poor areas, local governments can improve the local infrastructure to promote rural tourism and the cultural industry. By doing so, the potential of cultural relics can be gradually realized.

Yang Yunfei, a NPC deputy and dean of the Chinese Academy of Oil Painting at the National Academy of Arts, has been committed to the preservation of ancient village culture and intangible cultural heritage. "As a painter, I often travel to some remote villages to paint from nature where the traditional Chinese cultural genes are still well preserved. But it's harrowing to see that more and more such villages, especially their ancient buildings, are being deserted," Yang said.