Events planned to mark Cultural and Natural Heritage Day

A series of events will held next week to celebrate China's Cultural and Natural Heritage Day, which falls on June 9, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism said.

Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, will be the main venue for this year's celebrations.

Among the events will be an international forum on the ancient Maritime Silk Road.

Meanwhile, Guangzhou is part of a project seeking UNESCO World Heritage status for the Maritime Silk Road.

Separately, a quiz contest related to cultural relics will also be organized for teens.

In a related development, officials from the State Administration of Cultural Heritage will deliver public lectures to students on the protection of heritage.

In the intangible cultural heritage space, a weeklong festival showcasing traditional operas will be held in Tianjin from June 7, bringing together 151 performers.

Besides, there will be lectures and exhibitions on the subject.

Also, smaller-scale performances will be held in local schools, enterprises, barracks and public spaces as part of the celebrations.

In another initiative, a training center will be set up at an art school in Tianjin to promote opera-related talent in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei province.