A series of activities featuring cultural legacies was launched on June 8 at the Shandong Provincial Cultural Center in Jinan, the provincial capital, to celebrate China's first Cultural and Natural Heritage Day (June 10).

The name Cultural and Natural Heritage Day was changed in 2016 by the State Council from the former Cultural Heritage Day. The designated day is the second Saturday of every June.

The opening ceremony for the series of activities featuring cultural legacies is held on June 8 at the Shandong Provincial Cultural Center to celebrate China's first Cultural and Natural Heritage Day. [Photo/sdpcc.cn]

The event, jointly organized by the Shandong Provincial Department of Culture and the Shandong Provincial Cultural Center, expresses this year's theme of dynamic intangible cultural inheritance to highlight achievements in heritage protection.

According to the Shandong Provincial Department of Culture, more than 4,000 activities will take place in the province to mark the day. For example, Jinan will host a craftsmanship competition on intangible cultural heritage and exhibitions featuring legacies from Chinese cities along the Belt and Road, Qingdao will stage youth Peking Opera shows at middle schools and exhibitions displaying the city's achievements in intangible cultural heritage protection, and the province's related organizations and groups will sponsor further activities.

An exhibition featuring Shandong's achievements on intangible cultural heritage protection is underway at the Shandong Provincial Cultural Center in Jinan, the provincial capital. [Photo/sdpcc.cn]

According to the Shandong Provincial Department of Culture, the events will help promote and protect China's traditions while boosting cultural exchanges between China and other countries as part of the Belt and Road Initiative.

An exhibition highlighting cultural legacies from Chinese cities along the Belt and Road is underway at the Shandong Provincial Cultural Center in Jinan, the provincial capital. [Photo/sdpcc.cn]

A youngster performs Peking Opera at the Qingdao Grand Theater in Qingdao, Shandong province, June 8, 2017. [Photo by Li Lianghai / provided to chinadaily.com.cn]