"Intangible cultural heritages are the essence of Chinese culture and an indispensable part of our lives. The protection and inheritance of intangible cultural heritages plays a significant role in the strategies for rural revitalization," said Liu Chunhong, a CPPCC member of Shandong province.

He believes that intangible cultural heritages are the cultural epitome of a place and represents its cultural soft power. To protect and pass on intangible cultural heritages not only builds a solid foundation for cultural well-being, but also helps implement rejuvenation of the countryside.

"We should excavate and take advantage of intangible cultural heritages. We should protect and inherit these cultural 'civil goods' with distinct local features so that these cultural treasures left behind by our ancestors will not be eliminated in the era of development. They will make local culture more vigorous," Liu added.

Classic Shandong Bangzi opera is staged at the opening ceremony of the third Shandong intangible cultural heritage celebration month in Jinan. [Photo by Ye Changlai/Chinanews.com]

The Intangible Cultural Heritage Regulations of Shandong Province, implemented on Dec 1, 2015, stipulate that intangible cultural heritage month runs from the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month to the second day of the second lunar month.

The first Shandong intangible cultural heritage month was held from Feb 1 to March 10, 2016, and the second was from Jan 20 to Feb 27, 2017. According to statistics, the festivals have cumulatively organized more than 1,600 performances and exhibitions, with excellent audience response. The number of visitors exceeded 33 million.

Performers in festive customs display the national intangible culture heritage, Haicheng yangko dancing at a grand artistic lantern show in Yantai, Shandong province. [Photo/jiaodong.net]