Shanxi province reported on its research program of dialects to a language expert panel led by Tian Lixin, an Education Ministry official, which paid a visit to the Shanxi University on Dec 30, 2015.

Shanxi is a province of different dialects which reflect regional history and culture so it is important to preserve these languages and make them an iconic image of the province, said Tian, who praised Shanxi’s work on the program in 2015.

The program has already investigated 10 districts and counties in the province last year, such as Xiaodian district and Pingyao county, and the results were collected into brochures, charts, videos and audios and shown to the expert panel, with Qiao Quansheng, professor and head of the research program, making a detailed introduction.

Zhao Rixin, leader of the panel and professor of Beijing Language and Culture University, announced that the program has passed the review. Thereafter the panel examined all the files and came forward with suggestions concerning problems in the research and recording process.

The panel also advised Shanxi to promote its experience to other provinces and cities working on dialect protection.

An official in charge of the program promised to improve their future work, including spreading dialect culture and publishing related books.

The project of Chinese language resources protection was launched in 2015 to promote traditional culture and provide impetus for national economic development. As one of the first four provinces to start it, Shanxi has sent 10 teams out to record dialects via modern technology in 2015 and getting the assessment passed marked an initial success of its protection efforts. Shanxi will finish the research in 35 to 40 districts and counties during 2016-19.

The panel was made up of Gu Qin, PhD tutor of Nanjing University's School of Liberal Arts, Huang Xiaodong, associate professor of Zhejiang Finance and Economics University, Liu Xiaohai, associate professor of Chinese Language Resources Protection and Research Center, Dr. Zhao Yongbiao, and Dr. Liu Yuliang.

Officials of the Shanxi University, and officials and experts from the province's Language Work Committee were also present at the meeting.

Tian Lixin, director of the ministry’s Language Information Management Department addressed the meeting in Shanxi University, Dec 30, 2015.

An expert panel, led by Tian Lixin, director of the ministry’s Language Information Management Department reviews Shanxi’s research program of dialects in Shanxi University, Dec 30, 2015.