The 2018 2nd quarter press conference of China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism is held in Beijing, May 22, 2018. [Photo/mcprc.gov.cn]

A series of cultural events gathering intangible cultural heritage artists nationwide will be held to celebrate Cultural and Natural Heritage Day on June 9, according to an announcement made at the 2018 2nd quarter press conference of China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism on Tuesday.

Set by the State Council for the second Saturday in June, the festival marks a significant step in China's cultural development and heritage preservation, and is renewing public interest in traditional Chinese culture – especially among younger generations.

This year's highlights include Quyi Week (or Traditional Chinese Ballad Performance Week) held in Tianjin. For the first time all 127 quyi categories on the National Intangible Heritage List will be covered and an international symposium will be held in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong province, on cultural heritage protection along the Maritime Silk Road.

Wang Chenyang, deputy director of the intangible cultural heritage department under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, stressed the people-centered philosophy of the over 3,700 activities in this year's national campaign.

"To meet people's growing needs for a better life, the celebrations of 2018 Cultural and Natural Heritage Day will be more interactive, inviting more people to learn about traditional Chinese art forms and realize they are already integrated into our way of living," Wang said.

Wang also introduced a number of signature events, such as public classes on intangible cultural heritage, a themed tour in poet Qu Yuan's hometown and film and photography exhibitions about traditional arts.

"We plan to raise public awareness on intangible cultural heritage protection and achieve innovative development of excellent Chinese traditional culture," he said.

"Tianjin is known as the hometown of quyi. It plays an important role in the preservation of local intangible cultural heritage," said Xu Hengqiu, deputy director of Tianjin Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television. "The city is going to build a diversified platform for artists and scholars to learn and communicate with each other."

According to Lu Qiong, director of the Policy and Law Department under the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, Guangzhou has been appointed as the host city of 2018 Cultural and Natural Heritage Day. There will be over 100 delegates attending the international symposium discussing heritage conservation along the Maritime Silk Road.

Lu Zhiqiang, director of Guangzhou Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, underlined the leading position of Guangzhou both in cultural heritage protection and innovative development. Besides educational activities at schools and on social media, the upcoming symposium will expand the influence of Maritime Silk Road heritage and foster cooperation among relevant countries.

During the 2018 Cultural and Natural Heritage Day celebration, special events will take place in at least 23 provinces and 218 cities and counties.