The ongoing 19-day festival on intangible cultural heritages in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, is the first international event to promote the protection of intangible cultural riches.

With the theme of "Inheritance of ethnic culture, communication of civilizations and promotion of a harmonious world," the is aimed at furthering China's efforts in intangible cultural heritage protection and enhancing its global influence in the field, said Ding Wei, assistant to the Minister of Culture.

During the event, the First Extraordinary Session of the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage was held from May 23 and 27.

There was also a two-day Chengdu Forum, which ended on May 24 and featured talks on the protection of intangible cultural heritage. More than 40 experts, scholars and government officials from around the world signed the Chengdu Manifesto, calling for the international community and governments in different countries to put more emphasis on protecting intangible cultural heritage, such as opera, songs, and dance.

The text of the Chengdu Manifesto will be inscribed in stone in many languages and placed inside the National Intangible Cultural Heritage Park in Chengdu. The stone will be unveiled to the public on June 10, said Chengdu Vice Mayor He Huazhang.

Heritage exposition

The Exposition of the First International Festival of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in the National Intangible Cultural Heritage Park opened May 23 in Chengdu's Jinniu District.

Spread over 80 halls, the exposition displays 1,112 domestic and overseas intangible cultural heritage items free of charge for the duration of the festival.

"Folk artists will perform there," said Deng Gongli, deputy secretary-general of the Chengdu
municipal government.