Anshun in Guizhou province opened its second Tunbao Mask Festival on Aug 17 to promote the intangible cultural heritage.

The festival will hold a folk song competition, a forum on inheriting and developing intangible cultural heritages and a creative mask carnival over a 10-day period.

The creative mask carnival is held in Anshun, Guizhou province on Aug 17. [Photo/new.gog.cn]

Tunbao masks stem from the long-renowned culture of the ancient villages bearing that name. Tunbao means "fortress" in Chinese. The Tunbao villages were built by soldiers during the early Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

There are Tunbao villages scattered throughout Anshun, many of them with well-preserved old buildings and stone village walls. The centuries-long culture and traditions are kept intact and are displayed in local clothes, rituals and festivals.

In recent years, the city has succeeded in integrating culture with tourism. Through the protection and promotion of traditional culture, it has attracted more tourists and investment.