A series of activities themed on the publicity and popularization of cultural heritage knowledge were held in Guiyang city on June 9, marking the second Cultural and Natural Heritage Day in China.

The event is hosted by the Guizhou Provincial Culture Department and the Guizhou Provincial Administration of Cultural Heritage. All the activities aim to promote the integration of archaeology with tourism and other industries, allowing people the opportunity to blend cultural heritage into their lives. Eight experience zones were established for the event. Visitors witnessed cultural relics and experienced intangible cultural heritage items including silver ornaments forging technique of THE Miao ethnic group and wax printing.

Students experience restoring cultural relics under the guidance of professional researchers in Guiyang city on June 9. [Photo/ www.gog.cn]

As a national-level intangible heritage inheritor, Wu Shuigen has been making silver ornaments for the past 40 years. During the event, the 52-year-old silversmith and other inheritors showed their exquisite techniques and gained great praises from all the visitors.

"I am the eighth generation of silver ornaments makers from my family," said Wu. "I want to let more people know about the silver ornaments forging technique of the Miao ethnic group as well as the intangible culture."

Li Ran, a third-grade primary school student from Guiyang tried to repair a crock with her mother under the guidance of a professional researcher in the experience zone. She said that before she acquired archaeological knowledge primarily from books but this time she could actually touch the cultural relics.

Zhou Bisu, head of the Guizhou Institute of Archaeology, said that Guizhou people's awareness of cultural heritage protection has already been formed. "The event is to encourage people, especially the teenagers to approach, to learn about and to protect cultural heritage."

In recent years, Guizhou has actively promoted the inheritance and preservation of intangible cultural heritage through various promotional activities. Now intangible cultural heritage items including batiks, Miao embroidery and Dong chorus have become new visiting cards for cultural Guizhou.

Wu Shuigen, a national-level intangible heritage inheritor, showcases silver ornaments to visitors in Guiyang on June 9. [Photo/ www.gog.cn]