Dozens seek to capture glimpses of Xinjiang

[Photo provided to China Daily]

Xie and other photographers have also visited local embroidery houses in Hami, where the traditional skills are passed down through generations.

As for the Kyrgyz epic Manas, an elderly man of the area could recite it, but he died last year. Fortunately, people had made a video to document a recital before his death.

"It's important to use all kinds of methods to protect such cultural heritage," says Liu, adding that many of the practitioners are now old.

In the past two years, the photography project has shifted its attention to heritage along the ancient Silk Road. It has organized trips to Henan, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces. All the pictures and videos have been given to the local governments and the Ministry of Culture.

Lu Jie, communications director for Canon China, says the project found that a lot of heritage has been ruined by modern influences in the country but some has been revived through integration as well.

"We can't have these great cultural traditions only displayed in museums. So we have to act right now," she says.

Selected photographs taken on the ongoing trip will be displayed in Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang, later in the year.