Lhamo or Ache Lhamo (a Tibetan folk opera) , a combination of dances, chants and songs, with repertoire drawn from Buddhist stories and Tibetan folklore, is part of China's UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. Image: baike
China's State Council is enhancing measures to safeguard the country's cultural relics, a media report said on Thursday. "Protection is the priority," a statement issued after an executive meeting on Wednesday said.
Management and law enforcement are to be strengthened, and an integrated registry system and a state-level database for cultural heritage will be established, the ChinaDaily reported.
The country will also step up training in cultural heritage, as well as relics protection and restoration, according to the statement.
Severe measures will be taken to stop the theft and sabotage of cultural heritage, the statement said, emphasising the prevention of "demolishing old sites and replacing them with new ones".
In addition, more museums will be given subsidies so they can open free to the public and exert a role in tourism.
Fujujing, an immovable cultural relic in Changsha, was demolished illegally. Image: sina
Funding of cultural heritage protection was addressed, encouraging the development of creative industries and private museums.
Statistics from the State Administration of Cultural Heritage showed that China had 4,510 registered museums at the end of 2014, 345 more than the previous year. Of those, 21.8 percent are private museums, 2.3 percent more than 2013.
An ancient pottery artifact found in Tashan site, one of the national relic protection units in Zhejiang province, China. Image: baike
