Also listed on the first collection of provincial intangible cultural heritages is Feicheng mahogany carving.

"Generally, the price of a mahogany carving is over 500 yuan. The carving technique accounts for the expensive price." said Wang Laixin, an inheritor of mahogany carving.

"Mahogany carving techniques have been developed in Feicheng for many years, which have formed an integrated industry that more than 40,000 people subsist on."

Since mahogany carving was listed on the first collection of provincial intangible cultural heritages in 2006, there have been more than 160 enterprises running mahogany carving businesses, with an annual sales income of over 1 billion yuan.

A Feicheng mahogany carving. [Photo/dzwww.com]

"Intangible cultural heritage can be transformed into something that can provide economic benefit. The economic benefit will help increase the interest in passing on intangible cultural heritages," Wang said.

Several provincial CPPCC members hold the opinion that it is crucial to learn how to protect intangible cultural heritages while also generating an economic benefit.

"Preservation is not protection. Intangible cultural heritage and farming culture come from daily life and production. To make them a part of people’s daily lives is the ultimate purpose of the inheritance of intangible cultural heritage," Liu Qingyan, a provincial CPPCC member said.

"Intangible cultural heritage drives rural revitalization" turns out not to be just a slogan, but the idea requires creative inheritance processes. Through integrated development, intangible cultural heritages can get a better chance at being passed on.