Classic Shandong Bangzi opera is staged at the opening ceremony of the third Shandong intangible cultural heritage celebration month in Jinan. [Photo by Ye Changlai/Chinanews.com]

The Intangible Cultural Heritage Regulations of Shandong Province, implemented on Dec 1, 2015, stipulate that intangible cultural heritage month runs from the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month to the second day of the second lunar month.

The first Shandong intangible cultural heritage month was held from Feb 1 to March 10, 2016, and the second was from Jan 20 to Feb 27, 2017. According to statistics, the festivals have cumulatively organized more than 1,600 performances and exhibitions, with excellent audience response. The number of visitors exceeded 33 million.

Performers in festive customs display the national intangible culture heritage, Haicheng yangko dancing at a grand artistic lantern show in Yantai, Shandong province. [Photo/jiaodong.net]