East China's Shandong province steps up environmental protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River basin. [Photo/VCG]

In recent years, East China's Shandong province has been stepping up efforts to promote the protection of intangible cultural heritage, and boosted environmental protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River basin, according to a news conference held on Dec 22.

The nine cities along the Yellow River in Shandong have abundant intangible cultural heritage items, including 118 items on the national representative list, and 619 on the provincial level list. There are nine provincial-level cultural ecological reserves and one State-level demonstration base for the preservation of intangible cultural heritage.

The province has rolled out a slew of policies to promote the systematic protection of intangible cultural heritage items in the Yellow River basin. Academic institutes have also been built to conduct research projects that will enhance research and training in the preservation of intangible cultural heritage.

Local authorities said that in the future, Shandong will hold a series of activities featuring unique folk songs and dances, costumes, local customs and cultural heritage. More characteristic cultural reserves will be built, and research and education bases will be set up in the province to protect the vitality of the intangible cultural heritage and boost the innovative development of traditional cultures.