East China's Shandong province will launch more than 550 promotional activities for intangible cultural heritage (ICH) as Cultural and Natural Heritage Day, which falls on June 13 this year, draws near.

The Shandong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism held a news conference on June 10 to announce the schedule and arrangements for the celebrations.

Shandong authorities talk about the celebrations for the Cultural and Natural Heritage Day. [Photo/WeChat account: sdswltwx]

Under the theme "healthy life", this year's event will highlight ICH in the fields of traditional sports, medicine and cuisine, said Wang Tingqi, deputy director of the department.

Wang said that traditional Chinese medicine has played a big role in China's fight against the novel coronavirus while traditional health exercises such as tai chi, "ba duan jin" and "wu qin xi" can enhance the public's health.

According to Wang, the celebrations will mainly be staged online in youth-friendly formats due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, while ICH performances, exhibitions and experience activities will also take place.

A craftsman demonstrates how to make dough figurines at a night market. [File photo by Zhao Xiao/chinanews.com]

An ICH-themed shopping festival will be held for the first time to boost sales for cultural enterprises and ICH workshops, which have been hit hard by the pandemic.

Shandong will issue coupons worth 300,000 yuan ($42,494) to further stimulate consumption.

This year, Yantai will be the main host city for Shandong's celebrations, with the opening ceremony scheduled for June 13.

Haiyang yangko (a rural folk dance popular in Haiyang, Yantai) will be performed at the opening ceremony. [Photo/WeChat account: ytwlgw]