A cultural activity focusing on the protection of intangible cultural heritage kicks off in Tai'an, East China's Shandong province on Dec 23. [Photo/dzwww.com]

A special cultural activity focusing on the protection of intangible cultural heritage in the Yellow River basin and along the Grand Canal will kick off in Tai'an, East China's Shandong province on Dec 23 and will run until Dec 26.

The activity, entitled "Promoting revitalization of traditional handicrafts, boosting protection of intangible cultural heritage", will showcase the charm and beauty of Shandong's intangible cultural heritage and highlight the local government's success in protecting intangible cultural heritage in the Yellow River basin and along the Grand Canal.

The Yellow River and the Grand Canal pass through Shandong, and Tai'an, nicknamed "the heart of the Grand Canal", is the place where the Grand Canal meets the Yellow River. The activity will focus on traditional cultural elements in the basin, as well as cultural reserves along the canal such as Taierzhuang, Mount Ta, Linqing and Zoulu.

The activity will explore the cultural value of the Yellow River and the Grand Canal, and showcase the traditional culture of China. 

Taishan shadow puppetry, a national intangible cultural heritage, has a history of more than 600 years. [Photo/dzwww.com]

Yangjiabu village in Weifang, East China's Shandong province is famous for woodprint New Year paintings, which are one of the most distinctive wood-block art forms in China, and are believed to have first appeared during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907). [Photo/VCG]