Today, China is celebrating Youth Day, which falls on May the 4th. CCTV is to broadcast its "Flowers-in-May" gala in celebration, while high-school graduates enjoy coming-of-age ceremonies around the country.

Intangible cultural heritage is front and center at this year's "Flowers in May", which has brought together students from around the country.

One example is "Suzhou Pingtan", which is story-telling and ballad singing in the Suzhou dialect. The artform is also very popular in Shanghsi, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang provinces.

Another intriguing instrument is the metal-stringed Enshi Yangqin, played with a bamboo plectrum. Clad in ethnic costumes, students from Hubei Province play these instruments and accompany folk songs.

The gala also includes dancing and cross-talk shows.

"I'm very honored to be part of the celebration on behalf of our university. Here, I've seen various types of performance and made many new friends. It's a great experience," said a student.

Chinese Youth Day commemorates the May 4th Movement which began in 1919 - an anti-imperialist, anti-feudalist collective growing out of student demonstrations.

Over the years, Youth Day has also come to represent transition into adulthood - or coming of age - with celebration ceremonies for high-school graduates, along with family, friends, teachers, and classmates.