Source: chinaculture.org

05-24-2007 15:32

People, wearing Sichuan opera masks, watch performances during the 1st International Festival of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan province, May 23, 2007. The festival is the first one of its kind on the globe involving protection and conservation of intangible cultural heritage of the human world, according to the local government.

A Sichuan opera performer spits fire during the 1st International Festival of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan province, May 23, 2007. The festival is the first one of its kind on the globe involving protection and conservation of intangible cultural heritage of the human world, according to the local government.

Ran Fan, a 61 year-old pensioner from Dujiangyan, got up at 5am this morning to take a bus to the capital of Southwest China's Sichuan Province to catch the opening ceremony of the International Festival of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, Chengdu, China, which started at 8:30am.

"I learned from the media about two weeks ago that the opening ceremony will be followed by a parade of singers and dancers from different parts of the country," said Ran, a former high school art teacher.

He was one of some 10,000 spectators who participated in this morning's parade held along Shuncheng Street in downtown Chengdu.