Source: CCTV.com

03-16-2007 10:07

Special Report:   2007 NPC & CPPCC sessions

Peking Opera is China's traditional performing art with a history of more than two hundred years. CPPCC member Tan Xiaozeng, is a Peking Opera artist who's been promoting the Tan School for years. For him the key factor in developing the centuries old art form is to raise the awareness of it among the younger generation.

Tan said, "We need to let more young people know about Peking Opera, and to popularize it among youngsters."

Huang Xinde, who's been researching regional opera for many years, says that culture plays a pivotal role in establishing a harmonious society.

Huang said, "Metaphorically speaking, if our rapid economic growth is like a healthy body, then the well-balanced development of culture can be regarded as a beautiful mind."

As for the preservation of intangible cultural heritage, some experts want official regulations or laws to increase public awareness.

Wang Wenzhang from Intangible Heritage Preservation Center said, "Some regions lack in the awareness of culture preservation, which results in ineffective protective measures. So we need to establish a law, to make it a duty to protect our cultural heritage."

2006 was a watershed year in the fight to preserve China's vanishing traditions. The central government has designated the second Saturday of June as Cultural Heritage Day. And regulations and laws aside, it is hoping more people will join together in promoting China's traditions and appreciating their value.

 

Editor:Liu Fang