Students catch a puppet show at Haibianjie Primary School in Taiyuan, on Dec 2. [Photo/Taiyuan Evening News]

The Taiyuan bureau of culture and tourism – located in Taiyuan, capital of North China's Shanxi province – on Dec 13 recognized 48 institutions for their fine protection work in the city's seventh list of municipal-level intangible cultural heritage items.

According to An Junyue, deputy director of the bureau, the protection of intangible cultural heritage – such as handicrafts, dance and other forms of artistic expression – is a fundamental social and cultural undertaking. 

He added that it was necessary to give full play to the creativity and enthusiasm of the public, to allow people to participate in their protection and cultural inheritance, as well as to share in the achievements.

A teacher shows her students how to make fun clay colored figures, at Changfeng Experimental Primary School in Wanbailin district, Taiyuan, on Dec 2. [Photo/Taiyuan Evening News]

In recent years, Taiyuan has reportedly made great achievements in the protection and innovation of its intangible cultural heritage items.

To date, the city has 18 national intangible cultural heritage items, 65 at the provincial level and 160 at the municipal level. Moreover, there are 11 masters of national intangible cultural heritage items, 65 at the provincial level and 136 at the municipal level.