The people's government of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region decided to celebrate September 6 as the grassland culture heritage protection day of the autonomous region each year starting from 2005. This is the first cultural heritage protection day set up by a Chinese region or province as well as the world's first cultural heritage protection day on the theme of pastoral nomadism culture.

Grassland culture heritage is composed of material and immaterial heritages. From the Dayao Culture 700,000 years ago to the Salawusu Culture 70,000 years from now as well as the following Xing Long Wa Culture and Hongshan Culture etc., they record the steps of human activity on the Inner Mongolia grassland from the remote antiquity to the Paleolithic Age, Mesolithic Age and Neolithic Age with continuity and typicality. According to scientific survey and statistics Inner Mongolia boasts 15,000 immovable cultural sites, over 30,000 ancient cliff paintings, more than 20,000 kilometers of Great Wall built during various Dynasties and hundreds of ancient city sites erected in different period. These cultural heritages form the main body of the ancient material heritage in Inner Mongolia.

The folk literature, fine arts, music, dancing, folk arts and traditional cultural activities in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region have unique grassland characteristics and strong ethnic style and they form the main part of the immaterial cultural heritage. Of them the Mongolian songs, horse-head instrument art, Hu Mai, horse race, wrestling and archery etc. are very influential.

By People's Daily Online