News from Ministry of Culture said that 501 programmes, including Butterfly Lovers and Shaanxi opera, have been confirmed in the first group of application to the national non-material cultural heritage.

Official from Ministry of Culture noted that all the 501 confirmed programmes were selected from 1,315 programmes recommended by 31 provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities as well as relevant departments across the country, and they have been divided into ten categories of folk literature, music, dance, drama, folk arts, acrobatics and athletics, fine arts, handicrafts, traditional medicine as well as folk custom. Among the total candidates, such fine cultural heritages as Butterfly Lovers, Epic King Gesar, Shaanxi Opera, acrobatics from Wuqiao as well as script by Shui ethnic minority were shortlisted.

Apart from that, Spring Festival, Pure Bright Festival (Tomb Sweeping Festival), Dragon Boat Festival, Double Seventh Festival, Mid August Festival (Moon Festival) as well as Double Ninth Festival have also been included in the list.

Official added that they have carefully studied the historical, cultural and scientific value of the candidates during the application process and taken suggestions from experts so as to ensure the scientificness, accuracy and standardness of the programmes.

By People's Daily Online