At an event celebrating World Youth Skills Day on July 15 in Shanghai, about 100 young people from the city's various districts display to visitors a variety of skills, such as (from left) making steamed stuffed buns, cocktail mixing and artistic carving of turnips and radishes.[Photo by Gao Erqiang/China Daily]

To allow youngsters to gain more knowledge of the district-level intangible cultural heritage, classes of bamboo weaving have been included in the syllabus of two local primary schools and a college, he says.

Vocational education has contributed to economic growth and unleashed creative talent that would otherwise not have been tapped, he says.

It also caters to those whose skills are required for the manufacture of everyday items, including making lampshades, purses and bamboo crafts, he adds.