China has achieved remarkable achievements in protection and expansion of Tibet's magnificent traditional ethnic culture, especially in terms of the successful protection, transmitting and development of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Ma Rulong, deputy chairman of the Standing Committee of the Peple's Congress of the Tibetan Autonomous Region, said in an interview with the media.

Relevant departments in Tibet have actively collected and compiled examples of popular Tibetan literature and art forms including drama, music, folk art performances, folk songs, proverbs and stories, Ma said.

They have collected, recorded and compiled a total of over 30 million words worth of material in both Chinese and Tibetan, and published over 1,000 academic papers and over 30 books on traditional Tibetan culture.

At present, 60 Intangible Cultural Heritage items have been catalogued on the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List. Thirty-one Tibetan folk artists have been chosen as representative transmitters and listed among the Transmitters of National Level Intangible Cultural Heritage directory. Additionally, 121 items have been chosen as Intangible Cultural Heritage items at the autonomous regional level.

Since the 1990s, the conservation work of Tibetan Intangible Cultural Heritage has been carried out on a wider scale and on a deeper level. The People's Government of the Tibet Autonomous Region and the Ministry of Culture have established 19 "Homes of Folk Art" at the autonomous regional level including those in Mangkang County in Changdu region, two "Homes of Special Art" at the autonomous regional level, five national-level "Homes of Folk Art," two national-level "Homes of Special Art" and one national-level pilot program for national culture and folk culture. In addition, authorities on Tibetan culture have saved, sorted and published 261 ancient books written in Tibetan.

Ma also pointed out that since the 1980s, China has invested nearly 700 million yuan to help Tibet restore and open more than 1,400 temples.

He said that among the "Key Cultural Relic Preservation Projects" listed as important Tibetan construction projects during the "11th Five-Year Plan" period, China has again arranged a special fund of 570 million yuan for 22 major cultural relic preservation and repair projects. The major cultural heritage conservation units in Tibet include Tashi Lhumpo Monastery, Jokhang Temple, Ramoche Temple, Drepung Temple, Sera Monastery, the Langsailin Garden and the Guge Ruins.

Editor: Feng Hui