Technicians restore a mural in Yunlin Temple in Datong city, Shanxi province. [Photo/Datong Daily]

North China's Shanxi province plans to train up around 120 professionals in cultural relics protection annually at no charge for five consecutive years, according to a news conference held by the local provincial government on May 17. 

In possession of an estimated 53,875 immovable cultural relics – including 531 items under national protection – the province has a vast array of cultural relics, posing a challenge to their conservation and protection. 

To boost moves to protect these relics, Shanxi Cultural Relics Bureau – together with four other provincial government departments – recently issued a circular. Under it, Shanxi will target training 600 professionals in 2021-25.

Under the direction, the province will enroll students in 117 counties, county-level cities and districts across the province every year and will entrust Shanxi University to train them.

It will exempt them from tuition, accommodation costs, teaching materials and internship fees and grant them daily living allowances – arranging for them to work in grassroots cultural relics conservation bodies after graduation.

Candidates who apply for the free training program will be required to sign agreements with Shanxi University and the cultural relics departments of the targeted counties, county-level cities and the districts where they will serve. 

During four years of training, students will focus on theoretical studies over the course of 2.5 years and have 1.5 years of practical fieldwork to ensure that they can undertake work in archaeology, cultural relics and architecture, as well as in museology.

In the current year, Shanxi University plans to enroll 120 of these students, who will major in archaeology, cultural relics and architecture, in 83 counties, county-level cities and districts in the province. 

High school graduates who wish to work in cultural relics protection institutions after graduation and who meet the general college entrance examination registration requirements in Shanxi can apply for the training program.