Jilin province’s Cultural and Natural Heritage Day celebrations kick off at the Changchun Water Culture Ecological Garden in Changchun on June 8. [Photo/IC]

Jilin province began celebrations for the Cultural and Natural Heritage Day in the Changchun Water Culture Ecological Garden in Changchun, capital of Jilin, on June 8.

China has been celebrating Cultural Heritage Day on the second Saturday of June every year since 2006. In 2017, the day was renamed Cultural and Natural Heritage Day. This year, the day fell on June 8.

The celebrations were hosted by the Jilin Provincial People’s Government and the Jilin Province Department of Culture and Tourism. They included performances, photography and intangible cultural heritage exhibitions, and lectures on intangible cultural heritage.

More than 30 intangible cultural heritage items were showcased during the opening ceremony, including ethnic dances and instrumental performances.

In addition to the Changchun Water Culture Ecological Garden, activities were also held at three other venues, namely the Changchun Museum of Art, the Changchun Confucius Temple, and Bashu Alley.

An ethnic dance is performed during the opening ceremony at the Changchun Water Culture Ecological Garden on June 8. [Photo/IC]

Visitors browse intangible cultural heritage items on display at the Changchun Water Culture Ecological Garden on June 8. [Photo/IC]