Three intangible cultural heritage items of China have been included in the UNESCO List of Urgent Protection

On October 1, 2009, the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage held a meeting in Abu Dhabi, the capital of United Arab Emirates, from September 28 to October 2.

The committee announced on October 1 that the first batch of 12 intangible cultural heritage items from 8 countries were included in the "List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Urgent Need of Protection," including 3 items from China.

The intangible cultural heritage from China on this "List of Urgent Protection" includes the Qiang Lunar New Year celebration customs, China's traditional wooden arch bridge construction skills, and Hainan Li's traditional spinning, dyeing, weaving and embroidery skills.

Other properties included on the List come from Belarus, France, Kenya, Latvia, Mali, Mongolia and Vietnam.

After the country's intangible cultural heritage is included in the "List of Urgent Protection", relevant countries will implement special protection plans and can obtain funding from funds specially established by the international community for this purpose.

The Intergovernmental Committee for the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage also reviewed and approved 76 projects at the Abu Dhabi meeting earlier and included them in the "Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity", including 22 projects declared by China, namely China's sericulture and silk weaving skills, Fujian Nanyin and Nanjing Yun brocade weaving skills, Anhui rice paper craftsmanship, Guizhou Dong song, Guangdong Cantonese opera,"Gesar" epic tradition, Zhejiang Longquan celadon craftsmanship, Qinghai Regong art, Tibetan opera, Xinjiang's "Manas" epic, Mongolian Humai, Gansu Huaer, Xi'an drum music, Korean agricultural music and dance, calligraphy, seal cutting, paper-cutting art, woodblock printing skills, traditional wood structure creation skills, Dragon Boat Festival and Mazu belief customs.

UNESCO adopted the Convention for the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage in October 2003, which aims to protect intangible cultural heritage represented by oral traditions, performing arts, social customs, etiquette, festivals, knowledge and practices about nature and the universe, and traditional handicraft skills.

The "Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity" and the "List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Urgent Need of Protection" are established in accordance with the requirements of the Convention.

The main difference between the two lists is that the intangible cultural heritage included in the latter is in a dangerous condition and in urgent need of protection.