A bird's-eye view of Yaohu Town. [Photo/WeChat account: news-wuxixinwen]

The second annual conference on the protection of intangible cultural heritage items in China is set to take place in Yixing, a county-level city in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, from July 20 to 22, as revealed at a press conference held in Beijing on July 10.

The second edition will feature the close integration of fairs, exhibition, and performances, the release of a blue book on the protection of intangible cultural heritage, academic exchanges, and diversified communication to attract young people, according to Wang Xiaofeng, chairman of the China Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Association.

An international student tries stone rubbing in Wuxi. [Photo provided to gowuxi.com]

The opening ceremony, which will be held in Yixing's Yaohu Town scenic area on July 20, will include a fair, exhibitions, academic seminars, and forums, presenting a cultural extravaganza with both traditional and modern vibes.

A Xiju Opera show is performed in Wuxi. [Photo provided to gowuxi.com]

In recent years, Wuxi has taken multiple measures to protect and promote local intangible cultural heritage, including a three-year action plan for preservation and innovation. In 2023, the sales of intangible cultural heritage-related goods and the supporting industry amounted to 25 billion yuan ($3.44 billion), creating 165,000 jobs.

To familiarize more people with Wuxi's intangible cultural heritage, local authorities have attended and organized various related meetings and activities around the country over the past few years.