Coordinated Protection of Intangible and Material Cultural Heritage Under a Grand Heritage Vision
China Tourism News published an article by Song Junhua, director of Sun Yat-sen University's China Intangible Cultural Heritage Research Center, interpreting the Ministry of Culture and Tourism's 15th Five-Year Plan for intangible cultural heritage (ICH) protection and transmission. The article frames systematic ICH protection across three levels: the ICH elements themselves, their natural and human environment (especially the broader heritage system shared with material cultural heritage), and their relationship with national economic and social development. Coordinated protection of ICH and material heritage is highlighted as a signature innovation of the plan, supported by five measures:…
Impact and considerations
The plan upgrades ICH protection into systematic cultural heritage protection and targets an initial new framework by 2030, meaning revitalization of historic cities, districts, villages, heritage buildings and industrial sites will be tied more closely to ICH transmission, shaping policy direction for culture-tourism…
Key points
- The 15th Five-Year Plan for ICH protection and transmission, issued by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, targets an initial new framework for systematic ICH protection by 2030.
- Systematic ICH protection covers three levels: the ICH elements themselves, the system formed with the natural and human environment (including material cultural heritage), and the relationship between protection and economic and social development.
- Coordinated protection of ICH and material cultural heritage is described as a signature innovation of the plan, requiring alignment in concepts, actors, measures, and monitoring and evaluation.
- Five measures are proposed, including stronger ICH protection in historic cities, districts and villages, and protection of cultural spaces such as villages, lanes, stages, ancestral halls and gardens.
- Measures also include supporting the use of traditional crafts in heritage restoration and encouraging museums to stage city-history and folklore exhibitions linked with ICH.
- The plan supports converting heritage buildings and industrial sites into ICH transmission and experience facilities where conditions allow.
Sources and time
- Primary source
- 中国旅游新闻网
- Other sources
- 0
- First source publication
- 24 Sept 2026, 08:00
- Page published
- 24 Sept 2026, 21:59
- Last updated
- 24 Sept 2026, 08:00
- Original links
- China Tourism News：大文化遗产观视野下的非遗与物质文化遗产协同保护-中国旅游新闻网Document (opens in a new tab)Primary source · zh · Published 24 Sept 2026, 08:00