China’s northern province of Shanxi has introduced a revised set of regulatory frameworks to strengthen protections and promote sustainable development of its rich intangible cultural heritage (ICH), authorities announced Wednesday at a press conference held in the provincial capital Taiyuan.
Comprising 36 articles, the updated policy enshrines a core guiding principle: “protection first, priority on rescue, rational utilization, and continuous inheritance and development.” The new rules mandate that all county-level and higher regional governments establish dedicated cross-departmental coordination mechanisms, reinforcing systemic support for the conservation of the province’s centuries-old cultural assets.
Shanxi first pioneered ICH protection legislation in China back in 2012, emerging as one of the first provincial-level administrations to roll out specialized local regulations for the sector. However, Wang Biao, deputy director of the education, science, culture, and health working committee of the Standing Committee of the Shanxi Provincial People’s Congress, noted that shifting economic and social landscapes have rendered the original regulatory framework outdated, unable to address the evolving demands of modern ICH preservation work. The 2026 revisions, he explained, codify the practical experience and progress accumulated across the province over the past 14 years, positioning Shanxi to develop into a vibrant, nationally recognized cultural tourism destination.
Sun Jiangang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Shanxi Provincial People’s Congress, added that the revised rules place targeted focus on protecting ICH projects that encapsulate Shanxi’s unique cultural identity, including regional operas, traditional folk songs and dances, and local culinary traditions that have been passed down through generations.
Zhang Zhiren, Party group member and deputy director of Shanxi’s Department of Culture and Tourism, outlined the sector-specific plans tied to the new regulations. Moving forward, the province will continue scaling up promotion of two flagship cultural tourism initiatives: the “Travel with Intangible Cultural Heritage” brand and the “Shanxi Intangible Cultural Heritage Good Products” program, which brings traditional handicrafts to wider domestic and global markets.
The revised regulations were formally approved during the 27th meeting of the Standing Committee of the 14th Shanxi Provincial People’s Congress, and are scheduled to take legal effect starting June 1, 2026. Currently, Shanxi is home to 182 national-level representative ICH projects and 198 national-level recognized inheritors — both figures rank third among all provincial-level administrative regions in China, underscoring the province’s status as a major cradle of Chinese traditional culture.