The China Cultural and Natural Heritage Day 2020 will be themed “Intangible Cultural Heritage Inheritance, Healthy Lifestyle” . In addition to holding intangible cultural heritage workshops with different themes this year, the Cultural Affairs Bureau will also popularize the knowledge of Macao’s intangible cultural heritage and the concept of healthy lifestyle via an online platform, in order to show the public the unique charm of Macao’s intangible heritage and its important relationship with their daily lives, thereby raising the public's awareness to the importance of safeguarding intangible cultural heritage.
The “Cultural and Natural Heritage Day” originates from the former designation of the “Cultural Heritage Day”. According to the State Council directive - “Notice from the State Council on the Strengthening of the Protection of Cultural Heritage”-, issued on 22 December 2005, in order to create an environment favouring cultural heritage protection and to raise public awareness about the importance of safeguarding cultural heritage, since 2006, the “Cultural Heritage Day” has been celebrated annually on the second Saturday of the month of June.
To comply with the “World Heritage Convention” and “Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage” adopted by UNESCO, it is important to safeguard the tangible and intangible cultural heritage, as well as the natural heritage. Thus, on 29 September 2016, the State Council promulgated the “Reply of the State Council on approving the establishment of the ‘Cultural and Natural Heritage Day’”. The “Cultural Heritage Day”, celebrated annually on the second Saturday of the month of June since 2006, was renamed “Cultural and Natural Heritage Day”, aimed at strengthening public awareness about the importance of safeguarding all types of heritage, and promoting the knowledge about each of the categories of heritage.