More of China's endangered folk cultures will be brought under national protection from this month. East China's Fujian Province has just joined the state's project to save China's folk cultures.

The project aims to find and save all endangered folk cultures around the country. It was launched in early 2003, when it went to work in 17 provinces. Now expanding its focus, the project has taken in Fujian and nine other provinces and autonomous regions.

Fujian became a provincial administration of China in the early Tang Dynasty about 1,500 years ago. The mountainous region has many ancient folk entertainment and arts, like Soapstone Carvings.

In May, a new Fujian Provincial Folk Culture Gallery will open to the public. It will not only hold exhibitions of folk arts special to the area, but also help collect and protect Fujian's valuable folk cultures.

(CCTV.com April 23, 2004)