BEIJING, June 8 (Xinhua) -- More than 3,200 activities have been scheduled across China to celebrate this year's cultural and natural heritage day, which falls on June 8.

An intangible cultural heritage fair, which showcases 40 items on the List of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Intangible Cultural Heritage, started in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou from June 7.

It applies exhibitions, shows, lectures and forums to present the vivid practice of intangible cultural heritage protection and development in China.

A poetry recital was held in the National Library of China (NLC) on June 6, marking the beginning of the NLC's lecture month on the protection of intangible cultural heritage in 2019.

The rich variety of Dragon Boat Festival activities become a major theme of the cultural and natural heritage day in Zigui County in central China's Hubei Province, the hometown of Qu Yuan, with activities such as dragon boat races.

Aiming to raise the public's cultural confidence and awareness, the "open course on intangible cultural heritage," an educational television show that invites experts to tell stories about the inheritance of intangible cultural heritage, was broadcast on Friday evening.

An exhibition on Guqin, the Chinese zither, a Kunqu Opera performance and a photo exhibition of intangible cultural heritage are also scheduled.

Since 2006, China has celebrated cultural heritage day on the second Saturday of June. In 2017, it was renamed cultural and natural heritage day.