URUMQI - Authorities in west China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region have promised to roll out a set of measures over the next five years to protect the region's abundant intangible cultural heritage.

Xinjiang is home to a large number of ethnic groups and is subsequently rich in artistic and cultural resources.

Han Ziyong, a top official from the regional cultural affairs department, said Xinjiang will establish cultural protection zones in 13 areas that are known to have a high concentration of intangible cultural heritage.

Regional authorities will also provide more support for inheritors and speed up the construction of museums, exhibition centers and educational institutes devoted to the preservation and promotion of intangible cultural heritage.

Xinjiang is home to 70 national and 185 regional cultural heritage items. More than 30 museums showcasing the items, as well as cultural folk traditions, have been established in the region.