Artists perform at a folk music festival in Chuxiong Yi autonomous prefecture of Southwest China's Yunan province on July 22. [Photo provided to China Daily]

A folk music festival kicked off in Chuxiong Yi autonomous prefecture of Southwest China's Yunan province on July 22, bringing together more than 270 singers and musicians from 21 ethnic groups to perform their folk songs.

The four-day event, organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the government of Southwest China's Yunnan province, aims to showcase the charm of traditional Chinese culture, the diversity and originality in Chinese folk music as well as the creativity of the Chinese from different ethnic groups.

According to Hu Yan, an official from the ministry, the festival is being held to protect intangible cultural heritage and boost exchanges between various genres of folk music.

As part of the event, art troupes are staging performances in communities and villages and symposiums are being held to discuss how to better pass down these cultural treasures.