On the occasion of the “China Cultural and Natural Heritage Day”, the Cultural Affairs Bureau organizes a series of activities to promote cultural heritage, including a two-day carnival to be held at the Mount Fortress Garden and the Macao Museum, showcasing the charm of Macao’s cultural heritage from various perspectives, as well as thematic workshops and a talk. Special opening and guided tours of world heritage sites are also offered, in order to comprehensively enhance the community’s understanding and raise awareness of cultural heritage.
The “Cultural and Natural Heritage Day” originates from the former designation of “Cultural Heritage Day”. According to the State Council directive – “Notice of the State Council on Strengthening Protection of Cultural Heritages” – issued on 22 December 2005, in order to create an environment favouring cultural heritage protection and to raise public awareness of 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 the “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 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, was renamed “Cultural and Natural Heritage Day” starting from 2017, aimed at strengthening public awareness of the importance of safeguarding all types of heritage, and promoting the knowledge about each of the categories of heritage.