Southwest China's Yunnan Province, home to the most ethnic groups in the country, is spearheading to protect ethnic culture in accordance with laws and regulations.

With 26 ethnic groups, the province has enforced its first regulation regarding folk culture protection, said He Guangshu, director of the Yunnan Provincial Culture Department, at a conference on Chinese ethnic and folk culture protection which opened in Kunming Tuesday.

The Yunnan Ethnic and Folk Culture Protection Regulations proscribe measures to protect ethnic and folk culture and penalties for violation.

Governments at various levels in the province have enacted other regulations to protect ethnic culture including the traditional festivals of the 26 ethnic groups, ancient ethnic buildings and ethnic music and frescos.

To protect ethnic artists, the provincial culture department has combed the province for ethnic artists and as a result, registered 295 ethnic musicians and dancers, He said.

Yunnan has also saved over 30,000 volumes of ancient ethnic books, of which 600 volumes have been translated and published, statistics show.

(Xinhua News Agency April 14, 2004)