"Productive Protection"

Mei Lianhua, a council member of the China Folklore Society, praised the type of initiative seen in Jingdezhen, where antiques are being brought back into use.

"Now, we are coming to expect a positive way of preserving cultural heritage. It can be called productive protection," said Mei.

"Instead of letting culture 'sleep' in corners or on the verge of disappearance, the country should find ways to let it re-enter our lives. Its vitality will be revived with proper utilization and appreciation."

Indeed, cities and cultural organizations around the country are making efforts along these lines.

In May this year, Nanjing Museum in east China's Jiangsu Province invited 100 citizens to its "core storeroom" to appreciate its large unexhibited collections.

Museums are also turning to modern technology to keep up with the times.

On New Year's Day 2014, the Forbidden City in Beijing launched a smart phone application and opened a public account on WeChat to encourage interaction with people.

"Cultural heritage is valuable for so many reasons. How sad would we be if it all disappeared and there was no trace of the past left?" Mei asked.