A teacher instructs attentive students in the Manchu language. [Photo by Tiantian/Xinhua]

Students learn Manchu in class. [Photo by Tiantian/Xinhua]

Students learn to tie Chinese knots in Manchu class. [Photo by Tiantian/Xinhua]

Students learn scissor-cutting in Manchu class. [Photo by Tiantian/Xinhua]

On Oct 13, reporters on an Internet media tour visited the Changbaishan Manchu Culture museum and No.3 Middle School in Baishan to learn about Manchu culture and intangible heritages.

The Changbaishan Manchu Culture Museum is the only one in China centered on Changbaishan Manchu traditional culture. It exhibits the region’s bright ethnic character and culture, and is an important cultural infrastructure institution in Jilin province. The museum opened in June 2009, and covers 5,818 square meters. It has 11 exhibition areas, include one devoted to Mount Changbai, a famous mountain in China traditionally worshipped by the Manchu. The exhibit shows the production customs of the Manchu in the Mount Changbai area, as well as their daily life customs and culture and art. The Mount Changbai exhibition area also features samples of ginseng and Songhua stone and inkstone, special products of the mountain. All the collections in the museum show the intelligence of the Manchu people, and the deeply rooted Changbai Mountain culture.

Over time fewer and fewer people understand Manchu language and history.

To protect and inherit the Manchu language, which is based on a combination of different Qidan words, Baishan No.3 Middle School began to teach students Manchu culture.

The school's class is the Manchu language teaching base of Northeast Normal University, and has been provided since 2009. The university has also established a Manchu language teaching system aimed at adults. The first classes opened in that program in Feb 2012; as of Feb of this year there were nine classes on offer. They have been well received by Manchu language fans.

"To preserve meaningful cultural diversity from Bai Mountain, we must protect and inherit Manchu's history and culture. Doing so will reinforce national unity and enhance the cohesion of Jilin province," says Tian Xiping, a reporter from the Sichuan news center.

"The Manchu museum and classes highlight the regional culture of Bai Mountain, and are a new economic growth point for Jilin province," adds Tian Fang of the Shaanxi news center.

The eight-banner soldiers in the museum's Changbai Mountain exhibition area. [Photo by Tian Tian/Xinhua]

A Changbai Mountain hunting scene. [Photo by Tian Tian/Xinhua]

Manchu clothes and accessories in the Changbai Mountain Manchu culture museum. [Photo by Tian Tian/Xinhua]

Visitors take photos in the Changbai Mountain Manchu culture museum. [Photo by Tian Tian/Xinhua]