"These time-honored folk arts are rooted in - and are still shaping - local people's lives, and they should not be deemed outdated," he says.

He thinks Japan, South Korea and Germany set good examples for China in finding ways to blend ancient culture and arts with modern ones.

"They haven't lost their old culture and arts, while developing newer ones."

Shaanxi should not lose its traditional and local characteristics, and choose an effective way to promote its culture abroad.

Liu believes confidence in one's own culture is the key to finding its universal value.

One way to deepen Western understanding of Shaanxi' Qinqiang Opera is to perhaps compare it with the singing style of the late Luciano Pavarotti, a world-famous Italian singer, says Liu.

In Shaanxi, some choreographers are working on making Terracotta Warriors the theme of Western ballets. Liu believes that if the experiment succeeds, the ballet will make it easier for foreigners to understand the origin of Shaanxi culture.

He says more effort should be made to publicize local culture. "Some activity organizers focus on scale and the number of participants rather than the effects of cultural publicity."

Shaanxi has been hosting the Silk Road International Arts Festival, an annual event since last year. More than 62 countries participated in its second edition in September.

Liu says the province will make good use of the platform to promote Shaanxi's heritage.