BEIJING, May 26 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese government is planning to set up about 100 cultural heritage bases at higher-learning institutions nationwide by 2020 in order to promote traditional Chinese culture.

Highlighting ethnic and folk music, dance, opera, sports, arts and crafts, each base will be built to offer several optional courses to students who are not majoring in arts or sports, according to a circular issued by the Ministry of Education.

The ministry encourages universities and colleges to buy services from folk artists and intangible cultural heritage inheritors, or to hire them as visiting professors.

Each student will be awarded two credits for completing each course, which will require 36 hours of class contact time.

As an initial part of the plan, the government will select around 50 such bases in higher learning institutions this year.