A "Hope Project" primary school in Yunnan Province recently started combining local minority music and dance with their morning exercises.

Mayuoping Meige primary school is located in Mayou Village, Chuxiong Yi Nationality Autonomous Prefecture.

The primitive singing style in that region, Meige, has become the target of cultural protection by the government.

The new morning exercise routine has been redesigned to adopt Meige music and ethnic dance movements.

The headmaster says the school will be built into a ethnic school marked by distinct Meige culture.

The "Hope Project" is a national non-profit charity trying to help children in poor areas receive education.

(Xinhua News Agency February 1, 2009)