BEIJING, June 15 (Xinhuanet) -- China is attempting to list its centuries-old folklore story "The Butterfly Lovers", also known as "China's Romeo and Juliet", as

(Photo:CRIENGLISH.com/chinaculture.org)

intangible world heritage, with a formal application expected to be submitted to UNESCO in 2006, CRIENGLISH.com reported Monday.

    The plan was announced at a meeting concluded last Saturday in Ningbo city with representatives from six Chinese cities claiming to be the place of origin of the "Butterfly Lovers" story.

    The most popular love story in China tells the legend of two 4th century Chinese lovers who could not marry due to different family backgrounds. After the hero dies of a broken heart, the heroine leaps on his grave and the two turn into a butterfly couple after their deaths.

    For centuries, the story has been adapted into traditional operas, movies and TV plays. A modern concerto adapted from the story has now become a music classic repeatedly played by world-class masters.

    
    (CRIENGLISH.com)