Stepping Into The Ancient Arts

_{In Huangshan, Anhui province, a performance of dashuhua, or striking iron flowers, dazzles spectators with a brilliant shower of sparks resembling a tree canopy. ZHOU MU/XINHUA}

As the summer vacation drew to a close, venues for intangible cultural heritage across the country launched a series of diverse traditional culture promotion activities, giving young visitors a chance to experience the charm of ICH through immersive participation.

At the China Traditional Culture Museum in Beijing, Xi'an drum music, which originated in the Sui and Tang dynasties (581-907), drew crowds with its graceful and ancient melodies. Following the performance, experts guided the children in hands-on sessions with traditional musical instruments, offering in-depth insights into the enduring appeal of Chinese music.

_{Visitors try on floral accessory headdresses, in Jintao town, Fujian province. XIE GUIMING/FOR CHINA DAILY}

Since the start of the summer vacation, many venues have rolled out cultural promotion activities such as "Meet the Intangible Cultural Heritage" and ICH classes. Specialized items, including guqin (a seven-stringed zither) and Kunqu Opera, enriched the holiday. According to China Central Television, the China Traditional Culture Museum alone hosted nearly 500 events this summer, with a daily average attendance surpassing 13,000.

In Hunan province, the Hunan Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center launched a hands-on program, covering more than 10 traditional local handicrafts, such as paper-cutting and dough figurine making. All 45 sessions were fully booked. During a ceramics workshop on Changsha kiln tradition, children engaged with this ancient craft under the guidance of skilled inheritors.

From China Daily