International and Chinese students pose for a photo with their handicrafts. [Photo provided to gowuxi.com]
Wuxi city in Jiangsu province kicked off its June 8 celebration of China's Cultural and Natural Heritage Day with a series of activities at Huishan Ancient Town, highlighting the city's achievements in preserving intangible cultural heritage.
Handicrafts are displayed at the cultural bazaar. [Photo provided to gowuxi.com]
During the launch ceremony, the first municipal-level intangible cultural heritage workshops were unveiled, and international students from Jiangnan University were invited to try cutting paper and creating rubbings.
A bazaar featuring intangible cultural heritage items in Wuxi such as Huishan baked pancakes, Huishan clay figurines, and Liuqing bamboo carvings was set up at the ancient town.
Visitors enjoy a live performance at Huishan Ancient Town. [Photo provided to gowuxi.com]
Many other activities promoting local intangible cultural heritage also commenced across the city: stations along Line 4 of the Wuxi Metro was transformed into a cultural corridor; lectures on Wuxi's intangible cultural heritage were offered; cultural performances were staged; and a cultural parade was held across the ancient town.
A poster about Huishan clay figurines at the Huishan Ancient Town Station along Line 4 of the Wuxi Metro. [Photo provided to gowuxi.com]
In efforts to reach online audiences, inheritors of the city's intangible cultural heritage were invited to act as livestream hosts to showcase their exquisite masterpieces.
Wuxi is currently home to 230 intangible cultural heritage items, including 11 at the national level and 51 at the provincial level.
