A steaming bowl of beef noodles, a dynamic Taiping Drum performance, an exquisitely carved gourd... From campuses to communities, showcased on various platforms and innovated while being passed down, Lanzhou has integrated intangible cultural heritage into the ordinary life of the city, nourishing the hearts of local residents and tourists alike.
Integrating modern aesthetics, ancient crafts gain a new lease of life
Stepping into the Jinchengguan Intangible Cultural Heritage Studio for Gourd Carving, you will see gourd ornaments of varied shapes arranged in a pleasing manner. Landscapes, local customs and classic patterns come vividly alive on these tiny gourds. Exquisite gourd pendants and uniquely designed gourd bracelets have won great popularity among tourists as soon as they are put on display.
"For years, we have adhered to the traditional master-apprentice teaching model. We have systematically sorted out and carried forward the traditional carving techniques, patterns and creative concepts of gourd carving, ensuring that the core craftsmanship is passed down from generation to generation," said Ruan Lin, inheritor of Lanzhou Gourd Carving, a provincial-level intangible cultural heritage (ICH) project. It is learned that the training institute regularly holds craftsmanship training courses and free public classes in schools and communities. It offers systematic lessons for teenagers and ICH enthusiasts. Meanwhile, it pursues artistic innovation in response to the needs of the times, integrating local cultures such as the Yellow River culture and the cultural sentiment of Lanzhou beef noodles as well as modern aesthetics into creations to inject new vitality into this ancient craft. In addition, comprehensive and tangible support has been provided for the protection and development of Lanzhou Gourd Carving. The craft has been listed as a key protected ICH item in Lanzhou. Relevant authorities have made overall plans for its development and offered clear guidance for craftsmanship inheritance, brand building and innovative development.
Build a stable and experienced team and create a virtuous cycle where performances drive maintenance work
Lanzhou Taiping Drum has a history of more than 600 years. It was included in the first batch of National Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists in 2006 and is known as "the No.1 Drum under Heaven". At present, Lanzhou City has built a comprehensive base for Lanzhou Taiping Drum that integrates protection and inheritance, training and performances, drum making and research, research and practical learning, as well as cultural and tourism experiences. Equipped with standard training venues, exhibition halls, experience areas and classrooms, the base has established permanent venues and a standardized operation system.
" The Lanzhou Taiping Drum Base offers intangible cultural heritage experience, drum art teaching and other courses for primary and secondary school students as well as social organizations, and holds immersive and participatory inheritance activities. It receives 50 groups and 10,000 visitors every year," said Wei Huaidong, person in charge of the Lanzhou Taiping Drum Association. Currently, Lanzhou has 6 national-level inheritors, 41 provincial-level inheritors and 168 municipal-level inheritors. A sound inheritance echelon covering the elderly, middle-aged and young generations has gradually taken shape, effectively solving the problem of talent gap in the inheritance of intangible cultural heritage. Distinctive local cultural arts such as the Lanzhou Taiping Drum are being carried forward steadily from generation to generation.
Introduce policies and regulations to build a three-dimensional protection system
In order to effectively protect cultural heritage, Lanzhou City has introduced a series of policies and regulations, including the “Measures for the Recognition and Management of Lanzhou City Intangible Cultural Heritage Representative Project Practitioner Workshops,” to establish a four-tiered protection system at the national, provincial, municipal, and county levels, with practitioner workshops serving as the focal points for a multi-layered, three-dimensional protection framework. Simultaneously, theoretical research has been actively pursued, with publications such as the “Lanzhou City Intangible Cultural Heritage Series” and the “Compilation of Lanzhou City’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Picture Books” being compiled and published. Currently, Lanzhou City boasts 5 national-level intangible cultural heritage projects, 52 provincial-level projects, 112 municipal-level projects, and 198 county-level projects, covering 10 major categories of intangible cultural heritage. A Lanzhou Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition Hall has been built, serving as a primary platform and window for promoting intangible cultural heritage projects throughout the city and even the province. Four national-level protection bases, four provincial intangible cultural heritage workshops, and 44 practitioner workshops have been established, forming a comprehensive protection chain characterized by “systems, venues, texts, and talent.” The achievements of Lanzhou’s intangible cultural heritage protection efforts are noteworthy. (Guo Yunlian)
