The city of Beijing, celebrated globally as a nexus of history and modernity, is poised to launch another significant cultural landmark: The Beijing International Week of Intangible Cultural Heritage (BIWICH). This inaugural event underlines the city’s ambition to present its intangible cultural heritage (ICH) legacies on an international stage. The revered cultural sociologist, Chu Xin, interprets this as a profound gesture to share Chinese traditions with the world.
Scheduled to begin on October 22 at the National Agricultural Exhibition Center, this grandeur exhibition will span over four days. It promises participation from over 500 representatives spanning almost 200 countries. Attendees can anticipate a mesmerizing display of approximately 2,000 ICH treasures. These artefacts will not only hail from China but also regions like Southeast Asia and Africa, areas intrinsically connected with China through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Xiang Xinshuang, a noted expert and art critic in the realm of ICH, emphasizes that while many ICH treasures deeply resonate with their native cultural contexts, their preservation and growth are of global significance. Such an international confluence fosters the exchange of knowledge, including innovative mechanisms, technologies, and expertise vital for efficient ICH management.
Under the banner of “The Great Beauty of ICH and Worldwide Harmony,” the event is poised to offer a myriad of exhibitions. Among the notable displays is the showcase dedicated to the rich tapestry of Chinese tea culture. This section will not only educate but also offer immersive experiences, illustrating the diverse tea traditions across 16 Chinese provinces. Yunnan Province, with its revered Jingmai Mountain recently earning a spot in the UNESCO World Heritage List, is bound to be a focal point.
While the BIWICH remains deeply rooted in tradition, it also innovatively intertwines tourism into its narrative. The “ICH+Tourism” segment champions the tourist spots within China abundant in ICH wealth, spotlighting regions like Yunnan and Fujian. This amalgamation of cultural heritage and tourism has already displayed its potency, as seen in the overwhelming success of the Danzhai ICH Week in 2020, which attracted a whopping 260,000 visitors in Guizhou Province.
Xiang observes that China’s journey in managing ICH has significantly evolved. Beyond merely preserving traditions on the brink of oblivion, there’s a keen interest in amplifying their relevance across tourism, creative markets, and education. This progressive mindset offers a refreshing blueprint for contemporary ICH management.
Beijing’s vast repertoire of ICH projects, like woodblock watermarking art and silk figurine techniques, represent just a fragment of China’s expansive ICH mosaic. The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Province ICH Exhibition aims to provide visitors with a more panoramic view of Northern China’s ICH evolution.
Cultural expert Xu Shuming accentuates the astounding regional diversity inherent in Chinese ICH traditions. For instance, the Northern Qinqiang Opera starkly contrasts the ancient Kunqu Opera from Jiangsu Province. These operatic traditions transcend mere entertainment, acting as vivid chronicles of regional histories, beliefs, and societal intricacies.
Orchestrated by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China in tandem with the People’s Government of the Beijing Municipality, BIWICH promises more than just exhibitions. Attendees can also look forward to insightful forum discussions, including the prominently featured “ICH Protection and Contemporary Practice.”
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