The 9th International Intangible Cultural Heritage Festival (ICH Festival) opened in Chengdu on May 28, transforming the city's International Intangible Cultural Heritage Expo Park into a global stage for cultural exchange. Running through June 3, the event strategically overlaps with International Children's Day and the Dragon Boat Festival, creating a unique blend of intergenerational celebration and traditional observance.
Visitors can explore over 200 interactive exhibits showcasing crafts, performances, and rituals from more than 40 countries and regions. A highlight includes live demonstrations of Sichuan opera face-changing techniques alongside UNESCO-recognized practices from Cambodia's Royal Ballet to Japanese paper-making traditions.
For business professionals, the festival's innovation zone features sustainable applications of traditional crafts in modern industries, while academic forums address preservation strategies in the digital age. Families benefit from child-friendly workshops on kite-making and shadow puppetry, aligning with Children's Day celebrations.
The timing with the Dragon Boat Festival adds special significance, with organizers integrating zongzi-making demonstrations and dragon boat craft exhibitions into the programming. This convergence positions Chengdu as both guardian of Chinese cultural heritage and global bridge for cross-cultural dialogue.
