Culture on show for tourists
Intangible culture heritage displays were put on at various tourist sites in Songjiang District around Cultural and Natural Heritage Day in June. The aim was to showcase Songjiang’s rich culture as “The Root of Shanghai,” arouse people’s awareness of protecting intangible culture heritage and promote culture and tourism integration.
A record 111 intangible culture heritage events were held. The events covered drama performances, lectures, exhibitions and experience classes, and included Huju Opera, pingtan (storytelling to music), silkscreen block printing, paper cutting, Jiangnan sizhu (string and wind music), shadow plays and sachet making.
“Intagible culture heritages originated in the folks, so we hope that intangible culture heritage can take root in ordinary people,” said a staff member at the Songjiang District Culture Center.
Songjiang has three national intangible culture heritage items, 10 city-level intangible culture heritage items and 29 district-level intangible culture heritage items. Its numbers of national, city-level and district-level intangible culture heritage representatives are 2, 18 and 69 respectively, according to the district culture center.
A traditional Chinese instruments band from Jiuting Town put on a performance at Fangta Park on June 7. On the same day tourists visiting Xiaokunshan Park enjoyed a demonstration of the local Shenlou bamboo weaving.
On June 8, musicians wearing blue robes performed Sijing Town’s drum and gong music at the century-old Majia Hall while visitors appreciated the music or learned to make dough sculptures and paper cutting, ate rice dumplings or watched a shadow play.