On October 26, the “Explore a Happy Life in China” Changsha-Suzhou Twin Cities Promotion and “Unconventional Dialogue” Intangible Cultural Heritage Exchange Event was launched at the Changsha Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum. This initiative showcases various traditional crafts, including Changsha pottery figurines, Hunan embroidery, and Suzhou silk weaving, among others.

Organized by the Changsha Municipal Bureau of Culture, Tourism, and Broadcasting and the Suzhou Cultural, Broadcasting, and Tourism Bureau, the event aims to use intangible cultural heritage as a bridge to foster collaboration in cultural tourism promotion between the two cities while displaying their rich cultural heritage and modern city charm.

In recent years, both Changsha and Suzhou have earned their place on the new first-tier city charm list and repeatedly ranked as cities with the highest happiness levels. This event features an intangible cultural heritage market, bringing together a diverse range of handmade crafts and cultural products from both cities, attracting many visitors eager to explore and purchase.

Chen Jincheng, a master of dough figurine carving with over 20 years of experience, trained under renowned dough figurine artist Xiao Zhanxing. As a representative inheritor of Changsha’s dough figurine tradition, he has taken his art to Japan, Spain, Germany, and other countries for cultural exchange. His works are included in the collections of several cultural institutions in Hunan Province, such as the Hunan Provincial Museum of National Painting and the Hunan Provincial Arts and Crafts Museum.

“Intangible cultural heritage is not just a thing of the past; it is living and trendy,” Chen said. He believes that events like this market help showcase heritage to a broader audience, providing a tangible cultural feast. In recent years, the reach and influence of intangible cultural heritage have expanded significantly, with more young people drawn to its innate charm. As they enrich their spiritual lives with this heritage, they also take the initiative to contribute to its dissemination. This mutual engagement not only bridges the gap between the younger generation and intangible cultural heritage but also breathes new life into traditional culture in modern society.

Additionally, Suzhou has carefully selected traditional intangible cultural heritage performances for a public showcase at the museum theater. The show opened with a piece of Suzhou Pingtan titled “Appreciating the Mid-Autumn Festival,” followed by performances of Kunqu Opera, Hunan Opera, Suzhou Opera, and Changsha Ballad, allowing visitors to appreciate a variety of artistic styles.

During the event, organizers also introduced chrysanthemum appreciation routes in Changsha and Suzhou along with festive intangible cultural heritage food activities.

Yulan, deputy director of the Changsha Cultural Tourism Bureau, emphasized that culture is the soul of tourism, while tourism serves as the medium for culture. By hosting the Twin Cities event and engaging in joint marketing and brand promotion, they hope to co-create cultural tourism branding, enhance city images, and stimulate creative dialogue and exchange in the realm of intangible cultural heritage for better inheritance and innovation.