Intangible cultural heritage revamps rural development

Visitors enjoy themselves at a campfire party in Pianpo township. [Photo/ddcpc website]

In recent years, Pianpo township in Wudang district, Guiyang, capital of Southwest China's Guizhou province, has positioned itself as the "corridor of Bouyei culture." It has thoroughly explored Bouyei folk culture, introduced social resources for the local development of cultural creative industries, and encouraged folk artists and craftsmen to establish cultural creative studios.

These efforts are aimed at the creation of ethnic cultural creative products and tourism goods, promoting the development of rural cultural tourism industries.

In the "Xiu Yinxiang" Intangible Cultural Heritage Workshop, elegant, vibrant, and solemn Bouyei ethnic costumes are displayed. On the deep blue fabric, flowers, birds, fish, insects, plants, vines, mountains, and rivers are embroidered, adding a three-dimensional effect to the simple fabric.

These embroidered patterns showcase the rich imagination and ingenious wisdom of the Bouyei people, brimming with a vibrant sense of life and conveying people's appreciation for beauty.

Since the workshop was established, it has been operating under an "intangible cultural heritage experience + catering" model, attracting numerous tourists and becoming a cultural and artistic symbol of Pianpo.

In addition, the workshop is the location of the national-level intangible cultural heritage project for Bouyei ethnic costumes and the Intangible Cultural Heritage Workstation in Wudang district, Guiyang.

At another intangible cultural heritage workshop called "Zhongjia Yiren", visitors can experience tailor-made Bouyei wax-dyed costumes and the crafts of wax dyeing and tie-dyeing.

The township is currently home to 10 intangible cultural heritage workshops, along with 11 cultural creative studios and workshops.