On Feb 11, an intangible cultural heritage (ICH) experience event to celebrate the Lantern Festival took place at Yongxingfang, a cultural and shopping complex in Xi'an that hosts a cluster of ICH items, such as shadow puppetry and gourmet food outlets.

The event captivated visitors and children with a grand cultural celebration, providing an immersive ICH experience.

Children dressed in hanfu roll yuanxiao together at Yongxingfang in Xi'an. [Photo/Xi'an Daily]

The event's highlight was over 20 representative ICH performances and exhibitions. The Heyang string puppet show amazed the audience with a stunning fire-breathing act, while the mighty roar of Qinqiang Opera set the stage ablaze with excitement. The rich scent of ink from woodblock New Year paintings filled the air, enticing children to create their own festive prints. Sugar painting artists won rounds of applause with their crafted intricate, amber-colored designs.

Dough transformed like magic in the hands of ICH inheritors at the steamed bun stall, forming flowers, ingots, lucky bags, animals, and delicate leaves that mesmerized onlookers.

Children dressed in hanfu, a traditional Chinese garment, roamed the venue, absorbing cultural heritage. In the lantern riddle area, colorful lanterns adorned with riddles on history, culture, and folklore engaged visitors in lively discussions. At the yuanxiao station, guests carefully coated fillings in glutinous rice flour, forming plump and perfect sweet dumplings.

The event culminated with a fun-filled Shaanxi dialect challenge, where laughter erupted as participants deciphered amusing local phrases. Organizers hoped the event fostered an appreciation for ICH, planting the seeds of tradition while ushering in a culturally rich new year.