Xixia district in Yinchuan city, Ningxia Hui autonomous region, launched its third Folk Culture Festival on Jan 22 with the theme "Experience Xixia's Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) during Little New Year." The festival featured an ICH-themed creative show and video, a parade with the Qilin beast, an ICH-themed market, and a concert of modern Chinese music.
At the Huaiyuan Tourism Night Market on Wencui North Street in Xixia district, vibrant displays, unique photography setting, lively performances, and a rich cultural ambiance drew in many visitors, creating a bustling and lively atmosphere.
At the event, over 20 ICH projects and hundreds of ICH products, such as Helan inkstones, exquisite linen weaving items, Chengliji’s traditional brewing techniques, and Yangjia cloth art, took center stage. This allowed both locals and tourists to immerse themselves in the rich "Chinese New Year flavor" of Xixia district, showcasing the unique charm and splendor of its Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The entrance of Huaiyuan Night Market is the main venue for this event. As a national-level nighttime cultural and tourism consumption agglomeration area, Huaiyuan Tourist Night Market has established a distinctive cultural brand, sparking urban vitality, discovering fresh cultural and tourism experiences, energizing consumer interest, and showcasing the enchanting allure of nighttime shopping, dining, sightseeing, and entertainment.
During the event, visitors admired the exquisite carvings of Helan Inkstones under the dazzling lights, experienced the art of linen weaving, tasted unique lamb-filled delicacies paired with Chengliji's pure grain liquor, and indulged in a cultural and culinary feast. This event deeply connects visitors with ICH, revitalizes its preservation efforts, boosts consumption, enhances the night economy, and underscores cultural tourism's role in driving consumption.
In recent years, Xixia district takes the principle that ICH stems from and is preserved by the people. Through various activities like ICH exhibitions and performances, locals have delved into the essence of ICH. The district has established preservation bases like the Chengliji’s traditional brewing technique base, Baniao Cultural Industry Company, and the Xixia District ICH Exhibition Hall, hosting nearly a hundred ICH-themed experiential events. These initiatives have fostered ICH's creative growth, generated job opportunities, and boosted local residents' income.
According to the Cultural and Tourism Bureau of Xixia district, the district will take the "night economy" model as a starting point to develop all-weather cultural tourism consumption pattern, and create more cultural landmarks like Huaiyuan Tourist Night Market. They also aim to promote ICH projects to revive ancient skills in modern society.
The third Folk Culture Festival in Xixia district illuminated the city's night sky and paved the way for cultural industry development. In the future, Xixia district aims to deepen the integration of culture and tourism, blending traditional culture with modern life to create a vibrant new chapter in cultural industry development.