Yugur cultural heritage preservation flourishes in winter-bound Sunan

Yugur clothing inheritor Pan Xiaohong teaches enthusiasts the art of Yugur embroidery at the Intangible Cultural Heritage Master Studio in Sunan Yugur autonomous county, Zhangye, Gansu province, on Dec 23, 2024. [Photo provided to gogansu.com]

On Dec 23, in the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) Master Studio of Sunan Yugur autonomous county, Zhangye, Gansu province, Pan Xiaohong, Yugur clothing heritage inheritor was teaching ICH enthusiasts on the art of utilizing newly introduced embroidery machines.

During the cold winter months, ICH inheritors in Sunan launched the "Revitalizing Yugur Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Modern Era" initiative. Many inheritors are taking advantage of the winter downtime to visit communities, pastoral areas, and yurts, where they teach locals how to create traditional Yugur clothing, practice Yugur embroidery, perform Yugur dances, and sing Yugur folk songs in their original form. These efforts have enabled many residents and herders to acquire traditional cultural skills, bringing together "old crafts" and "new artisans" to spark a fascinating cultural revival.