The 2nd International Festival of Intangible Cultural Heritage kicked off in Chengdu, Sichuan Province on Monday, June 1, 2009. [Photo: CRIENGLISH.com]
China's second International Festival of Intangible Cultural Heritage kicked off Monday in Chengdu, capital of the country's southwest Sichuan province. A big performing procession marked the opening and featured a taste of the cultural diversity of China and countries around the world. Our reporter Wang Ling has more.
The Scottish bagpipe, Australian Maori culture, and Thai traditions take over the city of Chengdu this week.
"Marcos from Australia. It demonstrates the Maori's culture. All nationalities together represent Australia."
"My name is Minasoda from Pakistan."
"This Thai performance tells the story of a young man who falls in love with a girl and wants to become friends with her. You can only watch it on big celebrations."
Apart from exotic performance, the parade also highlights Chinese folk arts and cultural richness.
Shanxi drumming on high platforms, Tibetan Batang Dance, a fire-puffing ox dance from Sichuan and more have caught the attention of bystanders. As director and representative of UNESCO Office in Beijing, Abhimanyu Singh, explained, the procession shows both cultural diversity of China and its openness to the different cultures across the world.
"We found that China is not only presenting its own experience for others to share but it is also open and willing to listen and learn from other countries. I think you can see that example today very vividly. You have a parade that not only showcased China's intangible cultural heritage, and particularly of the province of Sichuan, but also a large number of countries from Africa, Asia and Europe, which have also come here to participate. And in the forum, we have found the theory and concepts sharing of experiences. So I think you have created this opportunity."
Apart from looking forward to the yield of this international festival, Mr. Singh also believed that China would play its bigger intentional role in the domain of culture protection.
"To us it looks as if China is already in a position to set an example for other developing countries in this greater domain of protection of intangible and tangible culture. As you know the largest number of world heritage sites in any developing country is in China, with 37 sites. They are mix of natural and cultural sites. And China now seems well prepared for the same kind of success in listing intangible cultural heritage."
The second Chengdu International Festival of Intangible Cultural Heritage will last two weeks and will feature a series of exhibitions and an international forum with theme on disaster and protection of living heritage. China's effort in saving traditions in the quake-hit areas is also one of the festival's focuses.
Scottish Bagpipe players perform at the 2nd Chengdu International Festival of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Chengdu, Sichuan Province on Monday, June 1, 2009. [Photo: CRIENGLISH.com]
Russian folk dancers perform at Monday's opening ceremony of the 2nd International Festival of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Chengdu, Sichuan Province on Monday, June 1, 2009. [Photo: CRIENGLISH.com]
Columbian performers stage their show at Monday's opening ceremony of the 2nd International Festival of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Chengdu, Sichuan Province on Monday, June 1, 2009. [Photo: CRIENGLISH.com]
Batang Dance at Monday's opening ceremony of the 2nd International Festival of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Chengdu, Sichuan Province on Monday, June 1, 2009. [Photo: CRIENGLISH.com]
Seda Gesar Tibetan Drama performance at Monday's opening ceremony of the 2nd International Festival of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Chengdu, Sichuan Province on Monday, June 1, 2009. [Photo: CRIENGLISH.com]
