Intangible Cultural Heritage Along the Grand Canal

INDEX > EXHIBITION

Accompanied by musical rhythms and artisanal craftsmanship, the Grand Canal carries intangible cultural heritage skills that have been passed down for thousands of years. Some of the traditional Chinese performing arts include Yangzhou Qingqu (Yangzhou ballad singing), Jingyun Dagu (Beijing drum songs), Suzhou Pingtan (Suzhou storytelling and ballad singing), Shandong Qinshu (narrative singing of Shandong), Kunqu Opera, Peking Opera, puppet show, and shadow puppetry. The melodies of string and bamboo instruments and the charm of vocal tunes have become a means of entertainment and leisure for the people along the banks of the canal, nourishing the hearts of generations. Some of the traditional Chinese arts and crafts include woodblock printing, brush, ink, paper and ink stone, walnut carving, Suzhou fans, brocades, and blue calico. With their diligent hands and the enduring spirit of craftsmanship passed down through generations, people have created exquisite works that enhance their simple and comfortable lives. These creations spark brilliant creativity and convey a breathtaking fusion of form and color to the world. The Twenty-Four Solar Terms, traditional festivals, temple fairs and celebrations, rites of passage, and the like all brim with the warmth of home, embody the enduring emotions and nostalgia, and carry the cherished hopes passed down through generations.

The exhibition is divided into three parts. The first part “Rhythm Flowing” features an array of Chinese traditional music, folk art, and opera from both sides of the canal, taking turns on the stage. The intricate production of musical instruments, costumes, and shadow puppets is also a highlight. If your ears are content but you still crave more, you can showcase your singing skills in a Chinese opera karaoke booth. The second part “Artisanal Finesse” presents a vibrant display of exquisite craftsmanship, including the printing of New Year pictures, the carving of walnut boats, and the needlework of Suzhou embroidery. Inheritors of intangible cultural heritage will demonstrate their traditional art and skills on-site in the central area, offering a fascinating experience. The third part “Kaleidoscopic Folkways” allows you to immerse yourself in festivals and folk customs within an engaging audio-visual space, discover seasonal flavors aligned with the 24 solar terms, enjoy Zhuazhou (one-year-old catch) with your children, or observe traditional birthday gifts. In addition to experiencing the rich sense of ritual, you can also listen to the diverse dialects spoken along the canal.

Walking through the intangible cultural heritage gallery, you can appreciate the simple and elegant ambiance, which highlights the vitality of traditional culture in the contemporary era. The gallery adopts a people-oriented design, placing audience participation and experience at its core. It caters to visitors of all ages and backgrounds by combining static exhibits with dynamic demonstrations and performances. Concise text descriptions are used to enhance the understanding and appreciation of intangible cultural heritage items, striving for a harmonious unity between content and form to maximize their viewing value. The versatility of the gallery’s facilities and space accommodates a wide range of demonstrations, performances, and interactive experiences. This approach emphasizes process-based displays and participatory interaction with intangible cultural heritage, engaging the audience’s visual, auditory, tactile, and other sensory experiences by all means. Using innovative thinking and a relaxed, lively, simple, and novel design style, the gallery interprets the relationship between “space”, “process” and “people”, illustrating the beautiful life brought about by the intangible cultural heritage along the banks of the Grand Canal.