A foreigner learns to play a traditional Chinese musical instrument. [Photo by Zheng Peng/WeChat account: zgwzswxcb]
Why are the folk customs of Wenzhou so appealing to foreigners? How can these time-honored cultural brands get revitalized? Wenzhou's dedication to cultural promotion in recent years may offer some clues.
As a humble coastal city located in East China's Zhejiang province, Wenzhou has already had four of its intangible cultural heritage items, namely Yueqing thin line paper-cutting, Yongjia Kunqu Opera, Rui'an movable type printing, and Taishun wooden arch bridge, inscribed onto the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list.
The city is also home to 145 provincial and 779 municipal intangible cultural heritage items. A total of 37 practitioners have been recognized as national experts.
To help foreigners gain a more immersive understanding of local culture, Wenzhou has carried out a variety of cultural activities in foreigners' neighborhoods, echoing various themes such as traditional festivals and cultural experiences.
For example, Yueqing, a county-level city administered by Wenzhou, invited foreigners from Zimbabwe, Cuba, and South Africa to experience cultural traditions during the Dragon Boat Festival this year.
HanLey from Cuba, who shot a video of the activity and shared it with his relatives back home, said "I want to let more foreigners know about this place and spread Chinese culture to more countries around the world."
Foreigners celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival in Yueqing, a county-level city administered by Wenzhou. [Photo by Lin Long/WeChat account: zgwzswxcb]
