Figurines never fail to draw young admirers' scrutiny. [Photo by Wang Jing/China Daily]

Intangible cultural inheritors and folk artists from nine provinces and regions along the Yellow River gathered in Dongying, East China's Shandong province, at a festival to showcase the rich cultures cultivated along the river basin.

Handicrafts and performances were on display in booths and on stages along the banks of a downtown lake, when the city hosted a two-day Yellow River Cultural Forum that started on Tuesday.

The Yellow River Festival, beforehand, ran from Sunday to Tuesday and proved a major draw.

A folk artist has the audience's rapt attention with his Shandong kuaishu, traditional Chinese storytelling that originated in Shandong province more than 200 years ago. [Photo by Wang Jing/China Daily]

Bi Wenjing's booth showcasing Huanghekou Huamo was a top attraction.

The craftswoman created a massive flower-shaped steamed bun. She placed a huge sample of her handiwork, weighing 30 kilograms, in the booth, attracting tourists to admire it and take photos. Bi said she started work at 9 am and visitors were still coming to view it as darkness fell.

In addition, more than 100 agricultural products were on sale, while delicious food was also available, including barbecued delights from Zibo, Shandong province, which recently trended on social media.

Visitors are intrigued by Yuju Opera at the Yellow River Festival in Dongying, Shandong province. Yuju is a traditional opera form that originated in Henan province during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). [Photo by Wang Jing/China Daily]

Sun Zhaohai, a resident of Dongying, said people could taste mouthwatering food while learning about folk customs at the festival, making it perfect for children.

The Yellow River, the second-longest river in China, originates on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and flows through nine provinces and regions from west to east, eventually reaching the Bohai Sea. It is often called the cradle of Chinese civilization.