Binzhou, a city in Shandong province known as a "thousand-year-old cultural city", has nurtured a rich tapestry of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) items over the centuries. With 10 national-level, 66 provincial-level, and 214 municipal-level ICH projects, it is a treasure trove of traditional arts and crafts.

Rich cultural heritage and artistic innovation

Binzhou's ICH items are deeply rooted in its geographical and historical context. Huimin county, located on the North China Plain and next to the Yellow River ferry crossing, became a cultural melting pot during the heyday of canal transportation. Merchants and diverse cultures converged here, making it a fertile ground for folk arts.

The Huji Book Fair, originating in the late Song and early Yuan dynasties (around 1278–1279), initially saw folk artists gathering at temple fairs to showcase their skills and exchange their art. It has since evolved into a regular folk art exchange event and was inscribed on the national ICH list in 2006.

Binzhou paper-cutting art. [Photo/People's Daily]

The region's unique natural resources, like the mud and sand of the Yellow River Delta, also play a crucial role in Binzhou's ICH. In a village in Boxin county, the art of grass weaving transforms common reeds from the Yellow River floodplain into high-end home decor for export to Europe and America through a meticulous 72-step process. Binzhou paper-cutting, influenced by ancient colored pottery, bronze ware, and Han Dynasty (202 BC–AD 220) stone carvings, has developed a unique style shaped by Yellow River culture.