Zhanhua Fishing Drum Opera, a national-level ICH item in Binzhou, dates back to the Qing Dynasty (1644–1911). [Photo/People's Daily]

Modern preservation

In recent years, Binzhou has made significant efforts to protect its ICH. In the 1980s, when only a few elderly artists remained, Binzhou's music expert Wang Yongchang made four trips to a village in Binzhou to rescue the nearly extinct musical scores of the national ICH item Zhanhua Fishing Drum Opera.

The opera, which dates back to the reign of Emperor Yongzheng in the Qing Dynasty, is a unique blend of Taoist culture, fisherman's chants, and Yiyang tunes, characterized by its distinctive "three-sentence rhythm" and martial arts-inspired performance style.

The opera has also been integrated into school curricula. The local government has gotten youth involved in ICH protection, teaching them how to weave grass and make Qinghe town woodblock New Year paintings and letting them experience the rhythm of Huji Book Fair drum music.

Furthermore, Binzhou has established a three-tier ICH catalog system at the national, provincial, and municipal levels. Over 114 ICH workshops have been digitally archived, with more than 300 performances held annually.