The 2024 Shandong Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) Interpreter Competition in Tai'an, Shandong finished on Oct 28. The event aimed at strengthening the protection, inheritance, and promotion of ICH, and showed the rich ICH resources of Shandong province.

The competition officially started on June 8 with three groups: inheritors group, campus group, and social group. ICH inheritors, students, cultural center staff at all levels, ICH enthusiasts, and others enthusiastically participated, with a total of 1,037 submissions received.

The event featured a dazzling array of Shandong's ICH items, such as paper-cutting, ancient book restoration, Weifang kite-making skills, and Taishan shadow puppetry. The 25 contestants who advanced to the finals in three categories – inheritors, social groups, and students – brought their love and reverence for ICH.

After fierce competition, a total of 18 winners were selected for the first, second, and third prizes. The audience felt the profoundness of ICH at the award ceremony with performances like the tea practice diancha from the Song Dynasty (960–1279), Ningyang puppetry, drumming and musical instruments, shadow play, and other ICH programs.

In recent years, Tai'an city has achieved positive results in promoting the creative transformation and innovative development of ICH. The city has established over 100 ICH workshops across the city, and hosted events such as the Yellow River Bazaar and ICH Festival to bring ICH closer to the public and enrich their cultural life.

Taishan shadow puppetry is on display at the 2024 Shandong ICH Interpreter Competition. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]