An intangible cultural heritage exhibition was held during the opening ceremony of the Taishan Mountain International Climbing Festival on Sept 5.

The event featured 16 cultural heritage displays closely tied to Taishan Mountain, including Shandong Bangzi Opera, peach wood carving, and traditional tofu making. Live performances and hands-on activities helped breathe new life into these long-standing customs.

Among the highlights was Shandong Bangzi Opera, a national-level intangible cultural heritage since 2008 which is known for its bold and passionate singing style. In the crafts area, the traditional tofu-making technique — recognized as national intangible cultural heritage in 2021 — drew large crowds eager to taste the freshly made product.

The exhibition featured several young inheritors. Song Xianxiao, an inheritor of the traditional Taishan plant-dyeing craft, showcased naturally dyed fabrics using local wild plants, which became a popular spot for younger visitors.

The exhibition also featured a range of other traditional crafts, including Dawenkou lace craftsmanship, Feicheng peach wood carving, Taishan paper-cutting, and Xintai wheat straw fan making. An interactive zone allowed visitors to try their hands at paper-cutting, rope weaving, and rubbing under the guidance of masters.

This event reflects Tai'an's ongoing efforts to integrate traditional culture with tourism, sports, education, and creative industries — keeping traditions alive in modern life.

A skilled artisan demonstrates traditional Tai'an paper-cutting, a delicate craft passed down through generations. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]