The 40th Taishan Mountain International Climbing Festival kicked off in Tai'an on Sept 5, with an intangible cultural heritage exhibition serving as a key part of the opening ceremony.

Held at the city's culture and art center square, the event brought together 16 heritage items deeply rooted in Taishan culture, including Shandong Bangzi Opera, peach wood carving, and traditional tofu-making. Among the highlights was the Taishan Shi Family Dough Figurine craft, a provincial intangible cultural heritage.

Originating in the mid-Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Taishan dough figurines have a history of over 200 years. The seventh-generation inheritor, Shi Hongling, grew up in a family of artists.

Over 30 years of creation and continuous learning, she studied under Tianjin dough figurine master Wang Di, blending modern aesthetics into the ancient craft. She preserves her ancestral recipe — wheat flour as the base, glutinous rice flour for flexibility, and honey to prevent cracking — while boldly introducing elements of Taishan Mountain's cloud sea and Shigandang culture, as well as trendy themes that appeal to younger audiences.

At the exhibition, Shi demonstrated the techniques of kneading, rolling, pinching, and shaping, turning simple dough into vivid figurines. Visitors were invited to try the craft under her guidance, with many families participating and children learning about traditional culture through hands-on experiences.

Taishan dough figurines evolve from ritual offerings into works of art. [Photo/WeChat account: taishanmiansu]