On August 13, representatives from overseas media outlets of Bangladesh, Canada, South Korea and Pakistan, as well as international friends from Sri Lanka and Thailand visited the Liaohe Community at the Economic and Technological Development Zone of Dongying City, east China's Shandong Province, during the "Strolling Through Dongying, Decoding Yellow River Culture" International Communication Event. They visited the intangible cultural heritage (ICH) display and experienced traditional handicrafts making in Liaohe Community, learning about the community-driven efforts to preserve and pass on ICH as well as enrich local residents' cultural life.

The international delegation received a briefing on the community.

Photo by Wang Xianxin

During the visit, vividly-shaped cloth puppets, exquisitely-structured wood carvings and distinctive paper-cut pieces aroused great interest among delegation members. They got an up-close look at the production procedures of these traditional handicrafts and took part in interactions, experiencing the depth and charm of China's folk traditional culture.

Overseas media representatives learned about the making process of paper-cut artworks.

Photo by Wang Xianxin

Paper-cut artworks display.

Photo by Wang Xianxin

Established in 2009, Liaohe Community administers 15 residential compounds with more than 14,770 permanent residents. In recent years, the community has integrated ICH inheritance into its cultural development. For instance, it has introduced multiple ICH items including Liu's cloth puppets, Yang's wood carving and paper-cutting, and built an exhibition hall for Liu's cloth puppets. Venues are provided for ICH inheritors to deliver public-welfare courses, gradually developing a well-established model for ICH inheritance.

In addition, Liaohe Community prioritizes ICH skill-training programs for the unemployed, disadvantaged groups, persons with disabilities and retirees. These programs help local residents expand avenues for flexible employment. Meanwhile, ICH handicraft courses are offered for teenagers.

International delegation took a photo with an ICH inheritor.

Photo by Wang Xianxin

From ICH display to training programs, Liaohe Community keeps innovating the forms for ICH inheritance. By integrating training programs preservation with grassroots governance, it has revitalized traditional culture in modern times.