Kaiyang ICH boosts cultural tourism

The Kaiyang culture and tourism bureau has utilized local intangible cultural heritage (ICH) resources to advance the construction of ICH inventories, the development of cultural creative products, and the integration of culture and tourism – forging a new path for the living inheritance and industrialized development of ICH with distinctive Kaiyang characteristics.

Experts discuss Kaiyang's ICH. [Photo/WeChat account of Kaiyang county]

Kaiyang has established three-level ICH survey teams at the village，county and township levels to investigate and catalog ICH resources such as Yang Opera, Di Opera, and high-platform lion dance. Through active applications for recognition at the national, provincial, municipal, and county levels, the county has improved the protection system for ICH projects and inheritors.

To date, the county's ICH projects span eight categories, including traditional crafts, traditional drama, and folk customs. Among these, there is one national-level item, 13 provincial-level items, 17 municipal-level items, and 39 county-level items.

The county has four provincial-level inheritors, 14 municipal-level inheritors, and 37 county-level inheritors.

Kaiyang encourages social forces, including cultural enterprises, emerging entrepreneurs, and ICH enthusiasts, to be part of protecting and developing ICH responsibly. This includes registering market entities, engaging in cultural and creative research and development, and actively learning about and passing down traditions.

In recent years, Kaiyang has focused on supporting representative ICH inheritors and ICH workshops. To date, more than 20 types of ICH-derived products have been developed, including batik and embroidery items, tea, and lanterns.

A Kaiyang cultural creative products. [Photo/WeChat account of Kaiyang county]

In 2025, the county's ICH study tours received a cumulative total of 2,000 visits, and ICH product sales generated approximately 4 million yuan ($590,000) in revenue.