Three Chinese cultural traditions added to UNESCO's intangible heritage list

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) added three Chinese cultural elements to its Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on Thursday, including the Qiang New Year Festival.

The festival, celebrated in southwest China's Sichuan Province, is a big holiday for the Qiang people. Falling on the 1st day of the tenth lunar month and lasting three to five days, it is a time to celebrate harvest, seek safety and extend blessings.

The Qiang, an ancient ethnic group with thousands of years of history, have developed a unique culture. The festival combines folk beliefs, oral traditions, performing arts and traditional craftsmanship. Through the celebration, Qiang people express reverence for nature and maintain connections to their ancestral heritage.

While the exact origins are uncertain, the festival is believed to predate the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC). The 2024 celebration was held on November 1.

Besides the Qiang New Year, traditional Chinese wooden arch bridges and traditional Li textile technique were also added to UNESCO's cultural heritage list.

All three items were listed in 2009 on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.

(With inputs from agencies)

(Cover: The Qiang people dressed in traditional costumes celebrate their New Year, Sichuan Province, China, November 1, 2024. /CFP)