On June 9, the city of Wuxi in East China's Jiangsu province launched a month-long series of themed activities to commemorate Cultural and Natural Heritage Day. This annual celebration, which took place on June 10 this year, is dedicated to strengthening the protection of intangible cultural heritage items and promoting sustainable development.

Girls dress in traditional hanfu pose for a photo in front of some intangible cultural heritage stands at the fair. [Photo provided to gowuxi.com]

As the focal point of this year's festivities, the "Xishui Fair" took place at the Xishui Pier from June 9 to June 11. The fair showcased a wide array of esteemed intangible cultural heritage items and time-honored brands. This included Huishan clay figurines, Yixing purple clay teapots, Wuxi embroidery, bamboo carvings, paper-cuttings, and Huishan Yousu (crispy cakes with stuffing).

Huishan clay figurines on display at the fair. [Photo provided to gowuxi.com]

The fair also provided a unique opportunity for inheritors of Yixing jun-glazed pottery, Wuxi zhima (woodprint joss paper), and Yixing celadon to engage with audience members through interactive outdoor classes. Their efforts have led to the spread of knowledge about these cultural treasures.

Inheritors of Wuxi zhima share stories of the cultural heritage. [Photo provided to gowuxi.com]

Inheritors of Xiju Opera, pingtan (ballad singing in a local dialect accompanied by a three-stringed lute known as pipa), and Wu ballads, were also invited to perform at the event, gracing the audience with their captivating performances.

Performers showcase Xiju Opera in a performance. [Photo provided to gowuxi.com]

Meanwhile, the first city-level "digital ICH" channel was also officially launched at the event, which plays a crucial role in fostering the high-quality development of culture. It does this by offering a gateway for citizens to explore Wuxi’s comprehensive array of intangible cultural heritage projects.