China is the world leader in UNESCO’s intangible heritage (IHC) list according to a new report released by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
The UNESCO Intangible List is a global list of practices, expressions, knowledge, and skills that communities recognize as part of their cultural identity and that are passed down through generations. Examples include oral traditions and storytelling, performing arts, social practices, culinary traditions, crafts, and festivals. The list includes the “Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity” and the “List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding”.
China now has 44 elements inscribed on the UNESCO's intagible heritage list, the most globally, as reported Global Times, a daily Chinese tabloid owned by the People’s Daily Press, after adding new elements like the Spring Festival social practices of the Chinese people for the traditional new year, Taijiquan, a traditional martial art, and the Wangchuan ceremony, also known as Ong Chun, a traditional Chinese ritual for coastal communities that involves worshipping Ong Yah, a deity believed to protect people and their lands from sea - related disasters.
This achievement is a result of China’s preservation efforts, including the 14 Five - Year Plan which added numerous items to its national list, and recognized thousands of new inheritors.
The report indicates that during the period of the 14th Five - Year Plan, China added 325 new items to its national heritage list and recognized 942 heirs. A network of 276 cultural ecology reserves has also been established, while 2.290 heirs nationwide have been systematically documented.
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism highlighted a notable increase in public participation following activities linked to the preservation and highlighting relevance of the cultural heritage, driven by digital platforms. In 2024, an average of 65.000 heritage - related live streams were streamed daily through Chinese short -form video services.
Local governments have expanded cultural studios, training spaces, and 12.900 heritage workshops were established nationwide. These centres support teaching, production, and community engagement, contributing to local cultural industries.
Research institutions are also exploring new methods of preservation. In Tianjin, a major international port city on the shore of the Bohai Sea, China’s first Artificial Intelligence Art School develops digital tools to support innovation in heritage, including projects with traditional relief prints.
According to the report, these combined efforts have strengthened China’s ability to safeguard traditional culture, while expanding public access to intangible heritage across the country.
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