Ancient grottoes in southwest China survive, thrive via innovative measures

Hongshan relics and artifacts reveal ritualistic systems, an integration of cultures, and the formation of China's united identity.

The exhibition titled "Legends of Dragon: The Ancient Civilization of Hongshan Culture" will open at the Shanghai Museum East on June 26. Hongshan culture is an important prehistoric archaeological culture dating back roughly 5,000 to 6,000 years.

​China's earliest known steel acupuncture needles have been discovered in the famed tomb of the Marquis of Haihun in east China's Jiangxi Province, according to the provincial cultural relics and archaeological institute.

The De'ang ethnic group has successfully had its traditional sour tea production techniques inscribed as a sub-item on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Taiping Houkui is a renowned green tea from Anhui, known for its flat, elongated leaves. Grown in Huangshan's pristine environment, it undergoes meticulous hand-processing, including pan-firing and careful drying. The tea offers a unique aroma, mellow taste, and sweet aftertaste. The making technique of Taiping Houkui was listed as one of the national intangible cultural heritages in 2008.

The UNESCO natural and cultural heritage site in southeastern China's Fujian province is the only place in the country where Wuyi rock tea, a variation of oolong tea, is grown. Historical records describe more than 200 types of rock tea produced in the Wuyishan area.

China's intangible cultural heritage workshops are proving a powerful force for rural revitalization, with over 11,000 such workshops preserving traditional crafts, creating jobs and boosting local economies, official data shows.

​The Shanhaiguan Museum of the Great Wall of China on Sunday opened to the public in the city of Qinhuangdao, north China's Hebei province.

​China's National Cultural Heritage Administration on Saturday announced 10 new national archaeological site parks, bringing the country's total to 65 across 21 provincial-level regions.

China plans to build its first national heritage route along the historically significant Hexi Corridor, located in northwest China, within the next ten years.

​A new batch of 52 archival documents have been listed as China's documentary heritage, the National Archives Administration of China announced on Monday.

The Qiang New Year Festival is a traditional celebration of the Qiang people, one of China's oldest ethnic groups, often described as a "living fossil" in the evolutionary history of the Chinese nation.

The Gesar epic tradition was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009. This recognition honors the Gesar epic as one of the world's oldest and most important oral traditions.

The farmers' dance of China's Korean ethnic group was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009. This listing acknowledges the cultural significance of this dance, which is a central aspect of the Korean ethnic minority's agricultural traditions in China.

The traditional design and practices for building Chinese wooden arch bridges are a remarkable expression of Chinese engineering ingenuity and cultural heritage.

Traditional Li textile techniques, which encompass spinning, dyeing, weaving and embroidering, represent a vital aspect of the cultural heritage of the Li ethnic group, an indigenous community in China's Hainan province.

Urtiin Duu, or "long song," is a major form of traditional folk songs in China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, which is deeply embedded in the cultural life of the Mongolian people.

Chinese seal engraving, an ancient and revered art form, has long been a central part of China's cultural heritage. In 2009, it was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, acknowledging its historical value, craftsmanship and continuing role in Chinese society.

Known for its refined sound and deep cultural symbolism, the Guqin has been an essential part of Chinese cultural life for over three millennia.

​China's ongoing fourth national cultural heritage survey will prioritize the identification of historic sites and architectural works from the modern era, according to a directive that the National Cultural Heritage Administration made public on Monday.