Foreign visitors immersed in Shandong's intangible cultural heritage

Foreign visitors explore ICH in Longkou, a county-level city in Shandong province. [Photo by Xie Hongyu for chinadaily.com.cn]

Over 50 foreign visitors from countries such as Russia, France, and Thailand were recently invited to experience the intangible cultural heritage (ICH) of Longkou, formerly Huangxian county, a county-level city in Shandong province.

During the event, the visitors were introduced to the local culture and culinary specialties of Longkou city. The Huangxian Da Tang (also known as Huangxian Malted Sesame Candy), a traditional candy brand with a long history, captured the attention of the foreign guests, who praised its texture and sweetness.

"In my home country of Thailand, we also have similar sesame candy snacks, but the ingredients used are different. Huangxian Da Tang has a more fragrant and sweeter taste. I really like it," said a Thai student studying in China.

The visitors then toured an exhibition showcasing Longkou's diverse ICH and saw exhibits such as clay tigers, reed-shaped dough sculptures, paper-cut window decorations, and traditional string weaving. The peacock-shaped dough sculpture in particular impressed everyone because of its intricate craftsmanship. Eager to capture the moment, the visitors took out their phones to document the experience and shared it on social media.

This event broke through language barriers and allowed foreign visitors to appreciate the allure of Longkou's folk art while gaining a deeper understanding of China's rich cultural heritage. (Edited by Jiang Ting)