Shandong launches rural cultural tourism festival

A Yangko dance and drum performance takes place in Yangxin county. [Photo by Wei Junyu for chinadaily.com.cn]

East China's Shandong province kicked off its 2024 Chinese New Year Rural Cultural Tourism Festival on Jan 18 with a Yangko dance event and a drum performance in Yanghu township – located in Yangxin county, in Binzhou city.

The event, attended by provincial, municipal and county cultural and art officials, featured eight Yangko drum and dance teams from Yanghu township, displaying the local farmers' vitality and the festive atmosphere of the rural areas.

Foreign students from Shandong Normal University experience the Chinese New Year at the event. [Photo by Wei Junyu for chinadaily.com.cn]

The event also showcased the folk culture and the intangible cultural heritage of Yangxin county – including the Xihe drum, bamboo book, tin pot making skills and paper cutting. More than 10 calligraphers wrote spring couplets and gave them to the visitors.

The event drew many tourists, including foreign students from Shandong Normal University, who came to experience the Chinese New Year.

Yangxin county will host more than 80 activities with various themes and features during the 54-day festival. (Edited by Fan Yuanyuan)