#China #Cultural Heritage #Chinese New Year #Yulin City #Yulin

Embracing Traditions: Foreigners Celebrate the Chinese New Year in Yulin City

The Chinese New Year stands as a vibrant global festival, and in 2024, it achieved notable recognition by being added to the World Intangible Cultural Heritage List. This historic milestone has allowed the holiday to be celebrated by more than 20 countries, resonating with one-fifth of the world’s population.

In Yulin City, Shaanxi Province—a place steeped in history as a fortress on the Great Wall and an essential post along the Silk Road—foreigners are invited to participate in unique customs and folk arts. During a recent celebration, visitors immersed themselves in various traditional crafts that echo generations of cultural richness, showcasing Yulin's important role in preserving intangible heritage.

At the Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center in the Yuyang district, guests experienced the exquisite filigree inlay technique, recognized as a hallmark of the Yang family’s craftsmanship, which has been passed down through five generations since the Ming Dynasty. This intricate method combines aesthetics from Central Plains with nomadic influences. Participants had the chance to create their unique piece of silver jewelry resembling a Chinese knot. Many expressed amazement at the meticulous craftsmanship, highlighting it as an enlightening experience of Chinese artistry.

Moving from silver to clay, the creative energy continued in a workshop where Master Cui demonstrated the art of Yulin clay sculpture. Having roots dating back to the Ming and Qing dynasties, these sculptures depict life in northern Shaanxi, bringing stories of old farmers and street performers into three-dimensional form. A foreign participant proudly held up his statue of an “old man with a pipe,” articulating how this craft reveals the profound cultural insights of the Chinese people through a simple yet vivid medium.

The journey didn’t stop there; at the paper-cutting pavilion led by Master Dong, the visitors were taught the traditional technique of multi-layer hollow paper cutting. This ancient practice, which has evolved over centuries, features narratives from northern Shaanxi folklore, vividly brought to life with just a pair of scissors. Participants left with intricately crafted paper-cut designs that encapsulated wishes for prosperity and good fortune in the upcoming year, echoing hopes that this form of Eastern wisdom would gain visibility worldwide.

The fusion of silver jewelry, clay sculptures, and paper-cutting not only reflects Yulin's artistic heritage but also sparks a dialogue among cultures. For many foreign visitors, participating in these crafts transformed the view of the Chinese New Year from just a festival into a profound connection to Eastern civilization. The ancient practices serve as cultural threads that support understanding and appreciation across borders, blossoming anew in the global context of cultural exchange.

In Yulin City, the echoes of the past resonate in the present, illustrating that through art and shared experiences, the spirit of the Chinese New Year has become a gateway for the world to engage with China's rich heritage and values. As this celebration unfolds, it reaffirms the notion that intangible cultural heritage is not only a celebration of tradition but a bridge for unity in diversity across nations, cultivating an appreciation that spans generations and geographies.