In recent years, the intangible cultural heritage (ICH) sector of Gansu Province has closely centered on its core missions of promoting guiding principles, rallying public morale, nurturing a new generation, advancing culture, and showcasing its image. Building on the rich ICH resources of the Longyuan region, the province has continuously strengthened its protection systems, innovated inheritance pathways, and deepened the integration of culture and tourism. By aligning with national strategies, Gansu has further integrated ICH into modern life, demonstrating vibrant vitality and enduring dynamism in preserving cultural heritage, serving people's livelihoods, and empowering development. The systematic safeguarding of ICH across the province has yielded significant results. Recently, an official from the Gansu Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism spoke exclusively about the specific efforts and progress made in the protection and development of the province's ICH.

Question:What types of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) does Gansu include, and what is the current status of their protection?

Answer:As a major province of intangible cultural heritage resources, Gansu is traversed by the Silk Road and characterized by multi-ethnic integration and coexistence. This has fostered a profound historical and cultural accumulation, resulting in a wealth of vibrant and diverse intangible cultural heritage. It encompasses ten major categories, including folk literature, traditional music, traditional dance, traditional opera, folk performing arts, traditional sports (recreation and acrobatics), traditional fine arts, traditional craftsmanship, traditional medicine, and folk customs. These elements showcase distinct features of diversity within unity, where each category shines with its unique charm.

The Gansu Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism has solidly advanced the systematic protection of ICH, implementing projects for the preservation, inheritance, and development of intangible cultural heritage, with all related work progressing steadily. According to statistics, as of now, the province has identified a total of 9,119 ICH representative items across various levels and 14,227 representative ICH inheritors. Among these, "Hua'er" (folk song), Huanxian Daoqing Shadow Puppetry, and Tianzhu Gesar (Gesar) Epic are inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Nationally, Gansu boasts 83 national-level ICH representative items and 84 national-level representative inheritors. At the provincial level, there are 778 representative items and 757 representative inheritors. Furthermore, 2,447 items have been designated as municipal/prefectural-level ICH representative items, with 3,813 inheritors recognized at this level, while 5,811 items have been listed as county/district-level representative items, accompanied by 9,573 inheritors at that level. The province has established a relatively comprehensive four-tiered ICH inventory system at the national, provincial, municipal, and county levels.

Question:What laws and regulations has Gansu Province implemented to protect intangible cultural heritage?

Answer:The Gansu Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism strictly enforces the Law of the People's Republic of China on Intangible Cultural Heritage and the Regulations of Gansu Province on Intangible Cultural Heritage. It has also formulated and issued the Measures for the Management of Special Funds for Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection in Gansu Province and the Interim Measures for the Identification and Management of Provincial-Level Intangible Cultural Heritage Workshops in Gansu Province. By closely adhering to legal provisions, the department ensures government accountability, improves supporting systems, strengthens systematic protection, enhances the capacity for living inheritance and dissemination, expands reasonable utilization opportunities, and continuously reinforces the legal safeguards for intangible cultural heritage protection. Regular and comprehensive inspections are conducted across the province to monitor the implementation of legal awareness, law enforcement, and the fulfillment of intangible cultural heritage protection responsibilities. These efforts help to ensure accountability, identify issues, and urge corrective actions, thereby advancing the cause of intangible cultural heritage protection steadily and sustainably within a legal framework.

Question:What efforts has Gansu made to promote and publicize intangible cultural heritage products?

Answer:The Gansu Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism supports inheritors in leveraging approaches such as "non-legacy + short videos" and "non-legacy + live-streaming" to bring intangible cultural heritage treasures hidden deep in the mountains to the nation and the world via the cloud.

The "Four Seasons Non-Legacy Shopping Month" initiative, themed "Quality Non-Legacy Goods, National Trend Revival," organizes seasonal activities including the Non-Legacy New Year Shopping Month, Non-Legacy Revival Shopping Month, Non-Legacy Summer Shopping Month, and Non-Legacy National Trend Shopping Month. Building on eight provincial-level cultural ecological reserves in Gansu, efforts are made to comprehensively enhance the holistic protection of intangible cultural heritage and foster a positive social atmosphere for cultural ecological preservation. Leveraging 119 non-legacy workshops as key platforms, multiple pathways such as "non-legacy + cultural innovation + training + e-commerce + exhibitions + rural tourism" are employed to continuously drive non-legacy initiatives in boosting rural revitalization, promoting employment, and stimulating consumption. Non-legacy projects have made impressive appearances at major investment promotion and publicity events, showcasing Gansu’s intangible cultural heritage through technological means and garnering widespread attention from domestic and international visitors.

Question:What efforts have been made to integrate intangible cultural heritage products with modern life?

Answer:The vitality of intangible cultural heritage lies in its integration with modern life. For many consecutive years, the Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism has organized main venue activities for the promotion, exhibition, and sale of intangible cultural heritage in Gansu, such as "Intangible Cultural Heritage Celebrates the New Year" and "Cultural and Natural Heritage Day." In 2025, the documentary"Intangible Cultural Heritage in China: Gansu Chapter" was filmed and broadcast during prime time on CCTV's comprehensive channel. In 2026, three intangible cultural heritage projects from Gansu stood out brilliantly at the "2026 Intangible Cultural Heritage Gala." Efforts have been intensified to integrate intangible cultural heritage with tourism, with in-depth promotion of initiatives such as bringing intangible cultural heritage into scenic spots, communities, and schools. These initiatives comprehensively showcase the unique charm of intangible cultural heritage to residents and tourists, and four routes have been selected as national intangible cultural heritage-themed tourism routes. Strong support has been given to master-apprentice activities, encouraging more young people to take up the baton, ensuring that ancient skills are not only preserved "without distortion" but also "innovated" through intergenerational transmission.

With systematic protection as the foundation, living inheritance as the core, and cultural-tourism integration as the pathway, intangible cultural heritage in Gansu has not only survived but thrived. It has gradually transformed from being "kept in the seclusion of boudoirs, unknown to the world" to "flying into the homes of ordinary people," painting a magnificent picture of "Ruyi Gansu · Colorful Intangible Cultural Heritage."