Chengdu Universiade | Colorful Intangible Cultural Heritage Blossoming during the Universiade Project | Inheritor | Universiade

"I really like kites, and there are also kite makers in my hometown, but it's very different from here," said Brazilian athlete Leonardo. At the interactive experience center of the Universiade Village in Chengdu, he happily flew a newly made kite.

Chen Feng, the representative inheritor of Chengdu Pengzhou Aoping Kite, an intangible cultural heritage project, told reporters that kite making skills are a national level intangible cultural heritage. Aoping kite making skills reflect the characteristics of western Sichuan kites, using resilient Cizhu as the skeleton and adding Sichuan opera face changing pandas in the pattern design. This is also the most popular pattern chosen by athletes who come to experience it.

On August 3rd, at the Interactive Experience Center of Chengdu Universiade Village, Chen Feng, a representative inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage project Pengzhou Aoping Kite, guided Azerbaijani athlete Nikita Simonov to make kites. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Shen Bohan

"There are over 100 participants every day, with a maximum of over 170 on a single day," Chen Feng said. Participants will also receive an exquisite box with the world's first banknote "Jiaozi" pattern printed on it, making it convenient for them to take the kite as a souvenir.

The Dayun Village is the place where members of the Chengdu Universiade delegation reside and live, and it is also an important platform for global exchange among young university students. Dong Cheng, Executive Deputy Village Chief of Dayun Village, introduced that in accordance with the requirements of "simplicity, safety, and excitement" in organizing competitions, Dayun Village has organized cultural activities with Chinese characteristics, contemporary atmosphere, and youthful charm, allowing young friends from all over the world to gather and learn from each other, enhance friendship, experience and share Chinese civilization and excellent culture in Dayun Village.

Among them, the interactive experience of intangible cultural heritage is the highlight of many cultural activities. At the interactive experience center of the Universiade Village, athletes and coaches came to follow the inheritors of Sichuan embroidery, bamboo weaving, Paper Cuttings and other intangible cultural heritage projects to get a close understanding of Chinese intangible cultural heritage culture during the break time.

Zhao Shuang, a representative inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage project Qingshen Bamboo Weaving, told reporters that the experience project they designed was to make rabbits using the cross weaving method. "Choosing rabbits, on the one hand, this year is the Year of the Rabbit, and on the other hand, it means' grand exhibition ', hoping that athletes can achieve good results in the competition."

On August 2, Zhao Shuang, representative inheritor of Qingshen Bamboo Weaving, an intangible cultural heritage project, guided Samla, a Türkiye athlete, to make bamboo weaving at the Chengdu Universiade Village Interactive Experience Center. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Shen Bohan

Under the guidance of Zhao Shuang, Lalani from Sri Lanka took more than ten minutes to complete the production. "This is made of bamboo, it's unbelievable. I want to take this' rabbit 'back and share its production process with my family." She happily invited the instructor and volunteers to take a group photo with the finished product.

During the Universiade, colorful intangible cultural heritage bloomed brilliantly, and delegations from various countries and regions also felt the historical and cultural charm of the Bashu region while participating in the competition. In addition to the Dayun Village, the reporter learned that more than 100 intangible cultural heritage projects, including more than 2400 works and products, were exhibited in Jinniu Hotel, Tianfu Art Park, Dongmen Market, and other places. 18 different intangible cultural heritage projects and 47 intangible cultural heritage inheritors participated in live exhibitions.

Shu embroidery, also known as "Sichuan embroidery", has a long history and rich heritage. It is one of the longest lasting embroidery styles in China and is known as the "treasure of Shu". At the welcome banquet for the opening ceremony of the Chengdu Universiade held at the Jinniu Hotel, Wu Yuying, a representative inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage project Shu embroidery, showcased representative works of Shu embroidery such as giant pandas and lotus carp on site. She also used Shu embroidery techniques to make the "Panda Head" brooch and gave it to guests as a souvenir.

On July 31st, at the Interactive Experience Center of Chengdu Universiade Village, Argentine athlete Yala Navarro experienced embroidering her Chinese name on Shu embroidery works. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Shen Bohan

Previously, the Shu embroidery guide sign at the opening ceremony of the Universiade became a major highlight. This is a team led by Hao Shuping, a representative inheritor of Shu embroidery, using Shu brocade as the base and meticulously crafting it. The entry guide sign made of Shu embroidery symbolizes a bright future and expresses good wishes to college students around the world.

Hao Shuping said, "As a native of Chengdu and a inheritor of Shu embroidery, seeing Shu embroidery with a history of thousands of years presented in a unique way at the globally renowned Chengdu Universiade is both the pride of Shu embroidery people and Chengdu people."

Face changing in Sichuan opera is one of the special effects in Sichuan opera performance, which expresses the inner thoughts and emotions of the characters in the drama through the instantaneous changes in facial makeup. During the Universiade, Sichuan Opera also made stunning appearances multiple times.

At the welcome banquet of the opening ceremony of the Chengdu Universiade, on-site performer Ruan Yong wore clothing based on the "Jiaolong" and transformed 12 facial masks in about 3 minutes. When the tiger face transformed into a 3D painting, the on-site guests couldn't help but applaud and praise.

On July 28th, actors performed Sichuan opera face changing at the opening ceremony of the Universiade. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Jiang Hongjing

At the opening ceremony of the Universiade, accompanied by a mix of "Sichuan opera recitation" and cyberpunk style background music, the faces of performers Kang Yong, such as Da Hua Mian, Sun Wukong Mian, and the "Hua Hua" face of the giant panda, quickly passed by one after another, making it overwhelming.

Sichuan opera face changing also appeared on the competition field. On July 30th, before the start of the shooting award ceremony at the Universiade, music suddenly rang out in the venue. Two Sichuan Opera face changing actors dressed in traditional costumes entered the venue. They skillfully changed their faces and won rounds of applause as fans and cloaks flipped over. Many foreign audiences came to shake hands and take photos with the actors.

Cultural activities for the Chengdu Universiade have also been held at multiple locations such as the main media center and official designated hotels.

On the second floor atrium of the main media center of the Universiade, there are traditional performance areas, intangible cultural heritage exhibition areas, cultural experience areas, and tea tasting and leisure areas. Chen Ge, the full-time deputy director of the event operation department at the main media center, introduced that they invited inheritors of Sichuan bamboo qin, Qingcheng martial arts, and porcelain body bamboo weaving intangible cultural heritage to create 14 cultural programs. Since its trial operation on July 13th, the main media center has organized cultural activities every day and has received over 2000 media reporters.

"A series of cultural exhibition activities immerse the exhibition booth and combine Chengdu's unique culture with fun interaction. We hope that everyone can fully experience the colorful Bashu culture and share the friendship and happiness brought by the Youth Festival of the Chengdu Universiade through participating in these activities." said Qiu Li, Deputy Minister of the Propaganda Department of the Executive Committee of the Chengdu Universiade.