On October 14, the 2024 Chongyang Canal Drum Performance Conference successfully concluded in Cangzhou City, jointly hosted by the Hebei Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism and the Cangzhou Municipal Government. The event spanned four days and featured 15 performances of traditional folk arts at various venues, including Nanchuan Old Street, Cangzhou Garden Expo Park, the China Grand Canal Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition Hall, Boshi Wellness Park, the Cangzhou Iron Lion and Old Town Ruins Park, and the Hejian Li Duokui Grand Theater. More than 60,000 on-site visitors participated, while nearly 20 million people watched online broadcasts, generating a significant social response. The event was characterized by its high standards and large scale.
2024 Chongyang Canal Drum Performance Conference Launch Ceremony
Maximizing the Impact of Cultural Ambassadors: The conference brought together representatives from 11 provinces, including Shaanxi, Liaoning, and Inner Mongolia, alongside approximately 30 national intangible cultural heritage representatives in the folk arts category and over 40 culinary heritage inheritors, totaling more than 320 participants. From October 11 to 13, a series of events were held, including “Folk Arts Showcase,” “Legendary Performances,” “Cultural Discussions,” and a Grand Canal Intangible Cultural Heritage Culinary Creative Exhibition. Renowned folk artists such as Liu Lanfang, Li Jindou, and Shi Fukuang, along with famous host Bai Yansheng, contributed to the event, which featured diverse and rich performances focused on specific themes. Additionally, Peking Opera master Pei Yanling provided guidance, and well-known actors Du Xudong, Wang Shaohua, and Zhang Qiuling performed at a special Peking Opera showcase on the 11th. Cultural ambassador Bai Yansheng filmed three short videos at Cangzhou Garden Expo Park, Bashi Park, and the Dahu Industrial Heritage Cultural Zone to promote Cangzhou. The city produced and published 28 short videos and 16 event updates across various media platforms, amassing over 164,000 views by October 14, with enthusiastic online engagement that created a positive promotional effect for Cangzhou.
Highlighting Themes and Emphasizing Heritage: The event leveraged the traditional Chinese festival of Chongyang to showcase the achievements of the Grand Canal’s intangible cultural heritage protection and utilization on its 10th anniversary. It promoted the excellent traditional Chinese culture of respecting and caring for the elderly. Representatives from local wellness institutions and community role models participated in the activities, sharing the achievements of the Grand Canal’s cultural, tourism, and ecological initiatives. During the launch ceremony, six elder-friendly tourism routes and special offers in Cangzhou were announced to provide convenient and quality travel services for seniors. The event also explored new development opportunities for the “Wellness + Tourism” and “Intangible Heritage + Tourism” sectors. Activities included boat tours along the canal, observations of Nanchuan Old Street, and inspections of the Grand Canal Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition Hall, the Cangzhou Iron Lion, and the Old Town Ruins Park, all of which showcased the achievements of the Grand Canal cultural belt and its systematic heritage protection efforts.
Cangzhou Iron Lion: A Symbol of Strength and Heritage
Expanding Reach and Promoting Tourism: The event adopted a focused promotional approach, collaborating with cultural and tourism departments across eight provinces along the Grand Canal. It disseminated pre-event promotional videos and Cangzhou cultural introductions, resulting in a positive nationwide promotional effect. Additionally, the event was live-streamed across multiple mainstream and new media platforms, including the National Public Culture Cloud, Hebei Radio and Television, Changcheng New Media, and various social media outlets. Extensive coverage was provided by major national and provincial media, with over 50 articles published across platforms such as China News Service, People’s Daily, and Hebei Daily, enhancing the recognition and reputation of Cangzhou as a cultural destination.
Fostering Exchange and Promoting Innovation: The event also featured a seminar titled “Cultural Discussions,” bringing together experts from the China Quyi Association and the Beijing Quyi Artists Association, as well as cultural and tourism officials and provincial intangible heritage inheritors. Discussions focused on promoting the innovative development of traditional folk culture in the new era. Furthermore, the Nanchuan building hosted the signing of agreements for regular performances by inheritors of the Xihe Dagu and Cangzhou Wooden Drum, fostering the excavation and dissemination of Grand Canal folk culture and creating a model for leveraging folk art resources to promote cultural and tourism industry development across different regions.