Diverse Beijing neighborhood savors heritage feast

A recent event celebrating cultural diversity has brought Chinese and expat residents together in Beijing's Chaoyang District for an immersive experience of intangible cultural heritage (ICH).

The event, titled a "neighborhood festival," invited international friends to join a series of hands-on activities.

Attendees from various countries had the opportunity to don traditional Chinese attire such as qipao, or cheongsam, and hanfu, as well as try their hand at adorning themselves with zanhua, or floral hairpins.  

They also engaged in creating traditional Chinese handicrafts like paper-cutting and dough sculpting, gaining a firsthand understanding of the exquisite craftsmanship behind these art forms.

One highlight of the event was the ICH performances. Nine master artisans were invited to showcase their skills on-site, and these included a Song Dynasty-style tea ceremony, Qing Dynasty-style clay sculpting and jade carving that belongs to the Liangzhu culture era, dating back to a period between 5,300 to 4,300 years ago.

In addition to the ICH showcases, the event also included several stalls where visitors could explore traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) by consulting with practitioners for pulse diagnosis and tongue inspections.

A bustling market was another highlight of the event, where visitors were able to savor a diverse range of international cuisines from countries such as Argentina, Egypt, the Maldives, Vietnam and Malaysia. Alongside the culinary delights, unique cultural and creative products from these countries were on display, along with offerings from local renowned catering brands.  

This combined setup has provided both Chinese and expat residents with a comprehensive "culture+shopping" experience, allowing them to appreciate the allure of global multiculturalism from various aspects of daily life. "We hope to continue promoting the construction of an international community through this type of neighborhood festival," said Li Nan, a local official.