Cultural travelogue: Discover Hainan's intangible cultural heritage

South China's Hainan Province is home to a rich array of national-level cultural heritage, with 32 recognized items spanning traditional music, dance, opera, craftsmanship and folk customs. Together, they reflect the island's vibrant and unique cultural identity.

Dragon boat races are a longstanding tradition at Bochao Bay (also known as Bochao Sea) in Danzhou City, forming an key part of the local Dragon Boat Festival celebrations. Residents also mark the occasion by making zongzi (rice dumplings) and taking part in customary sea bathing. In March 2017, these local practices were officially recognized as provincial-level intangible cultural heritage in Hainan.

The double-sided embroidery of the Li ethnic group is a unique extension of their traditional brocade craftsmanship, once practiced mainly by Li women in Baisha Li Autonomous County. With a history of more than 3,000 years, Li Brocade preserves some of China's earliest textile traditions and is often described as a "living fossil" of the country's textile history. True to its name, double-sided embroidery displays identical patterns on both sides of the fabric. More than 100 patterns exist, inspired by ancient beliefs in nature, ancestors and totems. Iconic motifs include frogs, dragons, fish and birds, along with "Da Li Shen," a creation deity revered in Li mythology.

Baicha Village, situated in Jiangbian Town of Dongfang City, is known for its thatched cottages shaped like overturned boats, locally called "boat houses." Home to 81 of these structures, the village highlights the remarkable architectural craftsmanship of the Li ethnic group. In 2008, Baicha's boat houses were added to China's national list of protected intangible cultural heritage.