The Art of Governance: How China revitalizes its cultural heritage

Around the world, ancient crafts are fading. In Italy, master artisans compare themselves to endan-gered species – rare, protected, and struggling to survive. But in China, a different story is unfold-ing. A new generation is breathing life into centuries-old traditions – not as museum pieces, but as living, evolving art. This is The Art of Governance: how China's youth are turning heritage into a bridge between past and future, and between cultures.

A growing number of young people are diving into traditional crafts. According to a short-video platform's report on intangible cultural heritage (ICH), the number of Gen Z ICH creators skyrock-eted by 95% over the past year, while inheritors under 30 increased by 24%.

Digital technology and the internet have put traditional Chinese crafts on fast-forward. But an even bigger boost comes from solid state support: the central government has set up a dedicated fund for intangible cultural heritage (ICH) protection, and most provinces have followed suit to support their own inheritors.

ICH preservation is no longer just a labor of love. It's sparking real economic momentum. Last year alone, a major e-commerce platform in China sold over 6.5 billion ICH-related items online – that's about 4.6 orders per person in China. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, together with the Ministry of Education, launched a training program for ICH inheritors. Over the past dec-ade, over 100 universities have trained inheritors in more than 1,300 national-level ICH practices.

These young inheritors are like new engines, opening up countless creative ways to keep traditions vibrant—even winning fans among overseas youth. This cultural confidence is a heart-to-heart bridge – igniting collaboration and breathing new life into ancient heritage so it can truly live and thrive.