Awakening Quyi's Next Spring in the Wheat Fields

The centuries-old Ma Street Storytelling Fair in Baofeng County, Henan, has shifted from annual to weekly events since August 2024, revitalising China’s "living fossil" of folk art. Over 1,900 performers aged 6 to 87 gathered recently, showcasing quyi (Chinese folk arts) like drum storytelling and Henan Zhuizi. Veterans like 82-year-old Wang Qiaozhen, a 1987 "storytelling champion," praised improved facilities and growing youth engagement. Young artists innovate via live streams and pop-culture adaptations, while schools integrate quyi into curricula. Efforts to blend tradition with innovation aim to sustain this intangible heritage for future generations.

#IntangibleCulturalHeritage #TraditionalArtRevival #YouthEmpowerment

By Wang Ziyuan andLe Dongshan(intern)Li Zian'ang Pan ZhiXian/China Youth Daily

Photo by: Li Ziang