According to the definition in the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage adopted by UNESCO, "intangible cultural heritage" refers to various practices, performances, and expressions that are regarded as their cultural heritage by various groups, groups, and sometimes individuals, knowledge systems and skills and their related tools, objects, artifacts, and cultural places.

As of 2025, China has a total of 44 items included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List, ranking first in the world in total. What are the specific ones?

1. Kun Opera

Kunqu Opera is one of the oldest existing Chinese operas, originating from the Ming Dynasty (14th to 17th centuries AD). The singing style of Kun Opera has a strong artistic quality and has a huge influence on all modern Chinese dramas, such as Sichuan Opera and Peking Opera. Kunqu opera performances include singing, chanting, acting, playing, dancing, etc. These contents are also the basic subjects for training Peking opera actors. Kunqu Opera and its drama structure (Dan, Chou, Sheng, and other roles) have also been borrowed from other drama types.

"The Peony Pavilion" and "The Palace of Eternal Life" have become traditional repertoires. Kunqu opera performances are accompanied by gongs, drums, strings, flutes, flutes, shengs, pipas, and other orchestral and percussion instruments. The dance movements of Kun Opera are mainly divided into two categories, which are rich in expressive power.

2. Guqin art

Guqin is one of the most representative Chinese solo instruments. People often play the guqin not only for playing music but also for self-entertainment, meditation, personal cultivation, and emotional communication between close friends. Guqin has a history of more than 3,000 years in China. Guqin art has absorbed a large number of elegant and melodious tunes, with complex and exquisite playing techniques, and has a unique notation method.

A large number of music scores are passed down orally. The guqin has seven strings and thirteen emblems. Through ten different plucking methods, the player can play four octaves. The same pitch can be played on different strings and in different positions using different methods such as scatter, fret, and pan, and the timbre is richly varied.

3. Xinjiang Uyghur Muqam Art

"Xinjiang Uyghur Muqam" is a general term for various Muqams spread in various Uyghur settlements in Xinjiang, China. It is a large-scale comprehensive art form that integrates singing, dancing, and music. In the specific cultural context of the Uyghurs, "Mukam" has become a term that encompasses various artistic elements and cultural significance such as literature, music, dance, rap, drama, and even national identity and religious beliefs.

The singing contest in Xinjiang Uyghur Muqam art includes philosophers' aphorisms, literati's poems, prophetic warnings, folk stories, etc. It is an encyclopedia reflecting the life and social outlook of the Uyghur people. The song genres include both narrative songs and narrative songs; the singing methods include chorus, unison singing, and solo singing; the lyrics rhythm,m and rhyme methods are complex and diverse.

4. Mongolian long-tune folk songs

Mongolian songs are divided into two main types, one is Uritingdao, or "long tune", and the other is "short tune". As a form of expression related to grand celebrations and festivals, long tunes enjoy a unique and respected status in Mongolian society. Long tunes can be heard at weddings, housewarmings, baby births, foal markings, and other social activities and religious festivals of Mongolian nomads. Long tunes can be heard even more at the "Nadam" convention, a carnival sports event that includes wrestling, archery, and equestrian competitions.

Long tunes are lyrical songs composed of 32 melodies with a large number of ornaments. They praise the beautiful grasslands, mountains, rivers, parents' love, and close friendship, and express people's thoughts on fate. Its characteristics are: a large number of ornaments and falsetto, long and continuous flowing melodies containing rich rhythmic changes, extremely wide range, and improvisational forms. The ascending melody has a slow and stable rhythm, and the descending melody often inserts lively three-tone repeated phrases, which comes from the imitation of the pace of grassland life.

The singing and composition of long tunes are closely linked to the pastoral lifestyle of herders, which is a lifestyle that is still widely continued by the Mongolian people.

5. Chinese Seal Carving

Chinese seal carving is a unique engraving art that uses stone as the main material, chisels as tools, and Chinese characters as the representation. It has developed from the seal-making skills of ancient China and has a history of more than 3,000 years. It emphasizes the brushwork and structure of Chinese calligraphy and highlights the unrestrained artistic expression in engraving. It displays skills and expresses emotions in a small space, and is deeply loved by Chinese literati and ordinary people. Seal carving works can be appreciated independently and can also be widely used in fields such as calligraphy and painting.

6. Chinese woodblock printing technique

The woodblock printing technique is a special technique that uses a knife to carve words or patterns on a wooden board and then uses ink, paper, silk, and other materials to print and bind them into books. It has a history of more than 1,300 years, more than 400 years earlier than movable type printing. It pioneered the copying technology of mankind, carries immeasurable historical and cultural information, and plays an incomparable and important role in the history of world cultural communication.

7. Chinese calligraphy

Chinese calligraphy is an art practice that uses pen, ink, paper, and other tools as the main materials. It is written in Chinese characters. While completing the practical function of information exchange, it integrates people's thinking about nature, society,y and life with unique modeling symbols and pen and ink rhythm, thus showing the unique way of thinking, personality spirit, and temperament of the Chinese people. Chinese calligraphy has developed along with the creation and evolution of Chinese characters. After more than 3,000 years, it has become a representative symbol of Chinese culture.

8. Chinese Paper-cutting

Chinese paper-cutting is a folk art that uses scissors or carving knives to cut patterns on paper, which is used to decorate life or cooperate with other folk activities. In China, paper-cutting has the broadest mass base. It is integrated into the social life of people of all ethnic groups and is an important part of various folk activities. Its inherited visual images and modeling formats contain rich cultural and historical information, express the social cognition, moral concepts, practical experience, life ideals, and aesthetic tastes of the general public, and have multiple social values ​​such as cognition, education, expression, lyricism, entertainment, and communication.

9. Traditional Chinese wooden structure building construction skills

The traditional Chinese wooden structure building construction skills are a system of building construction technology that uses wood as the main building material, mortis,e and tenon joints as the main method of combining wooden components, and the modular system as the means of scale design and processing production. The construction skills are passed down from generation to generation by teaching by example between teachers and apprentices. This construction skill system has been passed down for more than 7,000 years, throughout China, and spread to East Asian countries such as Japan and South Korea. It is a representative of ancient oriental architectural technology.

10. Nanjing brocade weaving skills

The Nanjing brocade weaving skills continue the tradition of Chinese royal weaving and represent the highest level of Chinese brocade skills. It uses core technologies such as "passing the warp and breaking the weft" on large looms with complex structures. It is manually operated by two people, and uses silk thread, gold thread and peacock feather thread to weave luxurious fabrics such as dragon robes. The Nanjing brocade weaving skills have a complete system and are a testimony to the extraordinary creativity of mankind. Today, Nanjing brocade, named for its brilliance like clouds, is still a classic of traditional Chinese weaving skills, used for weaving high-end fabrics, and loved by the people.

11. Dragon Boat Festival

The Dragon Boat Festival is a traditional Chinese festival, which is held on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. It has a history of more than 2,500 years. The festival customs of expelling poison and avoiding evil spirits have led to a variety of folk activities such as sacrifices, entertainment, and health care in various places, mainly including sacrifices to Qu Yuan, commemorating Wu Zixu, inserting mugwort, hanging calamus, drinking realgar wine, eating rice dumplings, dragon boat racing, and eliminating the five poisons. Various activities vary slightly due to regional differences, especially in Zigui County and Huangshi City in Hubei Province. The Dragon Boat Festival is a traditional festival that contains a unique national spirit and rich cultural connotations, and has a significant impact on Chinese folk life.

12. Chinese Korean Agricultural Music and Dance

Chinese Korean Agricultural Music and Dance is a folk performing art that integrates performance, singing, and dancing, reflecting the traditional agricultural production life of worshiping blessings and celebrating the harvest. The dance is characterized by ecology, simplicity, ruggedness, and harmony. Stepping on the earth god before dancing expresses the primitive belief of respecting and relying on nature. Dancers sang and danced to the beat of suona, dongxiao, and gongs and drums, expressing their good wishes for auspiciousness and happiness. The scene was warm and unrestrained, with distinct ethnic characteristics. Farmer music and dance have been integrated into the blood of the Korean ethnic group in China, becoming an artistic treasure in social and cultural life, reflecting the diversity of world culture and human creativity.

13. Mazu Belief

Mazu is China's most influential seafaring patron saint. In 987 AD, Mazu from Meizhou Island, Putian City, Fujian Province, sacrificed herself to save a shipwreck, and was worshipped by the people of the island and became a sea god. With the development of the shipping industry and the expansion of Mazu's influence, successive dynasties have named Mazu as Tianfei, Tianhou, and Tianshang Shengmu. Mazu belief is a folk culture that worships and praises Mazu's spirit of morality, charity, and great love, with Mazu temples as the main venue, and customs and temple fairs as the manifestation. This belief has spread to more than 20 countries and regions in the world, and is worshipped and passed down to this day by more than 200 million people. Meizhou Island has become the location of the Mazu ancestral temple.

14. Mongolian Humming Singing Art

Huming is a magical singing art created by the Mongolian people: a singer sings two parts at the same time purely with his own vocal organs. It is unique among the folk songs of various ethnic groups in China. Humming is mainly distributed in Xilin Gol, Hulunbuir Grassland and Hohhot City in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. This kind of singing can also be heard in Mongolian settlements in the Altai Mountains of Xinjiang Autonomous Region, Mongolia, Tuva Republic of Russia and other regions and countries. As a special form of folk singing, Humming is an outstanding creation of the Mongolian people. It conveys the Mongolian people's deep philosophical thinking and understanding of the natural universe and all things in the world, and expresses the Mongolian people's pursuit of harmonious survival and development and healthy aesthetic taste.

15. Nanyin

Nanyin is a performing art that combines singing and playing, and is one of the oldest existing types of music in China. Nanyin is sung in Quanzhou dialect, and is mainly played with instruments such as pipa, dongxiao, erxian, sanxian, and clappers. The music is recorded with five Chinese characters "乂工六思一". The more than 3,000 existing ancient music scores preserve different categories of music from the Jin Dynasty (265-420 AD) to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911 AD). The music style is elegant and delicate. Its singing form, instrument shape, palace tune melody, music score and notation method are unique, providing rich historical information for the study of ancient Chinese music. Nanyin is a cultural heritage cherished by the general public in the relevant communities.

16. Regong Art

Regong art mainly refers to Buddhist plastic arts such as thangka, murals, pile embroidery, and sculptures, and is an important art school of Tibetan Buddhism. Regong art originated in the 13th century and is mainly distributed in villages such as Wutun, Nianduhu, Guomari, and Gasari in the Longwu River Basin of Tongren County, Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province. Its content is mainly Buddhist stories, historical figures, myths and legends. Regong art, with its strong religious color and distinct regional characteristics, is loved by monks and lay people of all ethnic groups who believe in Tibetan Buddhism. It carries the historical development context of Regong culture and is an important part of the production and life of the general public in the relevant communities.

17. Chinese Sericulture and Silk Weaving Technique

Sericulture and silk weaving is a great inventions of China and a cultural symbol recognized by the Chinese nation. This heritage includes the production techniques of the entire process of mulberry planting, silkworm breeding, silk reeling, dyeing, and silk weaving, the various ingenious and sophisticated tools and looms used in the process, and the colorful silk products such as damask, gauze, brocade, and Kesi produced thereby, as well as the related folk activities derived from this process. For more than 5,000 years, it has made a significant contribution to Chinese history and has had a profound impact on human civilization through the Silk Road. This traditional production of handicrafts and folk activities are still popular in the Taihu Basin in northern Zhejiang and southern Jiangsu (including cities such as Hangzhou, Jiaxing, Huzhou, and Suzhou) and Chengdu, Sichuan, and are an integral part of China's cultural heritage.

18. Longquan Celadon Traditional Firing Technique

Longquan Celadon Traditional Firing Technique is a traditional handicraft with production, skills, and artistry. It has a history of more than 1,700 years. The traditional firing techniques of Longquan celadon include the crushing, washing, aging, and kneading of raw materials; the shaping, drying, blank repairing, decoration, bisque firing, glazing, box loading, and kiln loading of objects; and finally firing with firewood in the dragon kiln. Longquan Celadon has unique techniques in raw material selection, glaze preparation, modeling, and kiln temperature control. The firing techniques of Longquan celadon serve human life, and its finished products have unique aesthetic value. Furnishing porcelain, decorative porcelain, tea sets, tableware, etc. are the perfect combination of firing technology and artistic expression. The "powder green" and "plum green" thick glaze porcelain fired in Longquan kiln is elegant, implicit, honest, and quiet, which is the expression of Chinese classical aesthetic taste.

19. Traditional production techniques of Xuan paper

Papermaking is one of the four great inventions of ancient China. Xuan paper is an outstanding representative of traditional handmade paper, with the characteristics of soft and tough texture, no moth, and no rot. Since the Tang Dynasty (early 8th century AD), it has been the best carrier for calligraphy, painting, and classic printing, and it has not been replaced by machine-made paper to this day. The traditional Xuan paper-making technique has 108 steps, with strict requirements on water quality, raw material preparation, equipment production, and process control. This technique has been passed down from generation to generation through oral transmission and continuous improvement, combined with a variety of cultural elements, which has had a profound impact on the inheritance of Chinese national culture and played an important role in promoting national identity and maintaining cultural diversity.

20. Xi'an Drum Music

Xi'an drum music is a kind of drum music that is popular in Xi'an and surrounding areas. The band is divided into two categories: percussion instruments and melody instruments, and the performance forms are divided into sitting music and walking music. The writing method of the popular notation in the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) and the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD) is still used. The music structure is huge and the style is elegant. It is a typical representative of traditional Chinese instrumental culture and has a high academic value for the study of ancient Chinese music.

21. Cantonese Opera

Cantonese opera is a drama style sung in Cantonese with a history of more than 300 years. Cantonese opera incorporates multiple musical and dramatic elements, perfectly combines bangzi and erhuang vocal tunes with the Cantonese dialect, creatively expands the artistic expression of Chinese opera, and becomes the epitome of Chinese opera art in the north and south, which is very different from other Chinese operas. As the most influential Chinese opera in the Cantonese dialect area and the most representative overseas, Cantonese opera, with its diverse and unique performance forms, permeates the traditional and modern life of Lingnan, becoming an important medium for ethnic identity and cultural exchange.

22. Huaer

Huaer originated in the early Ming Dynasty (around 1368 AD). It is a folk song created and shared by Han, Hui, Tibetan, Dongxiang, Baoan, Salar, Tu, Yugu, Mongolian, and other ethnic groups in Gansu, Qinghai, and Ningxia in northwestern China. It is named because the lyrics compare women to flowers. It is sung in Chinese, and the music is influenced by the traditional music of Qiang, Tibetan, Han, Tu, and Muslim ethnic groups. Due to the different musical characteristics, lyrics rhythm, and circulation areas, Huaer is divided into three categories: "Hehuang Huaer", "Taomin Huaer" and "Liupanshan Huaer". In addition to impromptu singing while working in the fields, grazing in the mountains, and traveling, people also spontaneously hold large-scale folk song competitions at specific times and places every year - "Huaerhui", which has the special value of multi-ethnic cultural exchanges and emotional integration.

23. Manas

The Kirgiz epic "Manas" has been sung for thousands of years and is one of the three major epics in China. It has many different versions and a large volume. The most famous one is the genealogical legendary narrative of Manas and his descendants, a total of 8 generations of heroes, which is as long as 236,000 lines. It reflects the rich traditional life of the Kirgiz people and is an "encyclopedia" of the Kirgiz people's outstanding creation and oral inheritance. The traditional festivals and folk activities of the relevant communities are its main cultural space.

24. Gesar

"Gesar" is a grand narrative about the sacred deeds of the ancient Tibetan hero Gesar. The epic tells the heroic story of King Gesar who plunged into the lower world to save lives, led the people of Lingguo to subdue demons, suppress the strong and help the weak, settle the three realms, complete the mission of the human world, and finally returned to heaven. With the singing and rapping of outstanding artists, the epic has been circulated for thousands of years, mainly in the vast pastoral areas and rural areas of the western plateau of China. The epic fully reflects the experience and knowledge of the Tibetans and other related ethnic groups about all things in nature and has become a spiritual wealth shared by ordinary people of the Tibetans and other ethnic groups. It is still an important basis for the historical memory and cultural identity of the Tibetans and other ethnic groups.

25. Dong Nationality Grand Song

Dong Nationality Grand Song is a general term for the unaccompanied and unconducted Dong folk polyphonic folk songs. It includes voice songs, narrative songs, children's songs, stepping hall songs, and road-blocking songs. "Many low and one high" is its traditional principle of voice combination, and beauty and harmony are its distinctive artistic character. The singing master teaching songs and the singing troupe singing are its national inheritance methods. It carries and conveys vital cultural information such as a nation's lifestyle, social structure, human ethics, and wisdom essence.

26. Tibetan Opera

Tibetan Opera is a Tibetan drama with masks and stories told by singing and dancing. It was formed in the 14th century and spread across the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The repertoires are often the eight traditional Tibetan operas, and the contents are mostly myths and legends in Buddhist scriptures that encourage good and punish evil. Tibetan Opera was originally spread among the people and was performed in squares or temples by artists through oral transmission. Later, professional troupes were established, and stage performances appeared. Both performance styles are recognized and loved by the Tibetan people. Tibetan Opera carries the blood of Tibetan culture, reflects the life and thoughts,and feelings of the Tibetan people, and is an important part of their cultural life.

27. Qiang New Year

Qiang New Year is a traditional festival of the Qiang people in Sichuan Province, China, and celebrations are held on the first day of the tenth lunar month every year. During the festival, the Qiang people worship the gods and pray for prosperity. Under the careful guidance of the Shibi (priest), the villagers dressed in festive costumes, held a solemn mountain worship ceremony, and slaughtered sheep to worship the gods. Then, under the leadership of the Shibi, the villagers danced the leather drum and Salang dance. During the event, the Shibi chanted the traditional epic of the Qiang people, and the people sang, drank, and had fun. On New Year's Eve, the head of each family presided over the worship ceremony and presented sacrifices and offerings.

28. Traditional spinning, dyeing, weaving, and embroidery skills of the Li ethnic group

The traditional spinning, dyeing, weaving, and embroidery skills of the Li ethnic group are a textile technique created by Li women in Hainan Province, China. It combines spinning, dyeing, weaving, and embroidery and uses materials such as cotton thread, linen thread, and other fibers to make clothes and other daily necessities. Li women have learned textile techniques such as tie-dyed warp cloth, double-sided embroidery, and single-sided jacquard weaving from their mothers since childhood. Mothers pass on skills through word of mouth. Li women design textile patterns based solely on their rich imagination and understanding of traditional styles.

In the absence of written language, these patterns have become the recorders of Li history, cultural legends, religious rituals, taboos, beliefs, traditions, and folk customs. These patterns also distinguish the five major dialects of Hainan Island. Li brocade is an indispensable part of the Li people's important social and cultural occasions, such as some religious ceremonies and various festivals, especially weddings. On these important days, Li women will design clothes for themselves. As the carrier of Li culture, the traditional weaving skills of Li brocade are an indispensable part of the Li cultural heritage.

29. Traditional construction skills of Chinese wooden arch bridges

The construction skills of Chinese woven beam wooden arch bridges use log materials, traditional wooden construction tools and manual techniques, and core technologies such as "woven beams" to connect and build extremely stable arch bridges with mortise and tenon joints. The construction of wooden arch bridges is directed by a master carpenter and completed by other carpenters. The construction technology of carpenters follows strict procedures, and is passed down from generation to generation through oral instruction from the master to the apprentice or as a family craft. These families play an irreplaceable role in the construction, maintenance and protection of wooden arch bridges.

As a carrier of traditional crafts, wooden arch bridges are both a communication tool and a communication venue. They are important gathering places for local residents, where people exchange information, carry out entertainment activities, and hold worship ceremonies, thereby deepening their feelings and highlighting cultural characteristics. In recent years, factors such as accelerated urbanization, scarcity of wood, and insufficient available building space have threatened the inheritance and survival of wooden arch bridge craftsmanship, causing the loss of this traditional skill.

30. Acupuncture in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Acupuncture is a medical method of traditional Chinese medicine. In addition to being widely used in China, it is also practiced in Southeast Asia, Europe and America. Acupuncture theory believes that the human body is like a small universe connected by various meridians. By physically stimulating the meridians, it is possible to promote the body's self-regulation function and bring health to the patient. The stimulation method includes using moxa to burn or acupuncture the acupoints of these channels to promote the body to restore balance, thereby achieving the purpose of preventing and treating diseases.

During acupuncture, depending on the specific situation of each person, choose to use needles, and then use needles to stimulate the acupoints. Moxibustion is usually divided into direct and indirect moxibustion, that is, placing moxa sticks directly on the acupoints, or placing moxa sticks close to the body surface to burn the selected area. Moxa cylinders and moxa sticks are made of dried mugwort leaves. Acupuncture is passed down between teachers and apprentices or between family members through oral teaching and actual demonstration. At present, the inheritance of acupuncture is also included in the formal academic education system.

31. Peking Opera

Peking Opera is a performing art that combines singing, reciting, acting, and fighting. There are widespread performances throughout China, but Beijing, Tianjin, and Shanghai remain the main performance centers. Peking opera is sung and recited mainly in the Beijing dialect, and the scripts are written according to a series of strict rules that focus on form and rhythm. The various plays tell stories about history, politics, society, and life, conveying information while entertaining. Music plays a key role in Peking opera, not only setting the rhythm of the performance and creating a special atmosphere but also shaping the characters and guiding the development of the story. For example, the "civil scene" uses orchestral instruments, such as the high-pitched jinghu and flute, while the "martial scene" uses percussion instruments such as ban drums and gongs to set off.

The performances are characterized by the actors' formulaic and symbolic style of performance, which is achieved through the choreography of established hand, eye, body, and foot movements. Traditionally, stage settings and props are kept to a minimum, but the costumes are gorgeous, the facial makeup is exaggerated, and simple symbols, colors, and patterns are used to depict the personality and social identity of the characters. Peking opera is mainly passed down from master to apprentice, and the apprentice learns basic performance skills through verbal guidance, observation, and imitation. Peking opera is regarded as the epitome of the aesthetic ideals of traditional Chinese opera and is widely recognized as a Chinese cultural heritage.

32. Maisrep

Among the Uyghur people in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China, Maisrep is popular. Maisrep is the most important carrier of the cultural traditions of the Uyghur people. A complete Maisrep event includes a rich series of customs and performing arts, such as music, dance, drama, folk art, acrobatics, oral literature, food, and games. Uyghur Muqam is the most comprehensive art form in this event, which combines singing, dancing, and entertainment. Maisrep serves as both a "court" and a "classroom", where the emcee mediates conflicts and maintains moral standards, and people can also learn about their traditional customs and habits.

The emcee who understands their customs and cultural connotations, the famous performers who participate in the event, and all the Uyghurs who participate in the event are the main disseminators and inheritors of Maisrep. However, the viability of the Maishirepu is threatened by many factors, such as social changes brought about by urbanization and industrialization, ethnic and foreign influences, and the migration of young Uyghurs to cities for work. The frequency of activities and the number of participants are decreasing, and the number of inheritors who understand the traditional rules and rich connotations of the Maishirepu has dropped sharply from hundreds to dozens.

33. China's Watertight Bulkhead Fuzhou Shipbuilding Technique

China has proposed its Watertight Bulkhead Fuzhou Shipbuilding Technique as a nomination item for the "List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Protection". The nomination description is as follows: The Watertight Bulkhead Fuzhou Shipbuilding Technique was developed in Fujian Province in southern China. It makes it possible to build seagoing ships with watertight bulkheads. If one or two cabins are accidentally damaged during the voyage, seawater will not flood into the other cabins, and the ship will continue to float.

The sailboats are mainly made of camphor, pine, and fir wood, and are assembled using traditional carpenter tools. The key technologies required to build this type of sailboat are: mortise and tenon joints, which refer to the tongue-and-groove joints of the planks, and the use of ramie, tung oil, lime, etc. as plugging materials between the planks. The shipbuilding project was directed by a skilled "master head" (a respectful title for the craftsman in charge of shipbuilding in southern Fujian), who supervised a large number of craftsmen who worked closely together.

Local communities also participated in the process, and they held grand ceremonies during the shipbuilding process and before the new ship was launched, praying for calm seas and safety for the crew. The experience and working methods of the watertight compartment Fuzhou shipbuilding craft were passed down through oral transmission between masters and apprentices. However, as wooden ships were replaced by steel ships, the demand for Chinese sailing ships dropped sharply; today, there are only three master craftsmen who fully master this technology; the shortage of raw materials has also led to an increase in related construction costs, and the spread of this craft tradition has gradually shrunk, and the inheritors have been forced to find other jobs.

34. Chinese movable type printing

Chinese wood movable type printing is one of the oldest printing technologies in the world. Rui'an, Zhejiang, has preserved this technology and still uses it to compile and print genealogies. Men are trained to complete the carving of Chinese characters, and then print after the procedures of carving, picking up characters, and arranging characters. This requires a wealth of historical knowledge and ancient Chinese grammar. Women are responsible for paper cutting and binding until the family tree is printed. The movable type pages can be used repeatedly after being disassembled.

In spring, summer, autumn, and winter, craftsmen carry sets of wooden movable type and printing tools and walk in local communities, from one ancestral hall to another. They print the genealogy by hand. After the printing of the genealogy is completed, there is a special ceremony, and the printing craftsmen put it away and lock it in a box for preservation. Wood movable type printing is passed down entirely through family inheritance. However, the intensive training required for this technology, the low income it generates, the popularity of contemporary computer printing technology, and the decreasing interest in printing family trees have all led to a rapid decline in the number of craftsmen who master this technology.

Currently, there are only eleven masters over fifty years old who have mastered the full set of techniques. If it is not protected, this traditional industry skill will soon disappear.

35. Chinese Shadow Puppets

Chinese shadow puppets are a form of drama that uses colorful shadow puppets made of leather or paper to perform music and singing. Shadow puppet artists use wooden poles to control the shadow puppets behind the scenes, and create dynamic images by shining light on the translucent curtain. Many old artists can perform dozens of traditional repertoires, some of which are passed down orally and some are presented in written form. Shadow puppet artists have unique skills, such as improvisation, switching between true and false voices, controlling several shadow puppets at the same time, and playing different musical instruments. Many shadow puppet artists can also carve shadow puppets, which have twelve to twenty-four movable joints.

Large troupes of seven to nine people or small troupes of only two to five people can perform shadow puppets, mainly for entertainment or religious ceremonies, weddings, funerals, and other special occasions. Some shadow puppet artists are professional, while others are amateurs and only perform during the slack season. Shadow puppetry skills are passed down through families, troupes, or teachers and apprentices. Chinese shadow puppetry conveys information about cultural history, social beliefs, oral traditions, and local customs. It spreads knowledge, enhances cultural values, ​​and brings joy to the community, especially young people.

36. Hezhe Yimakan

Imakan is an important part of the worldview and historical memory of the Hezhe people in northeastern China. Narrated in the Hezhe language, the Yimakan is in the form of poetry and prose and consists of many independent tracks that describe tribal alliances and wars, including stories of Hezhe heroes defeating demons and invaders. This oral tradition emphasizes the protection of ethnic identity and territorial integrity and also preserves traditional knowledge about shamanic rituals, fishing, and hunting. Yimakan performers improvise stories without instrumental accompaniment, alternating between singing and speaking, and using different melodies to express different characters and plots.

Although more and more outsiders can become Yimakan apprentices today, they are usually trained in a master-apprentice manner within the tribe and family. Since the Hezhe people do not have a writing system, Yimakan plays an important role in protecting their mother tongue, religion, beliefs, legends, and customs.

37. Fujian Puppet Show Successor Talent Training Program

Fujian puppet show is an outstanding representative of my country's puppet performance art, with two main performance forms: string puppets and palm puppets. Since the 10th century AD, it has been widely spread in Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, and surrounding areas. Its exquisite performance techniques, rich traditional repertoires and musical singing, and exquisite idol modeling art have formed a complete performance system and become a performing art form cherished by local community residents.

Since the 1980s, with the changes in production and lifestyle, coupled with the complexity of Fujian puppet show performance techniques, young people's willingness to learn and inherit has declined, and Fujian puppet shows have lacked successors. Since 2006, relevant communities, groups, and representative inheritors have formulated the "Fujian Puppet Show Successor Talent Training Program" from 2008 to 2020 around the main goal of cultivating inheritors. In the four years since the implementation of the plan, through systematic professional training, a new generation of puppet show practitioners has been trained to improve the survival capacity of Fujian puppet shows; through holistic protection, potential puppet show practitioners and appreciators have been cultivated, the living environment of Fujian puppet show has been improved, and the protection and inheritance of Fujian puppet show have been effectively promoted.

38. Chinese Abacus - Knowledge and Practice of Using Abacus for Mathematical Calculation

Abacus is a method of digital calculation using the abacus as a tool. The term "abacus" was first seen in "Shushu Jiyi" written by Xu Yue in the Han Dynasty. The economy of the Ming Dynasty was highly prosperous. Due to the need for commercial development, the abacus was widely promoted and gradually replaced the previously common counting. Under this situation, "Zhizhi Suanfa Tongzong" compiled by Cheng Dawei in the Ming Dynasty played an extremely important role in the promotion and development of the abacus.

After the Ming Dynasty, the Chinese abacus successively spread to Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asian countries, and in recent years it has gradually become popular in the Americas. After entering the information age, the abacus began to decline, and its calculation function has been undertaken by electronic computers. Abacus is a major invention of the Chinese nation and occupies an important place in the history of human science and technology. As a traditional folk knowledge and unique practice, the abacus still has its historical and cultural value and urgently needs to be rescued and protected.

39. The 24 Solar Terms - the time knowledge system and practice formed by the Chinese through observing the annual movement of the sun

The "24 Solar Terms" is a knowledge system and social practice formed by the Chinese through observing the annual movement of the sun and recognizing the changing laws of seasons, climate, phenology, etc. in a year. The ancient Chinese divided the annual movement trajectory of the sun into 24 equal parts, each of which is a "solar term", collectively known as the "24 Solar Terms". Specifically include: Beginning of Spring, Rain Water, Waking of Insects, Spring Equinox, Qingming, Grain Rain, Beginning of Summer, Grain Full, Grain in Ear, Summer Solstice, Minor Heat, Great Heat, Beginning of Autumn, End of Heat, White Dew, Autumnal Equinox, Cold Dew, Frost Descent, Beginning of Winter, Minor Snow, Heavy Snow, Winter Solstice, Minor Cold, and Great Cold.

The "24 Solar Terms" guide traditional agricultural production and daily life, and are an important part of the traditional Chinese calendar system and its related practical activities. The 24 solar terms were formed in the Yellow River Basin of China. Based on the observation of the temporal changes of astronomical phenomena, temperature, precipitation, and phenology in the region, they were gradually adopted by all parts of the country as a time guide for production and life in an agricultural society and shared by multiple ethnic groups. As a unique time knowledge system of the Chinese people, this heritage project has a profound impact on people's way of thinking and behavioral norms and is an important carrier of the cultural identity of the Chinese nation.

40. Tibetan Medicine Bathing

Tibetan medicine bathing, called "Longmu" in Tibetan, is a traditional knowledge and practice of the Tibetan people, guided by the "five sources" of life view of earth, water, fire, wind, and space and the "three causes" of health and disease view of Long, Tripa, and Bacon, to adjust the balance of body and mind and achieve life health and disease prevention and treatment through bathing in natural hot springs or water or steam boiled with medicine. This heritage project not only reflects the folk experience of the relevant community people in preventing and curing diseases through bathing but also inherits and develops the traditional Tibetan medicine theory represented by the "Four Medical Classics" in contemporary health practice.

As an important part of Tibetan medicine "Sowar Riba", Tibetan medicine bathing is concentrated in the Yalong River Valley of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the Tibetan farming and pastoral areas of the Zongka Mountains. It is widely spread in Tibetan areas in Tibet, Qinghai, Sichuan, Gansu, Yunnan, and other places, playing an important role in protecting the life health and disease prevention and treatment of Tibetan people. This heritage project carries traditional knowledge of Tibetan astronomy and calendar, natural history, ritual beliefs, behavioral norms, daily life and food, etc. It is also widely spread through cultural expressions such as Tibetan myths, legends, epics, dramas, paintings, and sculptures. It not only provides a continuous sense of identity for the Tibetan people but also enriches human health knowledge and practice. It is a witness to the world's cultural diversity and human creativity.

41. Tai Chi

Tai Chi is a traditional sports practice based on the traditional Chinese philosophical thought and health concept of yin and yang circulation and the unity of man and nature, with the characteristics of Zhongzhengyuanhuo. This heritage project focuses on mind cultivation and breathing adjustment, with five steps and eight methods as the core movements, and routines, exercises, and push hands as the forms of exercise. Tai Chi practitioners achieve the purpose of self-cultivation and strengthening the body by controlling movement and stillness, speed, and reality. Since the formation of this heritage project in Chenjiagou Village, Wen County in the mid-17th century, it has been passed down from generation to generation. Based on Chen Tai Chi, multiple schools named after other surnames or names have been developed.

The heritage project currently has more than 80 sets of boxing, weapon routines, and more than 20 push-hand methods. Its cultural significance and social functions have been continuously enriched, witnessing human creativity. The heritage project has been widely recognized and practiced in China, and still plays an important role in promoting the physical and mental health and harmonious coexistence of contemporary people, providing relevant communities and groups with a sense of identity and continuity.

42. Sending the King's Boat - Rituals and Related Practices on Sustainable Connections between People and the Ocean

Sending the King's Boat is a disaster-avoiding and peace-praying ritual widely spread in the coastal areas of southern Fujian, China and Malacca, Malaysia. It has both common and local characteristics. In southern Fujian, most of them are held every three or four years when the northeast monsoon starts in autumn; in Malacca, they are mostly held on auspicious days in the dry season in the leap year of the lunar calendar. The ritual activities last for several days or even months. The heritage project is rooted in the folk belief that the coastal community jointly worships the "King of Heaven" (abbreviated as "King").

Local people believe that the king is appointed by heaven to regularly patrol the world, save the sick and the needy, and prevent disasters; while the souls of those who died at sea (respectfully called "good brothers") wander around and have nowhere to go. Therefore, people regularly hold ceremonies to welcome and send off the king, inviting the king to patrol the four borders of the community and take away the "good brothers". This heritage project embodies the sustainable connection between people and the ocean. It is regarded as a common heritage by relevant communities in China and Malaysia. It has long played a role in consolidating community ties and enhancing social cohesion. It has witnessed the intercultural dialogue along the "Maritime Silk Road" and embodies cultural creativity in line with sustainable development.

43. Traditional Chinese tea-making skills and related customs

Traditional Chinese tea-making skills and related customs Traditional Chinese tea-making skills and related customs are knowledge, skills, and practices related to tea garden management, tea picking, hand-made tea, and drinking and sharing tea. According to the local customs, tea makers use tools such as woks, bamboo plaques, and baking cages, and apply core skills such as killing green tea, steaming yellow, piling, withering, making green tea, fermenting, and scenting to develop six major tea categories of green tea, yellow tea, black tea, white tea, oolong tea, and black tea, as well as processed tea such as scented tea. There are more than 2,000 kinds of tea products, which meet the various needs of people with different colors, fragrances, tastes, and shapes.

Drinking and tasting tea runs through the daily life of the Chinese. People drink and share tea in homes, workplaces, teahouses, restaurants, temples, and other places by brewing or boiling. This heritage project has been passed down from generation to generation, forming a systematic and complete knowledge system, extensive and in-depth social practice, mature and developed traditional skills, and a rich variety of handicrafts. It embodies the values ​​of humility, harmony, courtesy, and respect upheld by the Chinese, and has a profound impact on moral cultivation and personality shaping. It has promoted the exchange and mutual learning of world civilizations through the Silk Road and played an important role in the sustainable development of human society.

44. Spring Festival

The Spring Festival has a long history, originating from the primitive beliefs and nature worship of early humans. In ancient times, people would hold sacrificial activities at the beginning of the year to pray for a good harvest and prosperity of people and livestock in the coming year. This sacrificial activity gradually evolved into various celebrations over time and eventually formed today's Spring Festival. In ancient times, "Sui" was a harvesting and sacrificial tool, and the word "Nian" meant that crops were ripe, which contained people's yearning for a better life. There are many folk customs during the Spring Festival, including pasting Spring Festival couplets, pasting New Year pictures, pasting blessing characters, eating dumplings, eating New Year's Eve dinner, staying up on New Year's Eve, giving out New Year's money, paying New Year's greetings, visiting temple fairs, etc. China's New Year culture has a long history, and various New Year customs have emerged all over the country, which are very different from north to south and each has its own characteristics.