From January 10 to 11, 2025, the Liaoning Intangible Cultural Heritage Special Showcase grandly debuted at the Liaoning Grand Theatre. The event, presented in a “performance + exhibition” format, offered a comprehensive and multidimensional display of Liaoning’s unique cultural characteristics, profound historical heritage, and enchanting regional charm. Citizens could have the opportunity to enjoy performances, admire lantern displays, explore cultural markets, and experience a grand feast of folk traditions.
The performances combined traditional culture with stage art, creatively reimagining and artistically transforming 14 national- and provincial-level intangible cultural heritage items, such as Liaoxi Shadow Puppetry and Shaobei Quan (a type of martial art). Audiences enjoyed classic opera pieces performed by renowned artists, masterful Guqin (a seven-stringed Chinese zither) performances, and the captivating charm of original folk arts such as Changhai Haozi (a kind of traditional folk song) and Xiuyan Shadow Puppetry. These intangible cultural heritage items, rich in cultural depth, have been revitalized through cross-disciplinary integration, showcasing the vibrant ethnic culture and regional flair of Liaoning.
During the event, the Intangible Cultural Heritage Spring Lantern Show debuted for the first time at the Liaoning Grand Theatre. Highlights included the Shenyang Chen-style Lanterns representing the traditional Northern style, the sci-tech innovative Yingkou Li-style Lanterns, intricately designed woven lanterns, and a striking “24 Solar Terms Lantern Wall”, all of which created a festive atmosphere for the Spring Festival celebrations.
Outside the theater, the intangible cultural heritage market drew the attention of visitors. Nearly 30 intangible cultural heritage programs, including amber carving, Xiuyan Manchu paper-cutting, Liaonan Liu-style dough figurines, and Yingkou pinwheel craftsmanship, came together to represent ten major categories of intangible cultural heritage. Additionally, visitors could purchase cultural and creative products inspired by heritage elements and participate in activities such as lantern riddles and seal stamping collection, having an immersive cultural experience.
