Tianshui Wushan Intangible Cultural Heritage: Enriching a Vivid Cultural Harmony

Located at the upper reaches of the Weihe River and at the crossroads of the ancient Silk Road, Wushan County in Tianshui is not only the ancient homeland of the "Wushan People," but also a place where the cultural pulse spanning thousands of years continues to resonate. Through the inheritance and preservation of its rich intangible cultural heritage resources, Wushan is injecting strong momentum into its efforts to build itself into a culturally strong county.

National Intangible Cultural Heritage: Wushan Xuangu Dance or Wushan Sheepskin Drum Dance

Wushan Xuangu Dance

Wushan Xuangu Dance

Wushan Martial Arts—Wu Shi

Wushan Yuanyang Serpentinite

Wushan Brick Carving

Wushan Willow Weaving

Wushan Willow Weaving

Wushan Suona

The rhythmic beat of drums resonates as the warmest heartbeat of Wushan County. As a national intangible cultural heritage item, the Wushan Xuangu Dance takes "rotation" as its soul and the "drum" as its backbone. Its nine drum rings symbolize the harmony between heaven and earth, while the twelve sections of the drum whip represent the passage of time. With its bold movements and serpentine formations, the dance conveys the powerful vitality of the sons and daughters of the Yellow River. Martial spirit, meanwhile is forged amid swords and spears. Known as a "Hometown of Martial Arts in China," Wushan is home to the Spring and Autumn Broadsword, whose pushing, pulling, striking and slashing movements, along with the Jiang Wei (a Chinese military general and politician of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period) Huanglong Spear and Whip techniques—thrusting, stabbing, lifting and hooking—embody the valor and wisdom of ancient battlefields. Each move reflects a deep-rooted tradition of honoring both culture and martial virtue, etched into the local cultural DNA. Beyond its bold and vigorous spirit, Wushan is also known for its refined craftsmanship. Wushan Yuanyang Serpentinite carvings narrate stories immortalized in classic literature, "Fine red wine glitters in a jade chalice that glows in the night; one wants to drink but the mounted pipa player orders us onwards." With its lustrous emerald tones and subtle sheen, Yuanyang Serpentinite once accompanied the cultural prosperity of the Tang Dynasty and now forms the core material for national gifts such as the Double-Dragon Cup, showcasing Eastern jade on the global stage. From wood and brick carving to the spirited notes of the suona, Wushan's constellation of 128 intangible heritage items weaves the very fabric of its identity as a "Hometown of Chinese Folk Culture and Art." This rich artistic legacy has earned the county the distinguished title of the Hometown of Chinese Folk Culture and Art.

Wushan's intangible cultural heritage, a living code of civilization, remains a vibrant testament to rich cultural harmony, pulsing with life in the modern era through preservation and innovation. (Text by He Long, Photo provided by the Publicity Department of the CPC Wushan County Committee)