Event Recap | Tangguan’s National Day Intangible Cultural Heritage Handcraft Experience Was a Splendid Success

On October 2, the inaugural “Oil-Paper Carving, Painting This Moment Together” experience kicked off with warmth and charm. As a time-honored intangible cultural heritage spanning a thousand years, the oiled-paper umbrella embodies the wisdom of ancient life and a deep humanistic spirit. From the legendary tale of the Yun family’s invention of the umbrella in the late Spring and Autumn period to its widespread popularity and overseas dissemination during the Tang and Song dynasties, we hope this hands-on workshop will help participants appreciate the rich cultural heritage of this traditional artifact. Armed with their tools, participants carefully added colorful designs to the rustic surfaces of the umbrellas, transforming plain oiled-paper umbrellas into vibrant works of art that beautifully capture the poetic essence of Chinese aesthetics.

On October 3, the elegant “Butterfly‑Printed Autumn: A Feast Begun with a Fan” Song brocade and pearl‑embellished folding fan DIY experience made its debut. Ranked among China’s four great brocades, Song brocade is a national intangible cultural heritage, celebrated for its sumptuous patterns, delicate texture, and refined color palette—embodying the pinnacle of Song‑dynasty aesthetic sensibilities. This hands‑on workshop seamlessly fuses Song brocade with folding fans and pearls, breaking down the barriers of traditional craftsmanship. Participants will personally piece together, adorn, and shape their creations, crafting one‑of‑a‑kind folding fans that, through every cut and stitch, invite them to savor the distinctive charm of classical Chinese aesthetics.

On October 4, the “Tengyu Qi Lang, Golden Silk Embroidery” cloisonné enamel bookmark DIY workshop kicked off. Cloisonné enamel—also known as Jingtailan—is a unique imperial intangible cultural heritage of China, blending multiple techniques and serving as a quintessential symbol of traditional Chinese craftsmanship. To meet the needs of a broader audience, the event employs an improved, wire-free cloisonné process that preserves the lustrous, translucent brilliance of the enamel while streamlining the production workflow. Participants at the venue focused on coloring and refining their pieces, carefully outlining vibrant patterns, seamlessly fusing imperial artistry with the elegance of literary stationery. The result was a collection of enamel bookmarks—smooth to the touch and vividly colored—allowing attendees to truly appreciate the aesthetic allure of this time-honored craft.

On October 5, the “Fragrant Years in the Kiln, A Moment of Floral Beauty” ceramic‑style decorative‑painting DIY event kicked off. Jiangxi’s ceramic culture boasts a time‑honored legacy, with the kiln fires of millennia passed down unbroken. This hands‑on experience takes ceramic textures as its foundation and vase‑shaped picture frames as its medium, blending traditional kiln techniques with contemporary hand‑painted creativity. Participants infused their creations with the autumnal mood and the timeless charm of Chinese classical style, crafting personalized ceramic‑inspired artworks. Amid the interplay of brushstrokes and porcelain elegance, they savored the unique allure of this fusion between thousand‑year‑old ceramic heritage and modern innovation.

On October 6, the elegant “Jinshang Lanju, Zhi Mei Tuo Zhu” Song brocade antique‑style mirror DIY event made its debut. Song brocade encapsulates the refined, understated aesthetic of the Song dynasty and stands as a quintessential craft at the pinnacle of Song‑era handicrafts, while the vintage‑inspired portable mirror is a microcosm of Chinese lifestyle aesthetics. Drawing on delicate, straightforward handcraft techniques, the activity enables participants to get started with ease, combining Song brocade fabric with mirrors to meticulously cut, affix, and embellish, creating compact, exquisitely crafted antique‑style mirrors. Each one‑of‑a‑kind mirror bears the artisanal spirit of traditional weaving, inviting attendees to encounter the intangible cultural heritage charm of the Song dynasty through hands‑on creation and to savor the elegant aesthetic of ancient living.

On the final day of the series of events, October 7, the heartwarming “Wear Fragrance, Refresh Body and Mind” traditional Chinese medicine sachet–phone‑chain DIY workshop came to a close. Wearing fragrant amulets is a time-honored folk custom of the Chinese nation, imbued with auspicious meanings of praying for health and peace and purifying both body and spirit. At the event, staff members shared insights into traditional TCM folklore and the therapeutic properties of various herbal ingredients, while participants personally curated vintage‑style charms and crafted inventive hanging chains, weaving the delicate scents of herbs and their blessings into their handmade creations. Each elegant, uniquely designed TCM phone‑chain carried heartfelt wishes for safety and smooth sailing, allowing attendees to experience the gentle, enduring essence of this intangible cultural heritage through the simple act of crafting.

Six days of intangible cultural heritage elegance—a grand celebration of artisanal craftsmanship. This National Day–themed hands-on ICH experience uses traditional crafts as its medium, weaving together a rich tapestry of diverse intangible cultural treasures—such as brocade weaving, enamelware, ceramics, oiled-paper umbrellas, and traditional Chinese medicine—presented in a lightweight, immersive, and interactive format. It invites visitors to engage with ICH up close, gain deeper insights, and fall in love with this living cultural legacy. Beyond infusing the holiday season with a vibrant cultural atmosphere, the event subtly promotes China’s outstanding traditional culture, reinforcing national cultural confidence. Moving forward, our institution will continue to deepen its efforts in cultural dissemination, launching more high‑quality ICH‑related experiences that breathe new life into these treasured traditions. By integrating the beauty of Chinese heritage into everyday life, we aim to honor our times through the power of culture.

During the National Day holiday, our museum also hosted the traveling exhibition “The Backbone of the Arduous March: Heroic Soldiers of the Long March.” As 2026 marks the 90th anniversary of the Long March’s victory, this exhibition traces the journey of its heroic soldiers, revisiting those tumultuous years and paying tribute to the revolutionary martyrs, ensuring that the spirit of the Long March endures across time. The exhibition will remain on view through October 31.