In Xinzhou, Ancient Traditions Are a Tourist Attraction to Try

JAKARTA - In the Old Town of Xinzhou, Shanxi Province, China, tradition is not only seen from afar. China Daily quoted Friday, May 8, reported that tourists can now dip cloth, form dough, to try directly various local cultural heritage crafts.

Cui Yafei saw a white silk scarf turn green after being soaked in natural dye for 10 minutes. A few minutes after being exposed to the air, the color turned indigo blue.

"Everyone is a designer here. Each piece is a unique memory between us and traditional natural dyeing techniques," said Cui.

For Cui, the experience of making it himself is more memorable than just taking a photo at a famous tourist spot.

The indigo dye comes from the isatis root leaf, an herbal plant used in traditional natural dyeing techniques. In Xinzhou, this technique is recorded as a city-level intangible cultural heritage.

Zhao Hui, the inheritor of the technique, said the dye can last a very long time if properly cared for. Zhao's workshop in the Old Town of Xinzhou now offers more than 100 color variations and attracts more and more young visitors.

Not far from the dyeing workshop, other tourists tried to make huamo, a typical Chinese-style steamed bread. Under the guidance of Gao Juan, the heir to the district-level huamo making technique, the dough can be shaped into a fish in a matter of seconds.

"In addition to the traditional form, we are now offering a cartoon-style bread-making experience for tourists," said Gao.

According to Gao, the tourism model that combines cultural heritage and direct experience has also helped the development of his business.

The local government is also encouraging this trend. To date, 30 creative cultural stores have opened in a special area of the Old Town of Xinzhou. A total of 12 of them are intangible cultural heritage projects.

Xinzhou, formerly known as Xiurong, has a history since the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty in 25-220. The city now blends cultural preservation with tourism development.

Similar trends can also be seen in various regions of China. In Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province, young people queue to try to make ceramics. In Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, visitors make lacquer fans with mineral pigments. In Fujian, tourists learn the art of making tea that has been around for more than 1,000 years.

Yan Chun, a folklorist and associate professor at Shanxi Normal University, said the change shows tourists are no longer content to be mere spectators.

"Consumers are no longer satisfied with being passive recipients. They are more willing to pay for unique emotional value, social experiences, and memories of the process itself," said Yan.

According to Yan, the growth of the handicraft economy brings the old tradition closer to the public and creates a new impetus for consumption.