Hechi bronze drum cultural experience tour receives national recognition

On Sept 22, among the 173 routes collected, 20 intangible cultural heritage (ICH) tourism routes with good market prospects and representativeness were announced in the Hani Terraced Fields, Yunnan province. Among them, the "Hechi Bronze Drum Cultural Intangible Heritage Experience Tour" made the list.

On July 28, 2023, the Bronze Drum Cultural (Hechi) Ecological Protection Zone in Guangxi was included in the list of national-level cultural and ecological protection zones released by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

The protection zone is home to a number of distinct and complete bronze drum customs and other representative ICH items, and regional overall protection work has been remarkably successful.

The "Hechi Bronze Drum Cultural Intangible Heritage Experience Tour" involves eight ethnic groups, namely the Zhuang, Han, Yao, Miao, Mulam, Maonan, Dong, and Sui. It involves Bama Yao autonomous county, known as the world's longevity hometown, Yizhou district, Tian'e county, Donglan county, Fengshan county, and Dahua Yao autonomous county. The route highlights the distinct cultures of the bronze drum, longevity, and Liu Sanjie.

People who take this route will experience seven national-level ICH items, such as Zhuang bronze drum customs, bronze drum dance, Zhuang's respect for seniors, Yao's Zhuzhu Festival, Yao's traditional clothing, Maonan's bamboo hat weaving, and Maonan's Feitao technique, as well as the exhibitions and performances of national-level and autonomous-region-level ICH inheritors.

People from Donglan county gather together to play bronze drums. [Photo/Dangdai Guangxi]