HOHHOT, July 25 : Located on the main street of China\u2019s only Russian ethnic township, Enhe, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Wang Xiufen\u2019s cafe exudes a warm, woody aroma. The scent of freshly brewed coffee mingles with the earthy smell of wood, drifting from a weathered log cabin \u2014 a traditional Russian-style house.<\/p>\n
Step inside, and the eye is drawn to vibrant textiles: handwoven tapestries, colorful crocheted wall hangings, and intricate woolen ornaments, all crafted by Wang herself. For Wang, an inheritor of Russian ethnic textile craftsmanship, this cafe is more than a business. It\u2019s a window for showcasing her ethnic traditions.<\/p>\n
\u201cWeaving was once passed down through generations in my family, but young people weren\u2019t interested,\u201d Wang said. \u201cNow, they come for coffee, snap photos of these decorations, which are perfect for sharing on social media, and suddenly, they want to know more and even learn.\u201d<\/p>\n
Across the diverse ethnic communities in Inner Mongolia, many traditional craft inheritors are wrapping their cherished culture in new contexts to make heritage feel not like a relic, but a living, breathing part of the present.<\/p>\n
A short walk away in Enhe, another custodian of tradition is reimagining her craft. Fu Yanmei has spent over 20 years making lieba, a Chinese transliteration of the Russian word for bread, and her bakery, once a quiet local staple, now buzzes with activity. Years ago, she launched a DIY lieba program, inviting visitors to shape the dough themselves.<\/p>\n
But Fu doesn\u2019t just let them bake \u2014 she tells them about lieba\u2019s history and how it\u2019s made with natural sourdough, no additives. Young tourists, she noted, make up most of the participants. \u201cTasting their own baked lieba is a joy they remember.\u201d<\/p>\n
Further east, in Oroqen Autonomous Banner near the Greater Khingan Mountains, the Oroqen people, one of China\u2019s smallest ethnic groups, are also breathing new life into their heritage.<\/p>\n
In the old days, they crafted canoes, cradles, baskets, and other tools and vessels from birch bark, prized for its waterproof and durable qualities. Today, at the Oroqen intangible cultural heritage museum, Meng Shuling, a master of birch bark craftsmanship, showcases these traditional items and her modern reinventions.<\/p>\n
Her workshop showcases delicate birch bark earrings, glossy fridge magnets, and tiny cradle-shaped pendants, all pieces that marry the material\u2019s natural texture with contemporary tastes.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe old ways can\u2019t stay locked in the past,\u201d Meng said, running a finger over a birch bark jewelry box.<\/p>\n
Beyond these grassroots efforts, institutional support is also fueling the revival of traditional crafts. Since 2023, Inner Mongolia\u2019s institute of culture and tourism development, in collaboration with several universities, has launched a program to revitalize intangible cultural heritage by harnessing the creativity of the younger generation.<\/p>\n
This initiative encourages students to draw inspiration from intangible heritage elements to create digital illustrations, IP characters, and fashion designs. To date, it has yielded more than 300 pieces of intangible heritage-themed cultural and creative design drafts and handicrafts.<\/p>\n
\u201cYoung people want things they can wear, display and cherish daily. That\u2019s how we keep the skill alive,\u201d Meng said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
HOHHOT, July 25 : Located on the main street of China\u2019s only Russian ethnic township, Enhe, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Wang Xiufen\u2019s cafe exudes a warm, woody aroma. The scent of freshly brewed coffee mingles with the earthy smell of wood, drifting from a weathered […]<\/p>\n
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