Ordos revives ethnic cultural heritages

On Aug 7, over 70 intangible cultural inheritors gathered at Ulanmulun grottos, Kangbashi district of Ordos city to attend the opening ceremony of the first Cultural Heritage Expo in Ordos.

An exhibition museum for China’s intangible cultural heritage of ethnic minorities opened to the public at Ulanmulun grottos on Aug 8.

So far, Ordos city has six national intangible heritage projects, including short-tuned ballads, Manhan tunes, Guru songs, the memorial of Genghis Khan, a wedding ceremony and the memorial to Chagan Sulide. Besides, the city possesses 75 regional intangible heritage projects and 135 municipal projects.

In the list of intangible cultural heritages, there are four national inheritors, 75 regional and 228 municipal ones. Harlezhen, a 67-year-old inheritor of Ordos’s short-tune ballad heritage, has recently released albums and published guidance books about that art.

Yao Fengqin, a 62-year-old inheritor of Mongolian embroidery, has tailored for many customers from many cities in China, and her self-embroidered sewing is easily worth ten thousand yuan per piece.

Both of those inheritors have disciples to learn and carry on their artistry.

The curator of the People’s Art Gallery in Ordos, Ding Yungang, said that the newly-constructed museum of intangible cultural heritages occupies 5,000 square meters, with a comprehensive functionality for exhibitions, learning and inheritance activities, and interactive experience.

Harlezhen (right) is wearing Yao Fengqin’s (left) embroidered silk garment. [Photo by Caozhen/nmgnews.com]

Harlezhen presents her albums and books about short-tune ballads. [Photo by Caozhen/nmgnews.com]

Ding Yungang, the curator of the People’s Art Gallery in Ordos, has contributed to the establishment of the intangible heritage museum. [Photo by Caozhen/nmgnews.com]