The 2025 Beijing International Week of Intangible Cultural Heritage (hereinafter referred to as the "ICH Week") will be held at the Beijing Municipal Administrative Center from October 17 to 21. Under the theme "Intangible Cultural Heritage Enriches Our Life", the event will gather outstanding ICH items from 61 countries and regions across five continents. Main venues include the Grand Canal Museum of Beijing, the Beijing Library, and parts of the Central Green Forest Park, where a series of exhibitions, cultural exchanges, and interactive events will take place.
Anchored in the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and with a global vision, this year's ICH Week weaves a dynamic tapestry of civilizations from five continents. The "Intangible Cultural Heritage Ingenuity - Revitalizing Life" (非遗匠心-焕新生活) International ICH Exhibition will open at the Grand Canal Museum of Beijing on October 17. In the International Handicraft Exhibition Area, visitors can appreciate exquisite pieces such as Georgian textiles and ceramics and Mexican wood carvings, as well as experience the living traditions including Turkish Ebru (a Turkish art of marbling) and the Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony. The ICH Boutique Exhibition Area showcases the finest ICH items from Beijing, Hong Kong SAR, and Macao SAR, featuring cloisonné, Beijing embroidery, the guqin (Chinese zither), tea ceremony, and Macao's specialty products, among others.
The opening gala, titled "Intangible Cultural Heritage Glamour - Blooming in Life" (非遗风华-绽放生活), will present a grand ICH feast bridging China and the world. Highlights include a joint performance of the Dong ethnic group's grand song and Georgian polyphonic singing, the dance "Green and Blue" (青绿) interpreting the famous traditional painting "One Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains" (千里江山图), Peking Opera performances, and traditional music and dance performances by artists from Mongolia, Ireland, Brazil, Zimbabwe, Finland, Bulgaria and more.
Located in the Central Green Forest Park, the "Intangible Cultural Heritage Market - Sharing Life" (非遗市集-共享生活) features three main sections: an international market, an exhibition area for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, and an "ICH + Brands" (非遗+品牌) zone. Here, visitors can taste global flavors like Turkish kebabs and Sri Lankan black tea, experience local crafts like painting Beijing Lord Rabbit figurines, and participate in crossover activities including a Douyin photo-taking challenge and robot demonstrations by Unitree.
This year's ICH Week will also see the launch of the "Intangible Cultural Heritage Development Co-Creation Camp" (非遗发展共创营) in collaboration with Douyin. The initiative will connect over 30 Beijing ICH inheritors with more than 40 leading Douyin creators to transform ICH from being "seen" to being "cherished". The "Intangible Cultural Heritage Dialogue - Co-Creating Life" (非遗对话-共创生活) event will be held on October 17 at Beijing City Library, inviting Chinese and international guests to engage in in-depth discussions on the international communication of intangible cultural heritage and sustainable development. The ICH Week will also collaborate with urban cultural landmarks such as the "Three Temples and One Pagoda" (which include the Temple of Confucius, Youshengjiao Temple, Ziqing Palace and Randeng Pagoda) in Tongzhou and Beijing WTown in Miyun District, creating a multi-site, citywide network for inclusive ICH experiences.
(Source: Beijing Daily)