British students explore intangible cultural heritage in China’s Greater Bay Area

A photo taken on July 3, 2024 shows a roof decorated with clay sculptures in Kaiping, south China’s Guangdong Province. (Photo provided to People’s Daily Online)

A group of British students recently explored Chinese cultural heritage during a visit to the Greater Bay Area in Guangdong Province in southern China.

The second round of the cultural exchange programme “Touching the Greater Bay Area”, co-organised by Guangdong Radio and Television and People’s Daily Online (UK), brought together UK university students and local Chinese students.

A journey through exquisite craftsmanship

This photo, taken on July 3, 2024, shows Kaiping Diaolou and the villages, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in southern China’s Guangdong Province. (People’s Daily Online/Zhong Wenxing)

The students visited Kaiping Diaolou and Villages, unique multi-story buildings that combine Chinese and Western styles. These structures feature colorful clay sculptures, an art form that has survived for centuries in the Greater Bay Area.

Intricate clay sculptures adorn ancestral halls, homes and temples, demonstrating the region’s rich artistic heritage. This traditional craft continues to impress with its detailed patterns and cultural significance.

British students and a local student learn the art of clay sculpting in Kaiping, south China’s Guangdong province, July 3, 2024. (People’s Daily Online/Zhong Wenxing)

Students gained hands-on experience in traditional Chinese clay sculpting under the guidance of Hu Xuliang, a renowned expert in cultural heritage. From initial design to final coloring, the process demonstrated intricate skills passed down through generations.

Mevna Bulathsinhala of the London School of Economics and Political Science noted: “Looking at the heir, it seemed so easy, but when I tried it myself, I realised the challenges involved.”

Roberta Rennie experiences the art of clay sculpting in Kaiping, south China’s Guangdong province, July 3, 2024. (People’s Daily Online/Zhong Wenxing)

Amelia Sleight, an art student at Oxford University, was pleasantly surprised to discover how intricately the art of clay sculpting in the San Francisco Bay Area fits into everyday life, inspiring her with delicate and exquisite artistic treasures.

A dazzling night of a century-old legacy

At the 350-year-old town of Chikan, located at the western end of the Pearl River Delta, more than 600 arcade buildings form the largest, most continuous and best-preserved complex of Chinese arcade architecture in China.

Since its official opening to visitors at the beginning of last year, the town has enchanted countless domestic and foreign tourists with its unique charm.

A performance of “Striking Iron Flower” in Chikan Town, Kaiping, south China’s Guangdong Province, July 3, 2024. (People’s Daily Online/Zhong Wenxing)

As night fell, the ancient city came alive. Sparks flew from the performance of “Striking Iron Flower” and the dragon and lion dances dazzled the crowd. These displays of cultural heritage left the audience in awe.

Isabelle Oxford, a student at Oxford University, expressed her excitement about the performance. “Watching the iron flowers was amazing. They reminded me of fireworks at home,” she said.

British students watch a lion dance performance in Chikan Town in Kaiping, south China’s Guangdong Province, July 3, 2024. (People’s Daily Online/Zhong Wenxing)

Roberta Rennie from the University of Cambridge shared her thoughts on the trip: “Experiencing the cultural heritage of the Greater Bay Area was unforgettable. It’s an adventure I will cherish for a long time.”

This photo, taken on July 3, 2024, shows a roof decorated with clay sculptures in Kaiping, south China’s Guangdong Province. (People’s Daily Online/Zhong Wenxing)

British students and a local student visit Kaiping Diaolou and villages in Kaiping, south China’s Guangdong province, July 3, 2024. (People’s Daily Online/Zhong Wenxing)

This photo was taken on July 3, 2024, in Chikan Town, Kaiping, south China’s Guangdong Province. (People’s Daily Online/Zhong Wenxing)

British students and a local student visit Chikan Town in Kaiping, south China’s Guangdong province, July 3, 2024. (People’s Daily Online/Zhong Wenxing)

Roberta Rennie experiences the art of clay sculpting in Kaiping, south China’s Guangdong province, July 3, 2024. (People’s Daily Online/Zhong Wenxing)

(Website Editor: Xian Jiangnan, Wu Chengliang)