A dance performance celebrating Fuzhou's "Santianzan" folk tradition enchants the audience with its vibrant cultural charm. [Photo/fznews.com.cn]

On August 16, the "Intangible Cultural Heritage & Guochao" series of events, organized by the Fuzhou Cultural Center, officially kicked off. "Guochao" — literally "national trend" and often translated as "China-chic" — refers to the creative reimagining of traditional Chinese culture in ways that appeal to younger generations.

The opening featured an immersive street flash performance, Intangible Cultural Heritage Meets Historic Houses, held in the historic district of Three Lanes and Seven Alleys. Tai Chi, puppet shows, traditional zither music, and folk dances gave citizens and tourists a vivid cultural experience where intangible heritage came alive amid centuries-old architecture.

The event combined mobile showcases with interactive activities, unfolding at spots such as the North Square, Fengyu Corridor, and the Former Residence of Dong Zhiyi at the Three Lanes and Seven Alleys.

Other innovative performances also drew enthusiastic crowds — from choral pieces inspired by puppet theater traditions, to shows highlighting qipao button craftsmanship, to dances embodying Fuzhou's folk culture such as santiaozan or Three Knives hairpins. Many visitors stopped to capture the moment.

"Encountering intangible heritage performances in these historic sites feels like traveling through time," said Ms Chen, a local resident. "It really makes you feel the depth of Fuzhou's cultural heritage."

That same afternoon, Fuzhou Cultural Center also hosted hands-on workshops, including incense-making, traditional architecture building techniques, and a cultural salon themed Intangible Heritage Meets Tea. These activities offered the public an opportunity to experience traditional culture up close.

The "Intangible Cultural Heritage & Guochao" series will run from August through March next year, with weekly programs open to the public. Spanning eight months and featuring 66 events, the festival will present two main sections: the Guochao Intangible Heritage Workshop and the Guochao Intangible Heritage Stage. Together, these programs aim to revitalize Fuzhou's rich intangible heritage and showcase the vitality of Fuzhou culture in a new era.

The workshop will include three themed learning programs: lecture series sharing the stories of Fuzhou's intangible heritage, art salons encouraging dialogue with heritage inheritors, and weekend workshops where participants can learn traditional crafts such as incense-making and architectural techniques.

Meanwhile, the stage program will take heritage beyond the cultural center. On weekends and holidays, signature traditions such as Shifan music, Min opera, and local folk customs will be presented through mobile, site-specific, and immersive performances in Fuzhou's historic streets and popular scenic spots. In this way, intangible heritage will become part of the living cultural landscape, allowing residents and visitors to encounter it in their daily strolls.

This cultural series is a newly launched brand for promoting and showcasing intangible heritage, noted an official from the Fuzhou Cultural Center. By combining immersive experiences with the China-chic style, the series will breathe new vitality into centuries-old traditions, making them relevant and appealing to today's youth.