On Monday, an intangible cultural heritage exhibition and performance featuring Luohu District and its partner regions concluded in Shenzhen. The event is part of China's broader rural revitalization initiative and aims to strengthen cultural exchange and cooperation between Luohu and its partner regions.

As the first immersive intangible cultural heritage showcase, the event attracted tens of thousands of online and offline participants. It brought together cultural presentation, public engagement and inter-regional collaboration, highlighting Luohu's efforts to integrate culture with urban development and regional partnerships.

Set within a 300-year-old historic academy, the event combined traditional architecture with modern lighting and projection technology, extending the performance space from the academy into the surrounding pedestrian street. This created an immersive environment where heritage, space and visual art interacted throughout the venue.

The programme featured six themed chapters and nearly 20 intangible cultural heritage elements from five regions, many of which appeared on stage together for the first time. Performances included an opening combining lighting effects with Yingge dance, a fashion show pairing Luohu's Xiangyun silk with ethnic costumes from Guangxi, and collaborations between traditional music, craftsmanship and performing arts such as guqin music with incense-making and puppet theatre exchanges.

The event also drew strong public participation, with tens of thousands of visitors attending in person and online. Dongmen Pedestrian Street recorded 297,200 visitors on the day, up 53% year-on-year, reflecting a significant boost in local foot traffic.

Alongside performances, the event included exhibition zones featuring specialty products from partner regions, including tea and agricultural goods. These displays helped connect producers from less-developed areas with consumers in the Greater Bay Area.

Visitor incentives, including ticket-based discounts at more than 30 shops and restaurants and on-site prize draws, further encouraged participation and increased spending in the surrounding area.

The event also served as a platform for cooperation between Luohu and partner regions in Guangxi, Guangdong and other areas, enabling cultural exchange and shared presentation of diverse intangible heritage traditions.

Overall, the initiative provided a practical example of how cultural heritage can be activated through public events and regional collaboration. Luohu said it will continue to explore ways to enhance the visibility and relevance of intangible cultural heritage through more diverse formats and broader integration with urban life and public engagement.