Intangible cultural heritage (ICH) refers to various traditional cultural expressions, along with their associated objects and spaces, that have been passed down through generations among all ethnic groups and are regarded as integral components of their cultural heritage. The safeguarding of ICH fosters a sense of ethnic identity and promotes respect for cultural diversity and human creativity.
China’s ICH protection system operates through a dual-track approach of regional conservation and categorized project management, forming a hierarchical framework of resource preservation. In terms of regional conservation, as of the end of 2024, China has established 101 cultural protection zones across four categories, building an integrated conservation network centered on specific cultural spaces to maintain the ecological connection between ICH and its native environment. At the project level, the ten major categories encompass a total of 20,823 ICH items, reflecting distinct structural characteristics. China has thus developed a systematic and holistic approach to ICH safeguarding practice.
ICH is undergoing digital transformation, breaking through spatial and temporal constraints to achieve "living" transmission and innovative dissemination. The core of this shift lies in transforming the logic of transmission—from "oral and physical transmission" to "digital permanence," and from localized performances to global sharing. Looking ahead, China’s intangible cultural heritage should actively integrate with tourism and modern urban life, leveraging digital transformation to create "experienceable and consumable" cultural spaces, allowing it to flourish with renewed vitality in the new era.
