Four Jinhua ICH projects named as Zhejiang innovation models

Four copper art pieces from Shendiao Copper Craft go on show. [Photo/WeChat account: jinhuafeiyi]

Four intangible cultural heritage, or ICH projects — all from Jinhua city in East China's Zhejiang province — were recently selected on the list of the province's 2025 innovation models.

That's for their creative approach to the preservation of ICH items, bringing traditional crafts into modern life, education and cultural tourism.

In one project, Shendiao Copper Craft has turned an over-3,000 year-old metal carving tradition into museum workshops — where visitors and students can try their hand at casting and engraving, making heritage hands-on and accessible.

Elsewhere, Yongyun Crafts combines copper, tin and bamboo techniques with interactive teaching. By offering seasonal courses in schools and communities, it's linking festive traditions to everyday experiences.

Daqing Hanlin, a leader in China's high-end rosewood furniture market, modernizes Dongyang wood carving through elegant rosewood furniture, while study programs enable participants to learn carving and design in a contemporary context.

Meanwhile, Baoyue Heritage Living Center reimagines a wood-carving space as a hub combining production, cultural experience, art tourism and creative development. This shows how tradition can thrive in modern, eco-friendly settings.

These cases highlight a shift from passive preservation to active innovation. They ensure that intangible heritage is not just admired — but lived, studied and that they demonstrate how heritage can be actively preserved, experienced and creatively applied in today's society.