Foreign experts explore Suzhou's intangible cultural heritage

6月12日，“凝眸江南——外国专家看苏州”系列活动第四站走进姑苏区。

The "A Glimpse of Jiangnan — Foreign Experts Discover Suzhou" event was held in Gusu District on Friday. Four experts from Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University embarked on a citywalk through Suzhou's ancient city area.

Suzhou, a national historical and cultural city, has eight items inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, including Kunqu opera, Song brocade, kesi and Suzhou embroidery, and 33 national-level intangible cultural heritage items.

Their first stop was the Suzhou Kunqu Opera Museum. Guided by museum staff members, the foreign experts learned about the origins, classic repertoires, famous playwrights and stage art of the ancient art form.

The event coincided with the 2026 Suzhou Intangible Cultural Heritage Summer Consumption Month, and outstanding works from across the country were showcased along the ancient city's streets. The experts stopped at assorted stalls to learn about the details of different intangible cultural heritage products. They spoke highly of the displays, noting that the integration of intangible cultural heritage and tourism offers strong potential for promotion.

After the citywalk, a discussion session on the characteristics and vitality of the integration of intangible cultural heritage and tourism was held.

Australian expert Angela Fitzgerald said that intangible cultural heritage protection needs the active involvement of young people. If included in the school curriculum, it will achieve even greater success.

Malay expert Wai Kit Leong suggested that combining the basic knowledge and performance of Kunqu opera with modern technology will help audiences better understand its cultural stories.

According to American expert Daniel Yonto, protecting Suzhou's dialects is critical to passing down the city's heritage. He noted that Kunqu opera is not only a performing art but also a living record of the local language. When these elements are organically integrated, intangible cultural heritage can gain greater vitality.

British expert Emily Williams warned against the risk of turning cultural heritage into superficial consumer goods under the internet celebrity effect. She stressed the importance of finding ways to preserve cultural depth while achieving sustainable inheritance.

Source: Yinlibo