Agriculture and art renew 'cradle' of the nation

Cultural heritage

Every weekday, Liu Ruiqi, a fifth grade student at the Yan'an campus of Beijing No 2 Experimental Primary School, walks through the school's "Hall of Culture" to her classroom, whose ceiling is covered with small banners bearing classic Chinese teachings and virtues.

The walls on both sides are full of the students' paintings of famous Chinese heroes who stayed in Yan'an, ranging from Meng Tian, a general during the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC), to Du Fu, a poet of the Tang Dynasty (618-907).

"Classical teachings are everywhere－they help us learn and remind us to be good children," Liu said.

During recess, the students like to navigate a maze in the cultural play zone. The maze is called the "Long March", and at certain key corners there are texts about important facts or locations during the march.

"When we are running through the maze, we can learn about the Long March and its history," Zhou Zixuan, 10, said. "The maze is easy, but the real march must have been very, very hard. It makes me appreciate what our forefathers went through even more."

Wang Hongxia, the principal, said the school was designed to "immerse young students in classic culture and the history of the Chinese Revolution, while studying the typical elementary curriculum".

While some children learn to appreciate Yan'an's culture at school, others are dedicated to arts and crafts from an early age. The two most famous and popular local art forms are paper cutting and waist drum dancing, both of which are listed as world protected cultural heritages by the UN.

According to The Encyclopedia of Chinese Folklore and Classic Traditions, they are believed to have originated some time before the sixth century BC as religious rites to honor gods, dispel evil spirits and celebrate the Lunar New Year.

However, the traditions are so old that many techniques have been lost down the ages. Those that survive are passed down through the generations.

That was the case for Yu Zeling, who was born in Yan'an's Ansai district, and began practicing paper cutting at the age of 12. The 52-year-old's work was featured at the Shaanxi Global Expo, organized by the Foreign Ministry, in 2016.

"The main characteristic of Yan'an paper cutting is simplicity and detail," she said. "I learned the craft from my aunt, who learned it from her parents. I am also passing it on to younger relatives."

Thanks to her mastery of the art form, Yu doesn't need to resort to agricultural labor. She earns more than 80,000 yuan a year, making her one of the richest people in her village. "Having money is great, but having more people learn and appreciate this art form is even better," she said.

According to Chen Jun, Party secretary of Dufuchuan community in Yan'an's Baota district, in addition to the extra money, classic arts and crafts are therapeutic and can make a community healthier and more peaceful.

In the past, low levels of education and a lack of things to do resulted in the local people gambling, drinking and bickering with their neighbors, she said. The situation has improved thanks to better management, stronger security and healthier hobbies.

The community has an art room where residents can practice calligraphy and other arts for free.

"The people of Yan'an love the local culture, but they often lack the necessary tools. Now, they can undertake much healthier hobbies," Chen said.

"A positive culture has brought cohesion to the community and made it a better place to live for everyone."