Cultural heritage show produces the goods

A popular series, Hi Producer, which showcases 16 examples of intangible cultural heritage, has boosted tourism and the sale of cultural products in Suzhou, in East China's Jiangsu province, its producer said at a seminar about the show.

Held in Beijing earlier this week, the event organized by the Chinese Television Art Committee has brought together major creators, cultural relic experts, intangible cultural heritage artisans, and industry researchers.

Consisting of 35 episodes, the series chronicles the production process of a cultural program called Chuan Cheng (Inheritance), employing a "play-within-a-play" method to intricately interweave the introduction of intangible cultural heritage with the stories of the individuals dedicated to preserving these centuries-old techniques.

Wang Xiaoyan, the general manager of the Copyright Cooperation Department at iQiyi, the online platform streaming the show, stated that it found over 70 percent of the show's audience to be women from first-tier cities, exemplifying that female audiences may be more easily drawn to such an innovative format for presenting history and culture.

Yang Le, general manager of Huanyu Film and Television Culture, the production company behind the show, mentioned that the series was conceived based on the company's extensive 16-year experience of drawing inspiration from ancient cultures and history to create popular programs.

With hits like Story of Yanxi Palace, a royal romance set during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), and Winter Begonia, a 1930s tale about a Peking Opera legend, the company has established collaborative relationships with nearly 50 skilled craftsmen proficient in intangible cultural heritage techniques.

"We dedicated three years to shooting Hi Producer, making it the first drama to receive approval to film at Suzhou Museum. Our aim is to ignite the interest of a modern, young audience and encourage appreciation and admiration of the charm and beauty of cultural heritage," Yang added.

As more than 90 percent of the show's scenes were filmed in Suzhou, Yang said they've heard that a number of young tourists have been inspired to visit the city and retrace the footsteps of the protagonists.

Wang Yichuan, vice-chairman of the Chinese Literary and Art Critics Association, said that the program not only promotes awareness about cultural heritage, but also delves into the distinctive aesthetics and values embedded in each of the techniques, which are deeply rooted in Chinese history and culture.