Braille library instills culture in visually impaired kids

To mark the first Chinese New Year since UNESCO added the festival and its associated cultural practices to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the China Braille Library hosted a special course to help disabled children deepen their understanding of the traditional culture during the holiday.

Nine visually impaired children participated in the program, which included a visit to Beijing's Central Axis, a popular destination for tourists that became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July.

In warm sunshine on Monday, the children and their teachers embarked on a cultural journey to experience the historic and artistic significance of the Central Axis. They made kites at Yongding Gate, sampled traditional snacks at Dashilar market, sculpted clay tigers during a lesson about the Forbidden City's history and created toy windmills while exploring the heritage of the Bell and Drum Towers.

"We can hold lectures for the children about the history and culture of the Central Axis, but firsthand participation in cultural activities, combined with vivid oral guides along the way, help them grasp its historical and cultural significance more intuitively," said Luo Lili, a staff member at the China Braille Library and an organizer of the event. "At CBL, we hope to take practical actions to open a door to the world of culture for visually impaired children."

Ding Xurong, one of the participants, said, "I am deeply impressed by the trip. It helps to draw a picture of Beijing's culture in my mind."

The second half of the course focused on making lanterns in CBL's classrooms in preparation for the upcoming Lantern Festival on Feb 12. The children crafted lanterns using paper, bamboo and iron wire, relying primarily on touch and verbal guidance rather than sight. The intricate process required patience and precision, but they completed the lanterns with determination.

"The Lantern Festival is one of the most romantic traditional Chinese festivals, marking the first full moon of the new year and symbolizing reunion, harmony and happiness," Luo said. "It's also the night when people light all kinds of lanterns in celebration. Visually impaired children cannot see the lanterns, but by making them, they gain a deeper sense of participation."

Wang Haikun, another participant, said he was happy to make a lantern by hand. "It's a carrier of my wishes for a bright future," he said.

The activities also included guessing lantern riddles and eating traditional rice puddings, both integral parts of the Lantern Festival celebrations.

"They cannot see well, but they still have the right to pursue the bright," Luo said.