Intangible heritage fuels growth and creativity in Central China

ZHENGZHOU — In a factory workshop in Huangchuan county, Central China's Henan province, nimble hands stretch strands of dough with practiced precision.

The threads of dough are kneaded, twisted, and carefully pulled apart with wooden sticks before being draped over tall racks to dry, becoming the region's famed "hollow tribute noodles".

"Making hollow tribute noodles is my life's work," says Liu Laiwang, a representative inheritor of the craft and head of Henan Wangxin Food Co. "As an intangible cultural heritage of the province, Huangchuan's hollow tribute noodles embody the wisdom of generations. We feel called to preserve and pass them on."

Dating back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907), the noodle earned its name when it was presented to the imperial court as a tribute. Made from high-quality wheat flour, sesame oil and salt, the process undergoes more than 10 intricate steps. The noodles are ultra-fine with a hollow center, offering a resilient texture that holds up during cooking without getting mushy or clumpy.

In recent years, Huangchuan has actively expanded its noodle industry, aiming to achieve social and economic benefits.

Another local delicacy is the Shuangliu fish ball, a city-level intangible heritage item named after its origins, Shuangliushu town in Huangchuan. In a steaming bowl of soup, the glistening white spheres made with fresh silver carp rest gently before releasing their springy, savory flavor with each bite.

In a local shop, city-level heritage bearer and store manager Wang Juguo skillfully pounds fish meat into a paste, then squeezes it into pearl-like balls that are simmered to perfection.

"My family has been making Shuangliu fish balls for five generations. I've been at it for over 20 years," says Wang. "With good fish, you get good fish balls."

According to local cultural authorities in Huangchuan, to better preserve such culinary traditions, the county regularly holds free training sessions for inheritors of intangible cultural heritage, including hollow tribute noodles and fish balls.

More than 2,000 people have received training, helping to transform craftsmanship into thriving industries that generate incomes and opportunities for local farmers.

In addition to its culinary heritage, Huangchuan is also embracing other forms of cultural innovation, such as turtle shell art featuring vivid images of mountains, trees and rivers.

"Turtle farming is big here — Huangchuan is known as the 'Kingdom of Turtles'," says Zhou Zhen, a returned overseas doctoral graduate who is working to transform cultural heritage into creative products.

Zhou's team repurposes turtle shells into cultural products by combining them with art and design. Sales through e-commerce platforms have surged. With a background in new media and the digital economy, Zhou uses livestreaming and digital marketing to breathe new life into local traditions.

"Sales of heritage-based foods such as tribute noodles, fish balls, braised turtle, sugar-roasted chestnuts, and spicy soup have exceeded 80 million yuan ($11.15 million)," he says.

The revival of traditional crafts and local specialties in Huangchuan reflects a broader national push in China to preserve intangible cultural heritage and promote rural revitalization.

With plans to integrate immersive technologies, digital storytelling, and livestreaming, local heritage in Huangchuan is being reimagined as engaging digital content to support rural incomes, according to Zhou.