Festive atmosphere, immersive cultural experience in North China ancient town

"We've created an experience that merges tradition with innovation. The event here represents a creative revival of Yangliuqing's cultural heritage," said Zhu Yihai, an official from the municipal culture and tourism bureau.

"I brought my child here to feel the blend of old and new," said a visitor surnamed Gao, who traveled from downtown Tianjin. "It feels both deeply traditional and wonderfully modern, and I feel like I am walking into a living New Year painting."

Also adding to the immersive atmosphere was a roaming theater performance, which led audiences through the town's winding alleys and pretty courtyards.

Visitors could follow the story of Bai Junying, a celebrated female artist in Yangliuqing's painting history, encountering interactive scenes along a route that linked local landmarks.

"We want people to immerse themselves in the culture, not just look at the scenery," said director Zheng Yingying, adding that the performance weaves together local history, canal culture, painting traditions, and even elements of Tianjin's folk performing arts, turning the audience into part of the story.

"You have to be here to really understand that it's because of artists like Bai Junying that this art form and this town feel so alive today," said Zhu Wenjia, a spectator.

The town's cultural vibrancy also spilled into its bustling markets and narrow lanes. Visitors tried their hand at printing woodblock paintings or cutting paper into delicate shapes. At food stalls, families gathered to make tanghulu, a popular Chinese winter snack of crispy sugar-coated hawthorns. Some visitors dressed up in traditional Hanfu, blending right in with the historic streets as they snapped photos to remember their New Year celebrations.