Year-ender: Top 10 cultural events from 2025

2. China's Intangible cultural heritage thrives during 14th Five-Year Plan

In 2025, China released a summary of its progress in safeguarding intangible cultural heritage (ICH) during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021–25). A total of 325 items were added to the national ICH list, while 942 individuals were recognized as national-level inheritors. Fourteen national cultural eco-protection pilot zones passed evaluation, bringing the total number of such zones nationwide to 276.

ICH preservation was more thoroughly integrated with tourism and rural revitalization. More than 12,900 ICH workshops were established across 2,138 counties, creating jobs for over 1.2 million people. ICH-themed travel routes and branding also attracted young practitioners, injecting new vitality into rural development.