Taizhou city empowers traditional culture with new vitality

Adhering to the principles and cultural inheritance and development, Taizhou city in East China's Jiangsu province has adopted measures to ensure that its cultural relics and intangible cultural heritage continue to shine brightly in the modern day.

Known as the ancestral home of Peking Opera master Mei Lanfang, Taizhou has continued to hold traditional opera activities in recent years to improve its cultural profile.

A sculpture of Peking Opera master Mei Lanfang. [Photo/tznews.cn]

Every year, outstanding opera performers who have won the Plum Performance Award, the highest award for traditional Chinese theatrical art, are invited to perform in Taizhou, granting its people wider access to various genres such as Peking Opera, Yueju Opera, Huaiju Opera, and Xiju Opera.

To inherit these prime examples of China's cultural heritage, Taizhou has moved to protect and repair its historical buildings, and explore the resources of historical and cultural blocks, making ancient buildings shine.

Shisheng Street, the main street of Bazi Bridge cultural tourism block in Hailing district, offers striking views of traditional Taizhou residences and winding antique stone roads after considerable renovation work.

In 2018, the city formulated a regulation on the protection of historical and cultural towns, which was implemented in March 2019.

Taizhou has also created a system to protect its heritage, including three national historical and cultural towns, and 50 traditional villages in Jiangsu province, among others.

A bird's-eye view of an ancient pagoda in Taizhou city. [Photo/tznews.cn]