Documentary gives traditional Chinese culture a wider stage

A nationwide documentary screening program celebrating China's rich intangible cultural heritage was launched in Beijing earlier this week, bringing traditional culture to wider audiences through the power of cinema.

Titled "New Voices of Intangible Heritage, A Panorama of Chinese Chic", the initiative is hosted by the China Central Newsreel and Documentary Film Studio (Group) with support from the National Special Fund for the Development of the Film Industry and several cultural and film organizations.

The lineup features more than a dozen documentaries exploring a wide range of traditional cultural themes. Among them are China's Secret Garden — Suzhou, which follows actor Chen Feiyu as he discovers the city's iconic crafts; Marvelous Hong, about the legendary Cantonese Opera master Kuang Jianlian, better known by her stage name Hong Xiannyu; and The Magical Craftsmanship of Suzhou, profiling 12 representative inheritors of the city's intangible cultural heritage.

Speaking at the launch ceremony on July 14, Zhu Qinxiao, vice-president of the China Central Newsreel and Documentary Film Studio (Group), said documentary filmmakers have long been committed to capturing authentic stories of China's intangible cultural heritage and preserving the nation's cultural legacy through the lens.

He added that the program will travel to 30 major cities nationwide, with screenings planned not only in cinemas but also at universities, community cultural centers, intangible cultural heritage workshops, enterprises and rural areas, creating a broad public screening network.

Lu Liang, deputy director of the China Film Archive, said documentaries have become an increasingly important medium for safeguarding intangible cultural heritage. Beyond digitally preserving traditional craftsmanship, rituals and historical memory, they also break geographical barriers, allowing niche cultural traditions to reach broader audiences, he said.

Yang Hong, director of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Communication Research Center at the Communication University of China, said the connection between Chinese cinema and intangible cultural heritage dates back to the country's earliest films, including Dingjun Mountain (1905) and Remorse at Death (1948).

The event opened with A Great Master Recaptured, winner of the Best Documentary award at the 26th Golden Rooster Awards. The film explores the legendary life of the late Peking Opera master Mei Lanfang, showcasing his artistic legacy and enduring influence on Chinese performing arts.