Artisans of the World——Shanxi – china cultural center

Traveling in Shanxi is like going through the history of cultural changes of the Yellow River. As the soul of the Yellow River, Hukou Waterfalls, like an enormous teapot absorbing the rushing water, makes an extremely magnificent scenery, presenting the broad-mindedness and grandeur of the mother river of the Chinese nation; the Yellow River surges and bends 7 times in the mountains, shaping the world’s wonder of Qiankun Bay, the origin of Chinese dragon totem. Myths about Houji, God of farming and Leizu, Sericulture Goddess that have been passed on for millions of years along the bank of the River are carrying forward the long-standing farming civilization of the Yellow River; legends about Dayu and Taidai curbing floods and hydraulic engineering of Zhibo Canal constructed in the Spring and Autumn Period and The “Eight Grand Weirs” built over the Fen River in the Qing Dynasty have formed a continuous culture of flood control of the Yellow River.

Steeped in history and culture, Shanxi boasts a wide range of dynamic intangible arts and crafts, which bear witness to the enduring and profound Chinese civilization. Icons of Shanxi’s diverse intangible heritage items, the Baolongzhai Traditional Cloth Shoe Making Technique and the Pingyao “Changshengyuan” Yellow Rice Wine Brewing Technique are great showcases to the diligent and wise people of Shanxi and their passion for life.