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From 17 to 20 April 2026, the UNESCO Youth Cultural Heritage Ambassador Study Tour took place in Lintao County, Dingxi City, Gansu Province. Over 60 young participants — including high school students, undergraduates, graduate students, and international exchange students — engaged with the Majiayao painted pottery culture and the intangible cultural heritage (ICH) of Gansu through expert lectures, hands-on ICH workshops, and field visits to archaeological sites.
The newly established Majiayao Cultural Research and Exhibition Centre, built by the Gansu Provincial Government under a World Bank loan project, served as the venue for this year’s activities and is scheduled to open to the public in May 2026.
Understanding Majiayao Culture
Following the opening ceremony on 18 April, Yu qian, scholar of Majiayao culture, delivered a special lecture, systematically introducing the historical background, archaeological value and global significance of Majiayao culture. Originating more than 5,000 years ago in the upper reaches of the Yellow River, it is renowned for its painted pottery, whose intricate motifs suggest early patterns of cross-cultural exchange across Eurasia — predating the formal opening of the Silk Road. For many participants, this was their first in-depth encounter with Majiayao culture — and the lecture made clear not only its local roots but also its broader relevance to global heritage discourse.
A thematic presentation and ICH lecture delivered by the Dingxi Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism followed, connecting historical narrative with the living traditions of the region and helping students understand how this ancient civilization continues to find expression in contemporary practice. A presentation of Anna Yau, a UNESCO global expert facilitator, introduced the different practices of revitalization and innovation of heritage across the Asia-Pacific region.
After the lectures, students visited the exhibition center to explore the evolution of Majiayao culture through physical artifacts and graphic displays. At the Dingxi ICH and cultural creative market, they also entered experience zones to immerse themselves in the charm of Dingxi’s traditional intangible cultural heritage.
ICH Workshops: Learning from the Practitioners
In the afternoon of 18 April, participants travelled to the Pottery Arts Building at Majiayao Painted Pottery Town, where they took part in a hands-on pottery-making workshop under the guidance of local practitioners. Alongside the workshop, a Dingxi ICH exhibition was held concurrently, featuring live demonstrations by over twenty practitioners across disciplines including pottery, cloisonné enamel, clay sculpture, paper cutting, and wheat straw painting — offering students a panoramic view of Gansu’s intangible cultural heritage.
For many participants, the workshop was a revelatory experience: holding the tools for the first time and following the practitioner’s lead, they quickly grasped the precision and patience these crafts demand. Students also had the opportunity to speak directly with practitioners of pottery and cloisonné enamel. When asked about the market adaptation of ICH techniques, a pottery making inheritor said, “As times evolve and market needs change, we have expanded the use of pottery from souvenirs to daily-use items such as tea sets and pottery stoves. This has greatly boosted public understanding and affection for pottery.” This prompted many students to rethink the meaning of “inheritance.” A craft that takes years – even decades – to master depends for its survival not only on the transmission of skills, but also on the ability to adapt by integrating traditional craftsmanship with contemporary aesthetics. This involves understanding present-day needs and aspirations while safeguarding the core techniques and cultural roots, ensuring that heritage continues as a vibrant, living practices.
That evening, participants gathered at the Lintao Three Halls to watch a documentary, gaining a broader perspective on the role of Majiayao culture within contemporary heritage conservation efforts.
Field Visits: From Archaeological Sites to Museums
19 April was dedicated to fieldwork. Participants visited the Majiayao Prehistoric Cultural Site Park, bringing the knowledge from lectures into direct contact with the physical remains of the past. Standing on an archaeological site is a different experience from viewing objects in a museum — the scale and fragility of the remains make the stakes of heritage protection immediate and tangible.
In the afternoon, the group visited the Majiayao Painted Pottery Culture Museum, Lintao County Museum, and the Tao River Stone Culture Museum, gaining a systematic understanding of the region’s cultural inheritance from prehistory to the present. Standing before the unearthed cultural relics on display, the knowledge and feelings accumulated over the past few days came together. After the visit, student Zhang Junxuan shared: “I learned a great deal beyond textbooks during this event. The wisdom and creativity of ancient ancestors embodied in traditional culture deeply fascinated me. After hands-on experiences in ICH activities such as leather carving and pottery making, the dedication and innovation of ICH inheritors have inspired me to remember and carry forward this spirit in my future studies and life.” This transformation defined the entire study tour: the value of ICH and archaeological sites lies not only in academic research or display cases, but also in the tangible moments when young people touch clay with their own hands and communicate face-to-face with heritage inheritors.
read more: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/where-ancient-craft-meets-next-generation-unesco-youth-cultural-heritage-ambassadors-explore?hub=701
