Folk arts star at temple fairs

The temple fair is a traditional way to celebrate the Lunar New Year across China. The ones in Beijing have become an occasion to present the highly diverse intangible cultural heritage of the city.

For a dozen years, the temple fair at Changdian has been one of the biggest in Beijing. This year, it features a special section dedicated to nearly twenty distinctive folk arts and crafts of the city.

Among them are age-old toys, dough figurines, lantern making, and outdoor acrobatics and stunts.

Most of the traditions go back centuries, and recent decades have seen a revival of their popularity. Last year, the municipal government began to grant funds to practitioners of major crafts.

And for heritage fans preferring a quieter venue, there are museums. A number of local institutions are joining hands for a theme show on ancient Chinese porcelains. Most of the items were created during the Qing Dynasty, from the 17th to the 19th centuries. Experts have supplied written introductions to major pieces, making the show both entertaining and informative.