In November 2025, the Aba Prefecture Conference on Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) Protection, Inheritance and Innovative Development, together with the 2025 Qiang New Year celebration series, will kick off in Wenchuan County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province. The event will feature cultural forums, an ICH achievements exhibition, the groundbreaking of an ICH-themed park, and immersive cultural spaces built around the core concept of the “Hearth Fire” (Huotang).

Aba is a vibrant land of multi-ethnic life and integration, where Tibetan, Qiang, Hui, and Yi peoples have accumulated a wealth of wisdom and civilization over millennia, transforming clothing, utensils, and festivals into treasured cultural heritage. Aba holds a leading position in China in terms of ICH resources, boasting one element inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, 23 national-level items, and 101 provincial-level items, forming a comprehensive four-tier protection system. This event aims to provide a replicable and scalable “Aba Model” for the global transmission and innovation of intangible cultural heritage.

Aba’s ICH projects encompass ten categories, including folk literature, traditional crafts, and social practices. Among them, the Qiang New Year stands out. Also known as the “Little New Year” or “Harvest Festival,” it is primarily celebrated in Qiang-inhabited areas such as Wenchuan, Mao County, Li County, and Beichuan County. As the most significant festival for the Qiang people, it focuses on celebrating the harvest, offering blessings, and praying for peace. Typically beginning on the first day of the tenth lunar month and lasting three to five days, the Qiang New Year integrates folk customs, songs, dance, and cuisine, comprehensively reflecting Qiang social life. It embodies their reverence for nature and ancestors, their deep-rooted connection to homeland, and the philosophical concept of harmony between humanity and nature, serving as a vital resource for understanding the historical and cultural evolution of the Qiang people.

Also noteworthy is the Hui Flower Lantern Dance (Provincial ICH), with records tracing back to the Qing Dynasty in the Songpan County Annals. It took root as Songpan served as a key tea-horse trade market. The dance was introduced by northern garrison troops and gradually evolved by incorporating local Hui melodies and self-choreographed lantern movements. It is typically performed during the Spring Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, or other major celebrations. Additionally, the Qiang Polyphonic Folk Songs will be performed on site by artists from Songpan County, presenting the authentic charm of ethnic culture.

The event innovatively introduces the “Book of the Mountains” guidebook. Visitors receive this guide upon entry and are encouraged to collect unique poems and stamps at various Hearth Fire stations. Moving between these stations becomes a cultural exploration journey from tradition to modernity, from protection to innovation.

This gathering is a cultural dialogue between tradition and modernity, showcasing to the world the innovative practices and humanistic wisdom of ICH protection in Aba and China as a whole.