Baodi district of Tianjin is leveraging its rich cultural heritage to fuel high-quality development, according to a press conference held on April 17.

The district has consistently cultivated a dynamic cultural ecosystem, promoting innovation and integration across various sectors. These efforts have delivered tangible results, transforming local traditions into engines of development.

Breathing new life into intangible cultural assets

Home to more than 100 forms of intangible cultural heritage (ICH), Baodi has established 68 ICH inheritance bases in recent years, including celebrated projects such as gourd pyrography and jīnshí paper-cutting. Key cultural venues, such as the China Gourd Art Museum and the Baodi Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition Hall, have become popular attractions.

More than 100 ICH-related performances and displays have been woven into festivals, sporting and other cultural events, with Baodi hosting a number of cultural showcases later this year, including a national paper-cutting art exhibition.

Building a national cultural identity from its roots

Baodi is the birthplace of nationally recognized ICH items such as Pingju Opera and Jingdong Drum Song. Based on these cultural roots, the district has created several nationally influential cultural events, including the Ma Ji Cup National University Crosstalk Showcase, a national Pingju opera talent exhibition, solidifying Baodi’s status as a prominent cultural hub.

Cultivating unique cultural IP to power tourism

Rather than replicating conventional tourism models, Baodi has carved out a distinct path by integrating cultural storytelling into its tourism offerings.

Harnessing the scenic Chaobai River, the district launched the Four Seasons Chaobai River Tourism Festival, which features events such as music carnivals, traditional Chinese cultural fairs and cosplay parades.

The district has also creatively revitalized historical legacies. Drawing inspiration from Ming Dynasty official Yuan Liaofan, Baodi has transformed the Liaofan Park Spring Festival Temple Fair into a vibrant platform for presenting folk customs and ICH in innovative formats.

Cultural integration fuels economic gains

Baodi's efforts to blend culture with agriculture, commerce, sports and tourism have yielded new business models and consumption trends. In 2024, the district launched a sports and tourism carnival that attracted over 200,000 participants.

Media engagement has also expanded, with over 150 livestreaming sessions aired via two dedicated online programs. These broadcasts have catapulted local delicacies like Baodi-style meat pies and oil-thread noodles, as well as agricultural products such as Baodi tomatoes, to national fame—boosting incomes for farmers and small businesses by over 14 million yuan ($1.92 million).

As Baodi continues to deepen the integration of culture with broader development strategies, it is emerging as a vibrant example of how cultural revitalization can drive sustainable regional growth.