In a major win for cultural preservation, UNESCO officially elevated China's Hezhen Yimakan storytelling to its prestigious Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage this week. The ancient oral tradition – once on UNESCO's urgent safeguarding list in 2011 – now shines as a global treasure 🌟.
Practiced by the Hezhen people in northeast China, Yimakan blends epic poetry, improvisation, and music to preserve legends, rituals, and ancestral knowledge. Think of it as a live-action history podcast 🎤 that's been running for centuries!
This 2025 recognition comes after 14 years of revitalization efforts. UNESCO praised China's work in training new storytellers and creating digital archives 💾. For young culture enthusiasts, it's proof that traditions can thrive in the TikTok era – no autotune needed!
