From August 15th to 19th, the 2025 "Xinjiang is a Good Place" Intangible Cultural Heritage Assistance Theme Exhibition, jointly organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the People's Government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, was held in Hotan Prefecture, Xinjiang, with 435 representative intangible cultural heritage projects and 383 inheritors participating, marking the largest scale of the event in history. This exhibition not only vividly showcases the achievements of intangible cultural heritage in supporting and enriching Xinjiang, but also allows people to see the vivid practice of integrating intangible cultural heritage into modern life. As soon as we arrived at the entrance of the Beijing Pavilion in the main venue of the event, the sound of Peking Opera singing could be heard in waves. Upon closer inspection, a Uyghur young man dressed in Beijing opera costumes is learning Beijing opera from a Beijing opera teacher. The young man's name is Ilham Aiken, 18 years old this year, and he is a high school senior in Hotan County. Ilham Aiken has had a strong interest in the art of Peking Opera since childhood. He bought a lot of Peking Opera costumes and props himself, but he has never had a teacher to guide him in his performances. He can only learn from TV programs and videos on his phone. Hotan is a Beijing supported area. Li Hongyan, an actress from Mei Lanfang Peking Opera Troupe of Beijing Peking Opera Theatre, heard the story of Ilham Aiken and took him as her disciple. She also came from Beijing to Hotan to guide him in learning to sing Peking Opera. What are the steps of Peking Opera stage? Eight character steps? And what? The T-shaped step? As a basic form, the Eight character Step requires both feet to be close to each other and the toes to be extended about 30 centimeters, reflecting the stability of civil servants or elders. The T-shaped Step requires one foot to be closely attached to the other foot's socket, which is often used for martial arts roles to show vigor and vitality?? ”Li Hongyan explained while demonstrating. In TV programs and mobile phone videos, actors' legs and feet are blocked by costumes. I have never understood how to walk the steps of Peking Opera. Teacher Li's on-site teaching gave me a sudden enlightenment. ”Ilham Aiken said happily. Shanxi Fanzhi embroidery is famous for its diverse and vibrant colors. The Sixth Division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (Wujiaqu City) is a counterpart support area in Shanxi Province. In the process of cultural aid to Xinjiang, relevant units in Shanxi have established a special cooperation with the 10th Company of the 106th Regiment of the 6th Division (Wujiaqu City) of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps to systematically impart Jin embroidery skills to local embroidery women. We not only impart the needlework techniques of Jin embroidery, but also teach some secrets for expanding the market. ”Shanxi Folk Embroidery (Fanzhi Embroidery) Provincial Representative Inheritor of Intangible Cultural Heritage, He Zhijian, introduced that they have trained 30 embroidery girls and through these 30 embroidery girls, they have trained more than 200 embroidery girls. Nowadays, these embroiderers not only master the skills of Jin embroidery proficiently, but also establish cooperatives, with an average annual income increase of more than 20000 yuan per embroiderer, achieving the goal of "sitting on the kang, coaxing children, earning money, and supporting the family". In addition, Yangzhou and Hotan have become sister cities and jointly established the "Hotan Yangzhou Jade Carving Joint Venture Factory". Jiang Chunyuan, a representative inheritor of Yangzhou's national intangible cultural heritage, has trained over a hundred jade carvers in Hotan, with two of the students becoming autonomous region level masters of arts and crafts. Liu Chenlong, the representative inheritor of traditional Chinese medicine preparations in Jilin Province (Pingshi extract production techniques) and a provincial-level intangible cultural heritage representative, has participated in multiple exhibitions of intangible cultural heritage in Xinjiang, providing free medical services to more than a thousand local people in Xinjiang. At the exhibition event in the former city of Yotkan, the reporter encountered a group of children who came to participate in the intangible cultural heritage research and learning activity. The ethnic costumes worn by the children reveal their minority identity. What ethnic group are you from? ”The reporter asked. The Chinese nation! ”The children's answers were crisp and impactful. Intangible cultural heritage plays a unique role in promoting communication, exchange, and integration among various ethnic groups, as well as strengthening the sense of community among the Chinese nation. The Hetian County Art Troupe in Xinjiang performs five to six hundred shows in rural areas every year. In recent years, the Uyghur singer Gulinuer of the troupe has self-taught traditional Chinese operas such as Peking Opera, Yu Opera, and Huangmei Opera. Every time she performs in rural areas, she has to sing a section. From initially not being able to understand, to gradually getting to know it, and now falling in love with it, "Gulinuer told reporters. Many grassroots ethnic minority groups have learned about the history and culture of their motherland through traditional opera, and have unconsciously forged a sense of community for the Chinese nation. Many exhibits in this intangible cultural heritage aid to Xinjiang theme exhibition highlight the theme of "a better life and ethnic unity", such as the cloisonn é production technique work "Wind Blows Lily Fragrance" from Beijing, the pearl embroidery work "Fumanjia Garden" from Xiamen, Fujian, and the porcelain carving work "Harmony and Coexistence" from Zibo, Shandong, conveying the beautiful meaning of harmony, mutual learning and exchange between each province (region, city) and Xinjiang. In front of the exhibits, visitors from various ethnic groups nodded frequently while listening to the introduction, and the belief in "ethnic unity" was deeply rooted in their hearts. Unlike previous intangible cultural heritage activities, this intangible cultural heritage assistance to Xinjiang themed exhibition event not only involves intangible cultural heritage inheritors and cultural institutions, but also many technology companies. What they bring is not intangible cultural heritage works and products, but new scenes for experiencing intangible cultural heritage and new spaces for showcasing intangible cultural heritage. At the exhibition site, the "AI intelligent ethnic clothing integrated camera project" attracted the attention of many visitors. When visitors stop in front of the camera, the AI will immediately generate ethnic style image photos that are both realistic and artistic, and also support QR code sharing. This project integrates more than ten intangible cultural heritage elements such as Xinjiang Edeles silk patterns and Kyrgyz embroidery, achieving the dissemination of wearable intangible cultural heritage clothing. The "Exquisite Dream Weaving" project is equally fascinating. The "Jingjue Weaving Dream" relies on traditional patterns such as Shu brocade and Edeles silk, which are replicated on digital weaving machines. The audience gently moves the shuttle, and the woven patterns of "Five Stars for the East and China" immediately appear on the surrounding walls. The audience is amazed: digital technology brings ancient patterns to life. The interactive design on the exhibition floor fascinates children even more. Wherever they step, the sand colored flowers bloom and wither instantly, as if stepping on a breathing oasis. (New Society)