On the morning of December 7, the 2nd Spring Festival Culture Forum and International Academic Conference opened at Beijing Normal University (BNU). Focusing on the theme of Spring Festival Culture and Sustainable Development, the forum explored topics such as the safeguarding and implementation of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) conventions, mutual learning among civilizations, and ICH protection and sustainable development.

Main Venue of the Forum

Chen Xing, Vice President of BNU, noted that the Spring Festival is the most widely celebrated and culturally rich traditional festival of the Chinese nation. It embodies the Chinese pursuit of harmony and carries universal values such as family unity, social inclusiveness, and harmony between humanity and nature. BNU has hosted the forum for two consecutive years to advance the inheritance and development of Spring Festival culture and to build an academic community of mutual learning among civilizations with BNU characteristics. He expressed hope that the forum would continue to serve as an international platform for exchange and cooperation, further enriching theoretical and practical explorations of Spring Festival culture.

Chen Xing, Vice President of BNU

Officials from relevant Chinese institutions and government departments also attended the conference and delivered speeches. They emphasized the importance of researching, protecting, and inheriting the culture of the Spring Festival and other excellent traditional festivals. The opening ceremony was chaired by Qu Zhiyong, Dean of the School of Sociology of BNU.

Li Xiaosong, Deputy Director-General of the Department of ICH of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism

Wang Chenyang, Party Secretary of the Chinese Traditional Cultural Museum

Rong Shuqin, Secretary of the Party Branch, Vice Chairman, and Secretary-General of the China Folk Literature and Art Association

Lan Jing, Director of the Center for Ethnic and Folk Literature and Art Development of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism

Shahbaz Khan, Director and Representative of UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia, emphasized the importance of holding the forum on the first anniversary of the Spring Festival’s inscription on the UNESCO Representative List. He noted that China now has 44 elements on the Representative List—the most in the world—demonstrating China's strong commitment to protecting ICH.

Shahbaz Khan, Director and Representative of UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia

At the opening ceremony, BNU officially inaugurated the Department of Intangible Cultural Heritage under the School of Sociology. The establishment of the department responds to the contemporary mission of safeguarding ICH and promoting sustainable development. It aims to strengthen scientific documentation, academic research, and innovative transmission, providing solid intellectual and talent support for the protection of the Spring Festival and other ICH elements.

Inauguration Ceremony of the Department of ICH, School of Sociology, BNU

Qu Zhiyong, Dean of the School of Sociology at BNU, Presiding over the Inauguration Ceremony

To further promote exchange and cooperation on Spring Festival culture, the forum announced that the 3rd Spring Festival Culture Forum will be hosted by Langzhong City, Sichuan Province, known as “City of Spring Festival Culture.” With its deep historical heritage and well-preserved Spring Festival customs, Langzhong is expected to contribute valuable practical insights and local experiences.

Flag Handover Ceremony to the Host of the 3rd Spring Festival Culture Forum

On the afternoon of December 7, six parallel sessions were held at BNU. On December 8, participants visited the China National ICH Museum for guided tours and discussions centered on its exhibitions. A concurrent exhibition titled “Seeing the Spring Festival” was also held during the conference, featuring displays of Spring Festival cultural knowledge and live performances by BNU’s Twenty-Four Solar Terms Drum Troupe, along with intangible cultural heritage bearers of Chinese paper-cutting, calligraphy, and other traditional arts.

Performance of the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Drum Troupe and the Spring Festival Cultural Exhibition and Demonstrations

Since the “Spring festival, social practices of the Chinese people in celebration of traditional new year” was officially inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the ICH of Humanity on December 4, 2024, China has made substantial progress in fulfilling the ICH Convention and advancing the global sharing of Spring Festival culture. Upgraded this year into an international academic conference, the forum marks a major scholarly event held on the first anniversary of the Spring Festival’s inscription. As a significant platform for global exchange, it contributes academic insight and practical experience to advancing Spring Festival safeguarding, enhancing mutual learning among civilizations, and supporting global sustainable development.