Dawan Ancestral Residence. Photo by Liu Xudong

At the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Communities event held by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Department from Nov. 29 through Dec. 1 in Shenzhen, Pingshan District’s cultural heritage protection project in Pinghuan Community was recognized as a national-level exemplary case along with 21 other projects.

In recent years, Pingshan has attached great importance to cultural heritage protection, integrating historical cultural heritage with urban development. By revitalizing ancient relics and intangible cultural heritage items, traditional culture is showcasing modern charm. The centuries-old Wenwu Temple and the decades-old Nanzhong School have been transformed into urban libraries, becoming popular tourist spots among locals and travelers.

Artist Liu Qingyuan’s mural “Move Like a Rabbit” is seen at a village next to the Dawan Ancestral Residence in late 2022. Photo by Cao Zhen

With abundant Hakka cultural resources, the Pinghuan Community in Maluan Subdistrict is home to the centuries-old Dawan Ancestral Residence, one of the biggest and most completely preserved Hakka-style buildings in China. Now, Pinghuan has become an urban community where locals and migrants reside. The community has attached great importance to the inheritance and revitalization of Hakka culture, exploring the interaction between tradition and innovation in the public’s daily lives. By promoting the kylin dance and organizing Hakka-themed activities, the cultural lives of the public have been enriched, establishing a close connection between Hakka traditions and modern life.

A kylin dancer demonstrates movements to a foreigner at Dawan Ancestral Residence. Photo by Liu Xudong

With a history of more than 300 years, the kylin dance is based on the mantis fist martial art and was created according to the seasonal living and working habits of farmers in ancient time. The dance incorporates the characteristics of both northern and southern styles of kylin dance, presenting a strong, dignified, delicate and flexible feature.

In 2009 and 2013, the Pingshan kylin dance was recognized as a city-level and provincial-level intangible cultural heritage, respectively. Representatives and inheritors in Pinghuan Community have visited Hong Kong and Dongguan several times for exchanges, promoting Dawan Ancestral Residence and the Pingshan kylin dance. The Dawan Kylin Dance Team has not only presented numerous performances for locals but also won gold awards in provincial contests.