JIADING has long been known as “a famous historic and cultural town in the south of the Yangtze River.” The beautiful rivers, mountains and landscapes have bred its simple and honest humanistic qualities. The many seas and rivers help cultivate Jiading’s character of driving out evil and ushering in good, and the convenience of water transportation develops the minds of inclusiveness and changes.

According to statistics, there are 26 intangible cultural heritage programs in Jiading. These time-honored crafts are an important part of China’s transitional culture and an embodiment of its artistic essence. To explore the past, present and future, of those once-glorious crafts is a root-seeking trip of traditional culture to the every meaning of this word.

Let’s take a look at the best-known local crafts of the 26.

JIADING bamboo carving

Jiading’s bamboo carving can be traced back to over 500 years ago. It’s an art combining profound cultural connotation and high aesthetic value. The craftsmen, using knives as a tool and bamboo as the carrier, integrate multiple artistic forms, including calligraphy, painting, poetry, prose and printing, endowing new life to bamboo. The most popular bamboo carving articles are brush holders and table plaques made of bamboo tubes and strips, as well as the fig­ures, mountains and rivers, grass and flowers, and animals carved with bamboo roots. Jiading bamboo carving applies over 10 basic techniques, including light carving, deep carving, bas-relief, high-relief, transparent relief and round engraving, which displays the distinct regionalism and originality of the art.

Xuhang straw plaiting

Xuhang straw plaiting has survived for over 1,000 years. It follows traditional, regional and original customs and Xuhang is known as the “town of straw plaiting.” The ancestors of Xuhang cre­ated exquisite articles for daily use with the stems of yellow grass, and decorated them with colorful patterns. Xuhang straw plaiting products became famous far and wide for its various and innova­tive styles, exquisite and beautiful design and practical conve­nience. Whether they were handbags, fruit plates, glass wrappers, basin pads or slippers, those daily articles laden with local flavors boast natural and artistic beauty and practical value. They are also environment-friendly.

Taoist music

Taoism is an indigenous Chinese religion which has extended to every aspect of Chinese society and includes politics, economy, philosophy, literature, music, chemistry, medicine, pharmacy and others. Taoist music is a valuable form of Chinese folk music, fea­turing rich regional color, which plays an important role in under­standing the local rural culture, lifestyles and social development tracks. Jiading Daoist music is on the list of the second batch of national intangible culture heritage programs. And Shi Jitong has been approved as the representative inheritor of the national program.

Nanxiang xiaolong

The Nanxian xiaolong, or steamed bun, has a history of over 100 years. The bun’s skin is very thin, and its inside is filled with lean pork meat, pork jelly, ground sesame, bamboo shreds and shrimps. The bun is so carefully made that its skin is said to have at least 14 layers of folded bread, and the flour used for 10 buns weighs ex­actly 100 grams. Looking half-transparent, small and delicate, the bun is juicy on each bite. At present, the brand has opened chain stores in Japan, Singapore and other foreign countries, becoming popular among a large number of foodies abroad.

Jiangnan sizhu (string and wind music)

Jiangnan sizhu music has been popular in Jiading for around 270 years. Enthusiasts voluntarily formed groups to play music which is rich in local flavor and regional features. The music expresses the gentle and elegant characters of the people in the south lower reaches of the Yangtze River, and the beautiful landscapes of their hometown. The music prevails in the area of south Jiangsu and west Zhejiang.

Malu bamboo weaving

Malu bamboo weaving originated in the late Ming (1368-1644) and early Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, boasting a history of over 300 years. The handiwork is popular for its delicate craft, exquisite and beautiful forms and vivid images. The products include not only daily production and life articles, but also those with great artistic values such as flower baskets, furnishings and toys. Malu bamboo weaving products have been exported to countries including Egypt, Czech, Italy and Sweden, popular for its exquisite craftsmanship, attractive styles and patterns of national characteristics.

Dying technique of Anting yaoban cloth

It has been over 800 years since a man with the surname of Gui invented the dying technique of Anting yaoban cloth, which is also called “Gui’s yaoban cloth.” The cloth used to be the most well-known textile product of Anting. Yaohui is the most important substance in manufacturing yaoban cloth, which features strong adhesion and easy cleaning. Yaoban cloth is popular for its bright and colorful patterns, and moth-proof and mould-proof functions.

Brewing of Yujinxiang wine

Yujinxiang wine is one of the most famous products of Jiading, with a history of over 300 years. Previously it was privately-brewed, but the wine features a faint scent, transparent chestnut color and a mellow sweet taste, mixed with a light scent of medicine. The wine is unique in taste and rich in nourishment. It is said the wine also has the functions of invigorating qi (energy), whetting the appetite, nourishing kidneys, relaxing the muscles and stimulating the blood circulation, as well as improving excretion and getting rid of damp­ness. In 1937, the Yujinxiang wine won the gold medal in the Leipzig Trade Fair held in Germany.

Xiaoqinglong (Little Blue Dragon) Dragon Dance

The dragon is a traditional Chinese mascot. People of Jiading, to embody their best wishes for life, hold dragon boat races during the Lantern Festival. The Xiaoqinglon Dragon Dance Association is an evolution of the “East Gate Little Blue Dragon.” On the evening of the Lantern Festival, the streets are decorated with lanterns and banners. The dragon team dances to the accompaniment of gongs and drums, parading through the streets and alleys, and the whole village is immersed in the bustling and colorful festive atmosphere.

Preparation of Jiangqiao sliced mutton

The Jiangqiao region is rich in water plants and almost every local household raised sheep in the early 20th century, thus Jiangqiao is also named “town of sheep.” A family with the surname of Zhu initiated a special cooking method to prepare mutton, which helped spread the fame of “Jiangqiao mutton.” Its fourth-generation inheritor Zhu Dongming developed the ancestral recipe by incorporating more preparation methods of stir-frying, grilling, stewing and boiling, making their mutton famous, far and wide.

Jiading Xiju Opera

Jiading Xiju Opera is a widespread traditional opera of the area. And Jiading Xiju Opera is quite unique and distinctive from other styles of opera. It features loud and clear singing, vigorous and powerful vocals and rich emotions. Besides, its postures, having incorporated those of the Peking Opera and Kunqu Opera, are especially brilliant and impressive.

Lotus Lantern Dance

Lotus lantern dance is a religious sacrificial rite performed by Taoists in ritual ceremonies. Closely associated with religion, the dance is the creation of Taoists on the basis of local customs and conventions. It originally emerged more than 300 years ago. The dance is mainly performed in Jiading, Taicang and Qingpu, and plays a special role in the evolution of human civilization.

Guqin making

The 3,000-year-old seven-string guqin is a seven-stringed Chinese musical instrument. Deeply and subtly toned, it produces a lingering sound. The ancient literati saw playing guqin as a way to cultivate their moral character and had high demand for its tone, shape, quality and lacquer art. A good-quality guqin needs to have excellent sound, good shape and lacquer, which makes it hard to come by.