In Qingyang, sachets are called "chuchu" or "shuahuo". There is a custom of making and wearing sachets during the Dragon Boat Festival. The picture shows an embroidered "dragon head hat" on display at a product exhibition. [Photo provided to gogansu.com]

On June 10, the 19th Qingyang Sachet Folk Culture Festival commenced at the Qingyang Sports Hall in Gansu province amid lively activities. This year's festival, themed "Meet in Qingyang, Embrace the World," aims to exhibit Qingyang's rich cultural heritage and unique folk customs.

The festival features a range of events, including displays of intangible cultural heritage, heritage shopping, product exhibitions and sales, investment promotion, immersive experiences, cultural performances, and food tastings. Notably, the festival has drawn the participation of over 120 enterprises from eight countries and regions, as well as 22 provinces (cities, autonomous regions), and 14 cities (prefectures) across the province.

The intricately crafted sachets, symbolic of Qingyang's folk culture, were a highlight. This year's sachet festival showcased various intangible cultural heritage projects such as Qingyang sachets, paper-cutting, and shadow puppetry, alongside domestic and international folk culture products, offering visitors an impressive exhibition of intangible cultural heritage.

Qingyang sachets, with a history of over a thousand years, were included in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage lists in 2006. In recent years, the Qingyang sachet folk culture industry cluster has been acknowledged as a "National Cultural Industry Demonstration Base." Its products have been exported to over 20 countries and regions, generating an output value of more than 75 million yuan ($10.5 million). The Sachet Festival has emerged as a captivating cultural emblem of Qingyang and Gansu, attracting a growing number of tourists seeking an enriching experience.