Bulgarian youth learn to make Caozhou dough sculptures

To promote China's intangible cultural heritage to the world and build a bridge for cultural exchange between Chinese and foreign youth, a representative from Caozhou dough sculpture, an intangible cultural heritage inheritor from Mudan District, Heze City, Shandong Province, recently delivered an online class. The session brought a vivid and engaging lesson on Caozhou dough sculpture techniques to teachers and students at Sofia No. 18 Middle School in Bulgaria, allowing international students to experience up close the unique charm of traditional Chinese folk art.

In the classroom, intangible cultural heritage inheritor Li Xiaopu meticulously demonstrated the complete set of techniques—including kneading, color mixing, shaping, and finishing. The soft, elastic dough was repeatedly twisted and kneaded between his fingertips; in an instant, adorable panda figures came to life with vivid, natural postures, while elegant peonies bloomed layer by layer, fully embodying the essence of China's national flower. His exquisite craftsmanship captivated foreign teachers and students, who watched the screen repeatedly, filled with awe.

Through accessible explanations and vivid, hands-on demonstrations, the event has broken down language and regional barriers. Students remained fully engaged throughout the session—attentively observing, actively participating in interactive Q&A sessions, diligently learning the techniques of Chinese dough sculpting, and immersing themselves in the craftsmanship of China's intangible cultural heritage. Each dough figure, imbued with Chinese cultural elements, vividly showcased traditional Chinese aesthetics and cultural significance, enabling young people from overseas to gain a profound understanding of China's national treasure culture and peony culture.

This cross-border cloud-based intangible cultural heritage (ICH) classroom initiative represents a powerful strategy by Mudan District to revitalize its ICH resources and innovate ways of disseminating its cultural heritage internationally. By leveraging young "noodle artisans" as a medium, the initiative has enabled Heze's distinctive cultural traditions to reach global audiences, thereby significantly enhancing the international influence of Caozhou's ICH.

大众网记者 李继展 菏泽报道