Recently, a community event in Guangzhou's Nansha district brought together Chinese and foreign families to create lacquer fans—a form of intangible cultural heritage—in celebration of the upcoming National Games.
Co-hosted by the Jiaomenhe community neighborhood committee and the Nansha Sub-district Social Work Service Station, the event attracted families from Mauritius, Ukraine, Cameroon, and other countries, alongside local residents. Through fan-making and interactive games, the event promoted the spirit of the National Games and strengthened bonds among international neighbors.
Bilingual volunteers explained the cultural symbolism behind the fan designs, while artisans demonstrated lacquer techniques such as "swaying" and "spin-dyeing," helping participants from abroad engage with the traditional craft. Athletic icons from events like track and field and basketball were incorporated into the designs in honor of the Games.
Around crafting tables, Chinese and international families mixed mineral pigments and painted fan surfaces together. Some used green and blue tones to reflect the "green games" concept, while others incorporated abstract patterns symbolizing sportsmanship.
A participant from Russia described her handmade fan as a "cultural keepsake" that she would use to share Chinese culture and the excitement of the National Games with family and friends back home.
A staff member from Nansha Sub-district stated that the community will continue to leverage its international character to host similar cultural events, helping expatriates integrate into life in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and showcasing the district's openness as it prepares to host the 15th National Games.
Reporter | Li Xindi
Photo | Publicity Department of Nansha District
Editor | Liu Lingzhi, James Campion, Shen He
