STORY: Faces of China: Preserving cultural heritage in Xizang
SHOOTING TIME: Aug. 13-14, 2024
DATELINE: Sept. 8, 2024
LENGTH: 00:05:48
LOCATION: LHASA, China
CATEGORY: SOCIETY/CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Chakhang Youth Arts Festival
2. various of Dekyi Chodron
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): DEKYI CHODRON, Producer of the Chakhang Youth Arts Festival
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): DEKYI CHODRON, Producer of the Chakhang Youth Arts Festival
5. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): DEKYI CHODRON, Producer of the Chakhang Youth Arts Festival
6. SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): DEKYI CHODRON, Producer of the Chakhang Youth Arts Festival
7. SOUNDBITE 5 (Chinese): DEKYI CHODRON, Producer of the Chakhang Youth Arts Festival
8. SOUNDBITE 6 (Chinese): DEKYI CHODRON, Producer of the Chakhang Youth Arts Festival
9. SOUNDBITE 7 (Chinese): TENZIN CHODRON, Local resident
10. SOUNDBITE 8 (Chinese): DEKYI CHODRON, Producer of the Chakhang Youth Arts Festival

STORYLINE:

For Dekyi Chodron, August is usually the busiest time of the year.

32-year-old Dekyi is the producer of the Chakhang (sweet tea house) Youth Arts Festival in China's Xizang. Dekyi hopes that this year's art season will be the starting point for a new "five-year plan."

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): DEKYI CHODRON, Producer of the Chakhang Youth Arts Festival
"The theme of this year's art season is 'The Heights of Sound,' focusing primarily on the concept of sound. Over the next five years, we plan to explore the 'The Heights of the Five Senses' by engaging sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch through various forms -- appearance, sound, scent, flavor, and texture. Related cultural activities will take place in public spaces like teahouses and cafes in Lhasa. Through this approach, we hope to truly bring art into the streets of Lhasa."

Dekyi, who was born in Ngari, China's Xizang, sought to study away from home at the age of 13. She studied in Wuhan, Beijing, and later in the UK. In 2018, after earning her master's degree in the UK, she decided to return to her hometown and start her own business.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): DEKYI CHODRON, Producer of the Chakhang Youth Arts Festival
"Whether it's starting a business or settling down, I think it was a natural pull."

SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): DEKYI CHODRON, Producer of the Chakhang Youth Arts Festival
"After seeing so many things elsewhere, when I returned, I realized that much of Xizang's culture and art, what we already have here, is truly valuable and remarkable. The people, the happenings, and the places here became even more endearing, and I cherish them more.
In the past, there were relatively few concentrated cultural and artistic activities. At that time, I felt that having a diverse and all-encompassing art festival like this, it could benefit not only the young people in Lhasa and Xizang but also the tourists. It would be a way to break some stereotypes."

Sweet tea houses are an essential part of daily life in Xizang.

Dekyi hopes to bring the richness of Xizang's traditional culture into everyday life. And these tea houses have become instrumental in her endeavor.

SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): DEKYI CHODRON, Producer of the Chakhang Youth Arts Festival
"I know that in the 1970s and 1980s, some contemporary artists in Lhasa exhibited their works in sweet tea houses. You didn't need to go to a museum or a large gallery. You could see these works right at the tea house in your neighborhood. We wanted to pay tribute to that spirit and hope to carry it forward."

In 2023, Dekyi brought the art festival to the ancient courtyards of Lhasa's old town. The 1.3-square-km old town is dotted with over a hundred historical buildings. She hopes to reinvigorate these spaces with art, and enrich the city's cultural vibe.

SOUNDBITE 5 (Chinese): DEKYI CHODRON, Producer of the Chakhang Youth Arts Festival
"Historic buildings have their own depth and characteristics that purpose-built venues simply can't provide. Every time we choose a location, we look for that 'buttery' feeling (with authentic local flavor). It's not about a clean, modern space, but about a place that adds to the experience of watching a performance or observing traditional culture."

In 2023, the art festival hosted 20 events, reaching an audience of hundreds of thousands. Traditional culture is increasingly capturing the interest of young people.

SOUNDBITE 6 (Chinese): DEKYI CHODRON, Producer of the Chakhang Youth Arts Festival
"If traditional culture can be presented in a more modern and youthful way, young people will actually enjoy it. We need to act as a bridge: helping the audience better understand what artists want to express, and also helping artists understand the current cultural market. I think this is the most meaningful part of our work."

SOUNDBITE 7 (Chinese): TENZIN CHODRON, Local resident
"I've always followed cultural activities in Lhasa. The culture our ancestors left us is very rich. How to preserve it depends on us today. When I was young, I lived in a similar old courtyard, so holding events in such traditional settings evokes many childhood memories for me. If we can present our traditional culture in a way that resonates with the younger generation, I think it's wonderful and will help in preserving it."

With the efforts of young people like Dekyi, traditional culture is kept alive and passed on in new and innovative ways.

Over the years, China has invested heavily in preserving cultural heritage in Xizang.

Official data show 2.17 billion yuan (about 302 million U.S. dollars) was spent on this sector from 2016 to 2020.

Regarding the future, Dekyi is very confident.

SOUNDBITE 8 (Chinese): DEKYI CHODRON, Producer of the Chakhang Youth Arts Festival
"The government has many excellent initiatives, such as specialized intangible cultural heritage museums unique to Xizang. Various counties are actively involved in exploring and preserving cultural heritage and each year they submit applications for cultural heritage listings. However, without government investment to support our visits and research, we wouldn't have had these impactful experiences.
We are still young and need to explore and learn more. When it comes to preserving the culture, we remain very confident."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Lhasa, China.
(XHTV)