Zhimu Mountain Collection｜A Must-Visit for Families in Changsha! Zero-Base Experience in Making Intangible Cultural Heritage Lacquer Fans

🌟 Liuyang Intangible Cultural Heritage Adventure: Discovering the Charm of Millennium-Old Lacquer Art at Zhimu Mountain Collection

Nestled among the mountains of eastern Hunan lies the ancient town of Liuyang, a place with a history spanning thousands of years. Not only is it the ancestral home of the great literary figure Ouyang Xiu, but it also gave birth to the world-renowned fireworks culture and intangible cultural heritage crafts that have been refined over millennia. Strolling through its cobblestone alleys, one can almost hear the sounds of brush-making from the Tang and Song dynasties and see the umbrella craftsmen of the Ming and Qing eras.

🎨 Zhimu Mountain Collection · Rebirth of Intangible Heritage
At the Zhimu Mountain Collection homestay by the Liuyang River, a special children's lacquer fan activity is underway. A master of intangible cultural heritage personally guides the children as they layer natural lacquer onto plain bamboo fans, with gold leaf shimmering like stars under the sunlight. A little girl with pigtails exclaims excitedly, "Teacher, this lacquer feels like silk!"—a sentiment reminiscent of the Song Dynasty's *Xiushi Lu*, which states, "Lacquer can adorn all things."

🖌️ The Past and Present of Lacquer Art
1️⃣ The Mystique of Lacquer Craft
Originating from the Hemudu culture 7,000 years ago, Liuyang has long been a producer of high-quality raw lacquer. Ancient people discovered that the protective film formed by lacquer tree sap could remain intact for millennia, giving rise to the legend that "lacquerware never fades for five thousand years." In the workshop at Zhimu Mountain Collection, children paint with vermilion lacquer mixed with tung oil, continuing the ancient "vermilion lacquer" technique.

2️⃣ The Flowing Aesthetics of the East
Watching the children create, one suddenly understands why lacquer art became an intangible cultural heritage—the shifting textures resemble the glimmering ripples of the Liuyang River, while the golden accents trace the paths of fireworks in the sky. The homestay owner shares, "We deliberately use local bamboo for the fan frames so that each piece carries the spirit of Liuyang's mountains and waters."

3️⃣ A Timeless Dialogue of Craftsmanship
The most touching moment of the activity: when modern cartoon designs meet traditional lacquer art, a cute Pikachu glows against the dark lacquered fan surface. It reminds me of the wisdom of Liuyang's artisans—they always find ways to infuse new life into traditional culture, just as they once transformed gunpowder into dazzling fireworks.

As night falls, children chase each other in the homestay courtyard, waving their handmade lacquer fans, their radiant surfaces drawing golden streaks through the air. In that moment, it becomes clear: intangible cultural heritage is not a museum relic but a living art passed down through every creator's fingertips.

At Zhimu Mountain Collection, we touch not only the warmth of lacquer art but also the story of a thousand-year-old town crystallizing time into art. Next time you visit Liuyang, why not leave your own mark of intangible heritage? ✨

Post by Carter Ava28Ava | Jul 17, 2025