Hechi strives to promote bronze drum culture

Hechi, a city in South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region renowned as the "World Capital of Bronze Drums", is redefining the preservation and promotion of its traditional intangible cultural heritage.

Hechi University has created a portable tea set design inspired by Hechi's unique culture. [Photo/Hechi Daily]

With a remarkable collection of 1,458 bronze drums, 1,388 of which are currently in private hands, Hechi is the world's most comprehensive and vibrant hub for the living tradition of bronze drum culture.

The Hechi Bronze Drum Folk Song Art Festival, one of Guangxi's top three arts festivals, has evolved over the course of 26 years into a multifaceted platform for cultural performances, tourism promotion, and economic cooperation, playing a crucial role in the dynamic transmission of bronze drum culture.

Hechi utilizes festivals to deepen the integration of intangible cultural heritage and tourism, creating unique cultural tourism brands. The city has developed five premium intangible cultural heritage tourism routes and established five tourism stations, contributing to five national tourism demonstration projects.

From 2023 to 2025, Hechi welcomed nearly 1.8 billion tourists, generating more than 188 billion yuan ($27.4 million) in revenue, with annual growth rates of 17.11 percent and 17.1 percent, respectively.

Key to this success is the infusion of youthful energy and innovation. Wei Qichu, a master of Zhuang bronze drum casting, has guided the creation of the "Cultural Tourism Bronze Drum" series, integrating elements of ethnic culture into modern designs.

His products, with annual sales in the millions, are exported to Southeast Asia and Europe, showcasing the unique charm of bronze drum culture on the global stage.