Beating the drum of heritage preservation

In August, during the school summer vacation, the training base was abuzz with activity.

"It's rare for the training base to be so lively," said Liu. "Watching the children, we see the hope for the inheritance of our intangible cultural heritage.

"The current inheritance is not easy. Some children are busy with their studies, and some find it too arduous, quitting after just a few lessons. We very much cherish the children who persist in their studies," he said.

On the wall of the training base hangs a large group photo, which was taken in 2011 when writer Feng Jicai donated 50,000 yuan ($7,150). It was taken together with three generations of inheritors and enthusiasts during an unveiling ceremony.

Liu pointed to a child sitting in the lap of an elder man in the front row and said, "This is Liu Xianglong, my son. He was only 3 years old that year and had already started learning Liuyuan Xiangyin Fa drumming. Now he's in university and still practices here during summer vacation."

The training base has collaborated with nearby Beicang Primary School, offering an hour-long Liuyuan Xiangyin Fa drumming training course every Thursday or Friday during the teaching week, according to Liu Yuxin.

Liu Xiangqian's 7-year-old daughter goes to Beicang Primary School and has been learning the drums for four years.

He said that participating in the training enriches the children's after-school time and immerses them in local culture.

For photographer Liu Deliang, learning old skills and traditions is important in preserving people's collective memory.

"Culture is the foundation of learning. Especially in today's era of rapid development in artificial intelligence and robotics, a lack of cultural foundation will affect the inheritance of skills," said Liu Deliang.

He often shoots videos of Liuyuan Xiangyin Fa drumming performances, showcasing the charm of this intangible cultural heritage from a photographic perspective, and has even set up a 1,700-yuan prize to reward students who excel in both skills and school.

"In the future, I hope to integrate AI technology into the performance forms of Xiangyin Fa drumming, making it more acceptable to young people and maintaining a combination of tradition and modernity," Liu Deliang said.

Chen Yijun contributed to this story.