Editor’s note:

Intangible Cultural Heritage carries the cultural memories of the people, encapsulating their history and the paths that they have taken. Each type of intangible cultural heritage creates a unique method for local culture to be transmitted both outwardly as well as down through time. June 11 is China’s Cultural and Natural Heritage Day. In order to better protect, pass on, and make good use of Hainan’s intangible cultural heritage, as well as promote China’s outstanding traditional culture and assist in the development of the Hainan Free Trade Port’s cultural industry, the Hainan International Media Center and the Hainan International Communication Network have put together a special series called Intangible Hainan. The series brings the audience a deeper understanding of Hainan’s Intangible Cultural Heritage through the eyes of Russian Overseas Communication Officer Inira Baiburina. Join her as she experiences the unique charm of Hainan’s intangible cultural heritage. 
 

The palm tree is the symbol of Hainan, and produces one of Hainan’s four key tropical crops. The entire tree is of great value, and even the shell of the coconut can be used to create art. In 2008, the art was added to China’s national directory of intangible cultural heritage.

The earliest recorded instance of coconut carving dates back over 1,000 years ago to the Tang Dynasty period, and in the Ming and Qing eras carved coconuts were often offered as tribute to the imperial court, where they were highly valued. The art has continued to develop through the present day, preserving the traditional skills of coconut carving while adding modern touches to bring new energy to this ancient art.

One of the people pushing the boundaries of the coconut carving art is Zhang Bidi, who administers the Coconut Culture R&D Center. He has expanded the subject matter of coconut carving, and brought the art to school campuses across the island. He is creating a modern coconut carving industry value chain, and hopes that more and more people will learn about and continue to pass on this intangible cultural heritage art to the wider world.