Soccer-themed creations are crocheted and displayed. [Photo/Taizhou Daily]

Taizhou brought together sports and culture in a lively celebration of Jiangsu's intangible cultural heritage from Sept 20 to 21.

The ICH showcase, held at Taizhou Sports Park and Tiande Lake Park, offered citizens and visitors an immersive experience of the province's cultural treasures while enjoying the excitement of the Jiangsu City Football League.

At Taizhou Sports Park, 50 ICH booths were divided into three zones focusing on crafts, food, and hands-on activities. Visitors admired national and provincial ICH crafts such as Nanjing ivory carving and the Changzhou comb. The Yangzhou-style bonsai display featured a nearly century-old boxwood bonsai with cloud-like layering, captivating audiences with its elegance. Suzhou Song brocade, turning traditional weaving into exquisite brooches, rings, sachets, and ornaments, drew particular attention.

The food section was filled with enticing aromas and eager crowds. Lianyungang pancakes drew long queues, featuring nutritious coarse grains like wheat and corn wrapped around fresh vegetable fillings. Other iconic Jiangsu specialties — such as Nanjing salted duck, Jingjiang crab soup buns, and Huangqiao sesame cakes — delighted food lovers with their rich local flavors.

Young visitors tried hands-on activities like dough figurine crafting and tie-dyeing, while Taizhou artisans combined soccer elements with ICH. At the Xinghua dough sculpture booth, figures inspired by crabs and dinosaurs incorporated symbols of Jiangsu's 13 cities, while at the Hailing crochet booth, soccer-themed creations, including a one-meter-wide super soccer ball, drew admiration from visitors.

A puppet show is staged at the event. [Photo/Taizhou Daily]

As evening fell, live cultural performances brought the event to life. Traditional puppet shows, humorous children's plays, folk dances, and spirited Maoshan chants showcased Taizhou's rich cultural heritage. Martial arts demonstrations and diabolo performances rounded off the evening, pushing the festive atmosphere to its peak.