Wonders of Wuyuan(3)

Photographers try to capture the maple leaves at sunrise in Shicheng. Photo: Lu Qianwen/GT

Intangible heritage

Catching up on local folk customs while traveling around the area is a great addition to one's understanding of local culture. In Wuyuan, there are a number of such local customs that fit the bill.

Nuo Drama a kind of dance opera that utilizes ghost masks, is quite popular. Originating in the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046-771 BC), this ancient art was placed on the national intangible cultural heritage list in 2006. Traditionally performed mainly in sacrificial ceremonies to drive out evil spirits over Chinese New Year, Nuo Drama now performed to mark a number of other inaugurations, such as during the opening of a construction site, a company or at wedding and birthday ceremonies.

Every Chinese New Year, local Nuo Drama performers will also leave their villages to perform the ancient opera to people in other parts of the country. Nuo Drama is regularly performed in Jiangwan, another town that is steeped with history and ancient architure which lies in the east of Wuyuan.

Besides Nuo Drama, other local folk customs such as Tai Ge, a traditional dance which combines painting, opera and acrobatics, is also a national-level intangible cultural heritage.

However, to experience such performances, one is required to visit during Chinese New Year period, as this is the time when the most skilled performers gather to revel in this ancient folk tradition.

Rules of thumb

1. How to get there: Wuyuan can only be reached by train and bus. Tourists from further away can take flights to Jingdezhen City and then take the bus from there. The good news is a high-speed railway to Wuyuan will be opened in the first half of next year.

2. Ticketing: There is an all-in-one pass for 210 yuan($34), which allows tourists admittance into all of the scenic areas in Wuyuan. Ticket prices for sightseeing spots are around 50 to 60 yuan,

3. All of the destinations mentioned in the article have chartered buses that will carry passengers from the center of Wuyuan county. As the maple leaves in Shicheng are the furthest ofall the spots, many tourists choose to rent a car and drive themselves. For photography enthusiasts seeking to secure an optimal place on the mountain, they can either camp overnight (be careful of the low temperatures and humidity in November) or spend a night at a villager's home near the foot of the mountains. Agricultural tourism is already a fairly advanced industry there.