On July 26, 2026, in the height of Beijing's summer, a cross-cultural journey unfolded at the China Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum (China National Arts and Crafts Museum). Following the successful conclusion of the 9th Competition of Abacus and Mental Arithmetic organized by the World Association of Abacus and Mental Arithmetic (WAAMA) on July 25, about 160 contestants, team leaders, coaches, and parents from 8 countries and regions—including Australia, Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, Russia, the United States, Uzbekistan, and Hong Kong SAR, China—joined the "Chinese Intangible Cultural Heritage Experience Tour". Stepping into this national cultural venue, they engaged their eyes and hearts to appreciate the profound heritage and vibrant vitality of China's intangible cultural heritage. 

Meeting Friends through Abacus, Cultivating People through Culture: A Spiritual Extension from the Arena to the Exhibition Hall

In the just-concluded 9th WAAMA Competition, 28 teams with 254 competitors showcased their skills, setting a new record in the number of participating countries (regions) and contestants. This fully demonstrated the cohesive and appealing power of the Chinese abacus intangible cultural heritage across cultures and borders. As Mr. Ou Wenhan, President of WAAMA, advocated in his opening speech: "Promote inheritance through competitions to pass on the abacus heritage; unite strength through cooperation to jointly draw a blueprint for global innovative development." The pinnacle of competition on the field represents the ultimate pursuit of "wisdom," while entering the heritage museum allows international guests to perceive the ultimate expression of "beauty" in Chinese culture through artifacts and craftsmanship. This transition from the speed of competition to the depth of aesthetic education is a vivid testament to WAAMA's dedication to expanding the breadth and depth of the global abacus and mental arithmetic cause.

Group Tours and Immersive Experience: Three Language Routes Through ICH Masterpieces

To ensure a quality experience, the Competition Organizing Committee carefully designed three guided routes in Chinese, English, and Russian, adopting staggered schedules to allow each group ample time to immerse themselves in the cultural spaces.

Exploring the "Qutan Temple" Hall, Tracing History from Past to Present: On the first floor, the participants closely appreciated ancient paintings and precious cultural relics from the Qutan Temple in Qinghai. The delicate brushwork and profound historical weight of the paintings drew many international guests to pause and examine them closely. Through these time-worn artworks, they intuitively traced the long, unbroken historical lineage of Chinese civilization. 

Wandering the "Wenmai Huazi" (Enduring Cultural Vein) Hall, Appreciating the Master Craftsman's Spirit: The permanent exhibition on the fifth floor, "Wenmai Huazi – Basic Exhibition of Chinese Arts and Crafts," felt like stepping into a treasury of Eastern aesthetics. From "Heavenly Creation and Earthly Artifacts" to "Masterpieces of the Great Craftsmen," the four national treasures—A Spectacular View of Mount Tai, A Receptacle of Auspicious Fragrance, Rejoicing Across the Four Seas, and A Bouquet of Flora—stunned the audience as masterfully crafted jadeite artifacts. The lacquer artworks on display also drew sighs of admiration. According to the on-site guide, the complete production cycle of even a small lacquerware piece often takes up to two years. This perseverance in exchanging time for exquisite craftsmanship mirrors the tenacity of abacus competitors who sharpen their skills over a decade, embodying the spirit of "Faster, Higher, Defter, Stronger." 

Hands-on Experience, Revitalizing Heritage: The handcraft experience area on the sixth floor was the highlight of the tour. Participants of all ages gathered around the woodblock printing and fan painting tables. Guided by instructors, children of different skin tones held their breath in concentration, applying ink evenly onto the engraved blocks and pressing red paper onto them—vibrant Chinese Zodiac motifs came to life. On the other side, colorful floral paintings bloomed on the round silk fans. The sounds of multi-lingual conversations, camera shutters, and joyful cheers intertwined. The vitality of youth merged with ancient craftsmanship in this very moment, with the beauty of global cultural diversity flowing through their fingertips.

Voices of Heritage Across Mountains and Seas: Overseas Guests on Cultural Inheritance

Ms. Huey Chiang Huang, Founding President of the Chinese American Abacus Association, the United States, actively participated in the entire tour and was deeply moved by the ultimate beauty of Chinese arts and crafts. In an interview, she shared: "The lacquer craft demands patience; a single exquisite piece takes years of work or even longer. Such a pursuit of perfection inspires awe. The hands-on experience is something that AI or 3D virtual simulations can never replace; it allows one to truly feel the essence of the culture." She further emphasized: "Bringing our children to experience these traditional skills is not just play; it is more importantly cultural inheritance. If our children, the younger generations of overseas Chinese, don't learn about these, these precious cultural memories will gradually fade away." Her words highlighted the profound sense of belonging that this tour brings to the overseas Chinese, and reaffirmed the museum's role as a cultural platform that "carries the Way through culture and nurtures people imperceptibly."

Pursuing Ultimate Perfection, the Harmony of Wisdom and Beauty: Intangible Heritage as a Bridge for China's Story

This tour was not only an extension of the competition's sporting spirit but also a vivid practice of cultural exchange and mutual learning. "Civilizations thrive when diversity leads to exchanges, exchanges to mutual learning, and mutual learning to development." International guests lingered before the exquisite artifacts at the "Wenmai Huazi" exhibition, while Chinese and international youths created together within the square inches of woodblock prints and fan paintings—this tableau of "appreciating one's own beauty and that of others, and achieving shared beauty" serves as a vibrant reflection of China's outstanding traditional culture radiating new vitality in the new era. 

WAAMA has built a platform that not only showcased the essence and artistry of Chinese intangible heritage to the world but also fostered people-to-people bonds through shared aesthetic appreciation and cultural recognition. In the future, WAAMA will continue to leverage this international platform to tell China's stories well. Let the wisdom of the abacus and the aesthetics of the East continuously evolve in the digital era, jointly drawing a new chapter of global mutual learning among civilizations.