Exploring Intangible Cultural Heritage Along Taihang No. 1 Tourist Highway

山西的“太行一号”旅游公路如一条丝带，蜿蜒于巍峨的太行山脉之间，串联起忻州、阳泉、晋中、长治、晋城五市的壮丽风光与人文瑰宝。这条公路不仅是一条风景线，更是一条文化长廊，沿途的非遗项目犹如散落的明珠，等待旅人去发现。今天，就让我们沿着这条公路，探寻四项独具特色的非遗宝藏，感受历史的温度与文化的魅力。

Shanxi’s Taihang No. 1 Tourist Highway winds through the majestic Taihang Mountains, connecting the cities of Xinzhou, Yangquan, Jinzhong, Changzhi, and Jincheng. More than just a scenic route, this highway is a cultural corridor dotted with treasures of intangible cultural heritage, each telling a story of history and tradition. Today, let’s embark on a journey to discover four remarkable intangible cultural heritages along this route and immerse ourselves in their timeless charm.

阳泉·平定砂器：千年窑火中的生活智慧

Yangquan · Pingding Pottery: A Thousand Years of Living Wisdom  

在阳泉平定县，砂器制作技艺已传承千年，被誉为中国陶瓷发展史的“活化石”。平定砂器以其“煮饭不变色、炖肉不变味、煎药不变性”的独特性能，成为百姓日常生活中不可或缺的器皿。制作平定砂器需精选当地优质黏土，经过揉泥、塑形、烧制等多道工序，每一件砂器都凝聚着匠人的心血与智慧。触摸砂器粗糙而温润的表面，仿佛能听到千年窑火的低语，感受到古老技艺的生命力。

In Yangquan’s Pingding County, the art of pottery-making has been passed down for millennia, earning its reputation as a “living fossil” in the history of Chinese ceramics. Pingding pottery is cherished for its unique qualities: it “does not discolor when cooking rice, alter the taste when stewing meat, or affect the properties of medicinal herbs when decocting”. Crafted from locally sourced high-quality clay and shaped through meticulous processes like kneading, molding, and firing, each piece embodies the skill and wisdom of generations. Touching its coarse yet warm surface, one can almost hear the whispers of ancient kilns and feel the enduring vitality of this craft.

平遥·推光漆器：流光溢彩的宫廷艺术

Pingyao · Lacquerware with Polished Designs: The Radiance of Imperial Artistry  

走进晋中平遥，推光漆器髹饰技艺以其精湛的工艺和绚丽的色彩令人叹为观止。这项技艺于2006年入选国家级非物质文化遗产名录。推光漆器的制作需经过数十道严苛工序，漆底赋色以墨黑、霞红、杏黄、绿紫为主，再绘以民族风格的图案，造型雅致，色彩绚丽。每一件漆器都是民间艺术与宫廷艺术的完美融合，承载着匠人对美的极致追求。细细观赏，漆面如镜，流光溢彩，仿佛能照见历史的繁华。