Lanzhou cultivates local cultural talents to empower rural cultural revitalisation

China Rural Network reports that Lanzhou City in Gansu Province boasts abundant rural cultural resources, including two national agricultural cultural heritage sites and diverse intangible cultural heritage such as traditional drum performances, stone lion dances and clay sculpture art. For a long time, insufficient professional training, weak digital operation capability and inadequate integration of agriculture, culture and tourism have prevented local cultural resources from translating into industrial advantages.

To address these challenges and improve the comprehensive quality, industrial operation and digital innovation abilities of local cultural practitioners, Lanzhou Agricultural Radio and TV School launched a special training programme for rural cultural talents in 2025. Supported by the national training platform of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the project builds a systematic talent cultivation system to drive rural cultural revitalisation through high-quality talent development.

The programme adopts an innovative three-stage progressive training model combining local immersion, external study and public showcase. The first stage features local immersive courses integrating artificial intelligence application training. Participants master digital skills including cultural tourism copywriting, short video production and online exhibition construction via practical AI training. Field visits to cultural heritage bases enable trainees to deepen their understanding of local Yellow River culture, Silk Road culture and intangible cultural heritage traditions.

The second stage offers a seven-day closed training session in Beijing. Invited industry experts deliver lectures on cultural revitalisation policies, cultural tourism brand building and industrial transformation paths. Trainees conduct on-site investigations in advanced rural demonstration zones to absorb practical experience in cultural industrial development. Cross-border cultural exchanges with Cuban agricultural trainees further broaden global horizons, showcasing Lanzhou’s folk arts and characteristic agricultural products on international platforms.

The third stage focuses on achievement display and public promotion. Participants showcase folk performances, cultural creations and featured products at the Gansu main venue of the Chinese Farmers’ Harvest Festival. The events attract over one million online and offline views and receive national media coverage, substantially enhancing the influence of Lanzhou’s rural culture.

Long-term transformation mechanisms ensure sustainable training outcomes. A rural cultural volunteer team has been established to integrate scattered local talents and standardise public cultural performances across towns and villages. Regular folk exhibitions and cultural activities enrich grassroots spiritual life and cultivate civilised rural customs. A distinctive rural cultural festival launched in 2026 further activates local cultural vitality and drives rural tourism development.

The training programme promotes integrated development of cultural inheritance and industrial income growth. Many trainees upgrade traditional intangible cultural heritage techniques and integrate folk elements into local agricultural product packaging and cultural and creative development. The innovative integration model extends agricultural industrial chains and drives income growth for surrounding rural households, forming a virtuous cycle of cultural inheritance and industrial development.

Moving forward, local agricultural training institutions will continue to optimise rural cultural talent cultivation systems, expand talent teams and improve regular cultural promotion mechanisms. Continuous efforts will be made to build distinctive local cultural brands and fuel the high-quality development of rural revitalisation.