Chongqing - The city has been selected as one of two locations in China for a year-long copyright project involving the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the National Copyright Administration of China (NCAC). The project will explore how copyright protection can support traditional folk arts and create new tourism experiences.

The selection was announced on Nov. 2 at the 2026 International Copyright Forum in Dunhuang, Gansu Province, northwest China. Organized by the NCAC and WIPO, the forum was held as a supporting event of the ninth Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo. The two organizations also signed a letter of intent to cooperate on projects in Chongqing and Jincheng, a city in Shanxi Province.

The 2026 International Copyright Forum is held in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, on Nov. 2, 2026. (Photo: National Copyright Administration)

The project will run for one year, with guidance from both organizations. According to the Chongqing Municipal Copyright Administration, the city plans to review its folk-art resources, assess opportunities for copyright protection, and provide training for people working in the field. It will also explore tourism experiences that combine traditional crafts, local food, and live performances. The aim is to develop approaches that other regions could draw on.

Existing efforts in Chongqing

Chongqing has already participated in a separate national pilot program to protect and promote folk art through copyright. Launched in 2021, the program helps local communities protect original works and explore how copyright registration, licensing and wider use of these works can support traditional arts. Three Chongqing districts joined the program in successive years, beginning with Qijiang in 2024, followed by Dazu in 2025 and Tongliang in 2026.

In Qijiang District, south of central Chongqing, Qijiang Farmers' Prints are one of the best-known traditional art forms. The tradition traces back to woodblock New Year prints from China's Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1912) dynasties. Local printmakers carve designs into wooden blocks, apply ink, and transfer the images onto paper. Their works often depict everyday rural life, from farming to village markets, using bright colors and expressive designs.

Printmaking cultural and creative products. (Photo: Zhao Guogan）

Qijiang has also been promoting the tradition through copyright protection, product development, and community workshops. Liu Yue, director of the Qijiang Farmers' Printmaking Institute, has spent years teaching printmaking in rural communities. In October, she visited Yiju Village in Dongxi Town, where she helped residents learn how to ink wooden blocks and make prints.

Qijiang has registered copyrights for more than 2,000 folk-art works, while Liu and her team have developed over 200 products featuring farmers' prints. Designs from the prints have also appeared on everyday items such as cushions, calendars, and bags. Meanwhile, local workshops give residents and visitors opportunities to try woodblock printing themselves.

Qijiang Farmers' Prints were also showcased at an international symposium on folk-art copyright protection jointly organized by the NCAC and WIPO in 2024.

Dazu's cultural heritage extends beyond the Dazu Rock Carvings. The district is also home to the Zhong'ao Fire Dragon Dance and the Wangu Carp Lantern Dance. According to the Dazu District government, it has 119 recognized intangible cultural heritage projects, including two at the national level. It has also introduced a digital platform to document and protect copyrights in cultural works, along with an augmented reality (AR) guide to the rock carvings.

Tongliang, which joined the national copyright pilot program in 2026, is known for its dragon dances and traditional dragon-lantern craftsmanship. China added the Tongliang Dragon Dance to its first national intangible cultural heritage list in 2006, and it has since been performed overseas, including in New York and London.

The Tongliang Dragon Dance is performed at the London Eye during Chinese New Year celebrations in 2024. (Photo: Xinhua News Agency)

How copyright supports folk art

Protecting folk art copyright does not mean one person can claim ownership of an entire tradition. Many traditional arts have been passed down through communities for generations, often without a single identifiable creator.

WIPO explains that traditional cultural expressions include music, dance, crafts, and visual designs. New works inspired by these traditions, such as an original print or a newly created design, may qualify for copyright protection.

Copyright registration isn't required for protection, but it can document who created a work and provide evidence if ownership or use is disputed. Creators can also license their original works for use on products or in other cultural activities.

What's next for Chongqing

For Chongqing, the new year-long cooperation project involving WIPO and the NCAC offers an opportunity to build on the city's existing efforts. The city plans to document more of its folk-art resources, provide copyright training and explore tourism experiences that bring together traditional crafts, local food and live performances.

The full list of participating districts and folk-art projects has not yet been made public. Over the coming year, the focus will be on putting these plans into practice and identifying approaches that could be useful to other regions.