The Nantong municipal government recently named Tianshenggang Haozi, special work songs originating from Tianshenggang subdistrict in Chongchuan district, a Nantong intangible cultural heritage item.

At the municipal level, there are now 148 cultural items included on the Nantong intangible cultural heritage list.

Art enthusiasts in Aiguo village, located in the Nantong Gangzha Economic Development Zone of Jiangsu Province, have recently been rehearsing Tianshenggang Haozi, which are often themed around harvesting wheat, pulling carts, dredging, and marriage.

Though Haozi has been around for generations in Tianshenggang, there are now only two elderly people who know how to perform it properly.

70-year-old Gui Shiming formulated the lyrics and melodies for the Haozi, while others were responsible for making props and organizing performances, which included more than 10 kinds of songs.

According to officials, among the 23 cultural items listed in the fifth batch of Nantong intangible cultural heritage items, 13 are related to Nantong traditional crafts such as bath chaps (zhutourou) and pocket-bread with sesame shaped like straw sandal soles (caoxiedi).