Experience Fish-Skin Culture at the Hezhe Cultural Arts Center in Aoqi Bay, Jiamusi, Heilongjiang

Located in the Hezhe Tourist Area of Aoqi Bay on the banks of the Songhua River in Jiamusi, Heilongjiang Province, the Hezhe Cultural Arts Center is most famous for its Fish-Skin Culture Museum. The Hezhe people are one of the three smallest ethnic groups in China, mostly living in the Sanjiang Plain of Heilongjiang Province. Their primary means of livelihood is fishing and hunting, making them a people intrinsically linked to fish. Historically, they were known as the "Fish-Skin Tribe." Fish-skin clothing is a unique and iconic Hezhe garment, offering windproof and warm properties suited to the long, cold winters of the region. The Hezhe Cultural Arts Center builds upon traditional Hezhe craftsmanship, incorporating innovation and development. Using techniques like embossing and embroidery combined with fish-skin painting, the center showcases traditional Hezhe fish-skin craftsmanship and culture, displaying over 5,000 artifacts, including fish-skin paintings and clothing. Each vivid fish-skin painting depicts the life and work of the Hezhe people, illustrating their diverse fishing methods, which number up to twenty-seven. The Hezhe Cultural Arts Center has also developed a range of cultural and creative products featuring Hezhe folk totems, facial makeup patterns, and floral and bird designs. These exhibits embody the unique culture of the Hezhe people, showcasing their ingenuity and creativity in their fishing and hunting lifestyle. The center also provides a practical training base for tourists and scholars interested in research and cultural heritage. Visitors can experience Hezhe traditions and culture firsthand by creating their own fish-skin clothing and paintings. The nearby Hezhe New Village, with its neat rows of houses, demonstrates how this fishing and hunting community has embraced modern life while preserving its heritage.