Legend of Hua Mulan
National ICH · Batch 2Origin
The Mulan legend has circulated since the Sui and Tang dynasties, telling of Hua Mulan who disguised herself as a man to take her father's place in the army and, after distinguished service, declined office to return home — carrying over a millennium of ethics, folklore and literature.
The art form
The legend is passed down through oral telling, opera, temple-fair worship and place-name lore around Mulan Mountain, and has inspired countless works of art.
Cultural significance
Centered on loyalty and filial duty, the Mulan story has reached audiences worldwide and is among the most widely told tales of a heroine in Chinese folk literature.
Where to experience
The Mulan Mountain area in Huangpi district is regarded as the core home of the legend, where place names and relics keep the memory alive.