Timely revival

Also on display is lacquerware by Gan Erke, a national-level inheritor of the craft in Zhejiang province's Huizhou. It took Gan more than two decades to learn the craft, which, despite a history of 1,700 years, was on the verge of extinction.

Adding material such as turquoise, cinnabar, coral and gold into raw lacquer, Gan is well-versed in making the surface of the lacquerware glow. Many of his works have been added to the collections of museums worldwide.

"Visitors will become familiar with the tangible manifestation of intangible cultural heritage in China through the show," says Fang Shizhong, director of the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism.

Fang also says Shanghai has been promoting high-quality development of traditional crafts and preserving cultural heritage.

Shanghai is home to 63 nationallevel intangible heritage projects and 120 national-level craftsmen.

In 2015, the Shanghai Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Regulations were promulgated. Related topics were also added to the city's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) this year, stating that the city will promote intangible cultural heritage in schools, establish traditional craftsmanship training centers and support intangible cultural heritage brands.

Chen Yajun, a skilled craftswoman of the district-level intangible cultural heritage, the Gucun town Chinese knot, participated in activities demonstrating the craft held during the opening ceremony on June 12.

Based on traditional Chinese knotting techniques using strings, the Gucun town craft inherited by Chen combines several materials like wood, stone and gold for artistic interpretation.

The craftsmanship has passed through four generations beginning from her great-grandmother, and Chen revives the old art by utilizing her expertise in art, jewelry design and costume design.