The first Yangtze River Folk Art Expo opened on Nov 14 in Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu province, where over 2,000 folk handicrafts were on display to showcase the rich culture of the Yangtze River.

The elaborate details and various colors of Thangka art on show attracted many visitors. Thangka, or scroll painting, is a special art form in the Tibet autonomous region that uses paint with plant material, minerals and pure gold for better preservation, according to one of the Thangka painters.

Many visitors also enjoyed the bamboo weaving artworks in the Sichuan pavilion. "The artworks highlight the silk-like bamboo with different colors, which look like paintings," said Zhang Baozhen, a master of the art.

A bamboo weaving artwork is displayed at the firt Yangtze River Folk Art Expo that is held in Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu province from Nov 14-16.[Photo/zjgonline.com.cn]

There were also some other creative and delicate crafts including egg embroideries from Hunan province, embroidered on eggs, as well as leaf-shaped paper sculptures of the Shanghai Museum of Arts and Crafts, which were made of waste newspaper.

The expo also set up a boutique exhibition area to present 26 top artworks in Jiangsu province, ranging from lacquer ware, sandalwood carving, traditional embroidery to calligraphy and painting.

The folk art expo aims to serve as a cultural bridge among Yangtze River areas and to promote the Yangtze River folk art and culture around the country, according to Tao Siyan, president of the Yangtze River Culture Promotion Society.