He Hongbing showing the art of bamboo weaving.

The China Cultural Centre in Malta recently held a two-day cultural activity titled ‘Fond Impression of Jiangnan: Living Heritage Exhibition of Zhejiang’s Intangible Cultural Treasures’.

The event on September 19 saw four renowned master artisans from Zhejiang, each carrying forward centuries-old traditions while reimagining them for the present.

He Hongbing, a distinguished inheritor of Zhejiang’s Intangible Cultural Heritage, is renowned for his mastery of bamboo weaving. With great skill, he preserves traditional techniques while infusing them with innovative designs, creating works that are now treasured in national and provincial museum collections.

Hu Yaofei, a master of blue calico printing and dyeing from Jiaxing, has dedicated more than two decades to the art, earning recognition at both provincial and national levels. His works are preserved in provincial museums, standing as lasting testaments to his skill and innovation.

Paper-cutting virtuoso Liu Xiaying, whose craft is recognised by UNESCO as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, revitalises this delicate art with themes inspired by daily life.

Paper-cutting virtuoso Liu Xiaying.

Finally, Li Wei, inheritor of Pingyang lacquerware techniques and born into a family of sculptors, is acclaimed for his bold designs and exquisite craftsmanship, with works featured in the Zhejiang Provincial Museum.

Visitors to the exhibition had the rare opportunity to observe these artists at work and try their hand at the crafts themselves. They were also invited to witness the elegance of a traditional tea ceremony and savour the rich flavours of Chinese tea.

Beyond these experiences, the exhibition showcased a wide array of Zhejiang’s cultural treasures: delicate silk products, finely painted sandalwood and black paper fans, and Longquan celadon pottery, which firing techniques were inscribed on the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009.

At the opening ceremony, Peng Yijun, chargé d’affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Malta, said: “Civilisations become richer through exchange and mutual learning. Today, as we actively promote the Global Civilisation Initiative, we advocate respect, dialogue and cooperation among different civilisations. This exhibition is a vivid practice of this vision − not only a display of culture but also a meeting of hearts, a dialogue between Chinese and Mediterranean civilisations.”

“Civilisations become richer through exchange and mutual learning”

Elton Micallef, CEO of the Malta Crafts Foundation, drew attention to the resonance between Maltese and Chinese traditions.

“What strikes me most is how much our practices echo those of Zhejiang: a commitment to quality, to continuity and to passing knowledge from one generation to the next,” he said. “Crafts, whether in Malta or Jiangnan, are more than objects; they are living expressions of culture, identity and human creativity.”

Speaking on behalf of the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism, deputy director-General Xu Xiao expressed gratitude to the Maltese audience.

A Maltese participant showing a lacquered fan.

“These intangible cultural heritages are the cultural treasures of Zhejiang and the collective artistic wealth of humanity. It is our heartfelt wish that this exhibition will serve as a bridge to sustain the dialogue between Chinese and Maltese civilisations, and to further script a new chapter of friendship and integration,” he said.

On September 20, the artisans once again engaged with the Maltese public at the China Cultural Centre.

Through live demonstrations and personal interactions, they deepened mutual appreciation of heritage, underscoring the event’s purpose: to bring cultures closer together through the timeless language of craftsmanship.

The event was co-organised by the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism and the China Cultural Centre in Malta, with the support of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Malta and the Zhejiang Intangible Cultural Heritage Centre.