Layered patterns of Adelaide silk, face sculptures incorporating various artistic images, colorful oil-paper umbrellas ... On October 25th, the four-day International Intangible Cultural Heritage Week closed in Beijing, with nearly 500 non-heritage projects and more than 3,000 exhibits and works from about 40 countries gathering in Beijing, depicting a beautiful picture of the harmony and integration of Chinese and foreign arts and civilizations.

Under the theme of "Unveiling the Beauty of Intangible Cultural Heritage, Fostering Global Harmony", the International Intangible Cultural Heritage Week was co-sponsored by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China in tandem with the People’s Government of the Beijing Municipality. The intangible cultural heritage exhibition consists of four parts, namely the preface hall, the international exhibition area, the Chinese exhibition area, and the "intangible cultural heritage plus tourism" promotion section.　

Walking into the international exhibition area with the theme of international exhibition area, traditional handicrafts, food, dances and other items from 19 countries and regions in Southeast Asia, Europe, Latin America and Africa were presented.

Uzbekistan brought exquisite copperware, gold and silverware, wood carvings, silk fabrics and other handicrafts, attracting many people to appreciate. Maria Hopper, a staff member of the exhibition area, said that by participating in the International Intangible Cultural Heritage Week, she could present the rich and diverse handcrafts of Uzbekistan to the Chinese people and build a bridge of cultural exchange and cooperation between the two countries.

Intangible cultural heritage is an important part of human history and culture. China has rich resources of intangible cultural heritage, and 43 items have been inscribed on UNESCO's list and roster.

In the booth of Wuhan face sculpture, the domineering Xiang Yu, the vivid face of the Monkey King, the impressive Guan Gong ...... Artists would use a handful of flour as material, after procedures includes kneading, rubbing and extending, simple tools would be used for picking, dialing, pressing and pressing. In the end, an eye-catching face sculpture artwork was made.

Liu Jie, the representative inheritor of Wuhan face sculpture, said Wuhan face sculpture was included in the first batch of intangible cultural heritage list in Wuhan, mostly taken from the Jing and Chu historical figures, opera characters, folk legends and so on. They had exquisite craftsmanship and a vivid outlook.

"International Intangible Cultural Heritage Week is an important platform for displaying intangible heritage culture and experiencing related skills, providing inheritors with opportunities to display and learn from each other." Liu Jie said he had exchanges with many inheritors at the scene on creative ideas and hoped to promote the skill in the future.

In booth of Sichuan Fenshui oil-paper umbrella, rows of oil-paper umbrellas staggered could be seen. It is said that Fenshui oil paper umbrella originated in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, has a history of more than 400 years, and its production technology was included in the national intangible cultural heritage protection list in 2008. Bi Yuan Shen, the seventh-generation inheritor of Fen Shui oil-paper umbrella, said that the production of an oil-paper umbrella needs to go through more than 90 procedures. Ultimately, the oil umbrella will not after 3,000 times opening or closing, as well as in water immersion for 24 hours and walking in winds reach Grade 5.

The historical intangible heritage is integrating into modern life with the rise of the "China Chic". Practicing more than ten years, Bi Yuan Shen found that more and more young people are interested in intangible heritages, with youthful vigor to make them more and more tide.

"In order to realize the innovative development of intangible heritage, we have developed odorless oil-paper umbrellas, anti-ultraviolet oil-paper umbrellas, oil-paper umbrellas of botanical specimens and other products, which are widely popular." Bi Yuan Shen said he hopes to pass on this ancient traditional skill and promote it out of China and into the world.

Translator: LIU Jin

Reviewer: HU Guoman