Ningbo Day celebrates living traditions

[Video/Ningbo Evening News]

Cultural heritage from Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province, stunned global audiences at the 2025 Osaka Expo with its silent yet powerful storytelling.

During the "Ningbo Day" at the China Pavilion's Zhejiang Week, intricate intangible cultural heritage displays drew curious eyes from around the world. Unlike flashy installations, Ningbo's display featured a quiet elegance that quickly became one of the most talked-about stops.

Central to the exhibit was the craftsmanship known as "three golds and one inlay", a collection of four national-level heritage techniques: gold and lacquer wood carving, gold-powder painted lacquer, gold and silver embroidery, and bone and wood inlay. These traditions, rooted in centuries of local artistry, were presented not as museum artifacts but as living expressions of aesthetic excellence.

Freja Nielsen, a Scandinavian designer visiting the exhibit, remarked that the works needed no translation — the dedication to beauty and craftsmanship was something universally felt.

Innovation played a key role in bringing these traditions to life. A 14-meter-long digital scroll reimagined the scroll by Japanese monk Sesshu Toyo, through moving visuals that immersed viewers in scenes of ancient Eastern Zhejiang. A scale model of an ancient merchant ship impressed viewers with its architectural precision, reflecting the maritime heritage of the region.

Ningbo's presence also extended to the culinary realm, where handmade tangyuan and waxberry pastries introduced visitors to the city's seasonal flavors.