Ningbo's culture finds a home in Belfast

The Ningbo Cultural Hub at a UK-based accounting and business services firm in Belfast. [Photo/Yongpai App]

A small cultural display is bringing the stories and traditions of Ningbo, Zhejiang province, to Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, through the Ningbo Cultural Hub initiative.

Recently launched in Belfast, the project brings the two port cities closer through compact cultural exhibits set up in everyday spaces, including campuses, business venues, and restaurants. Though separated by thousands of miles, Ningbo and Belfast share a deep connection with the sea. Ningbo, an eastern starting point of the ancient Maritime Silk Road, has a long history of maritime trade, while Belfast grew into a major city around its natural harbor.

For Lyu Le, chief operating officer of a UK-based accounting and business services firm, the display offered an unexpected encounter with a city he already knew. Having studied at the University of Nottingham and visited the University of Nottingham Ningbo China for an exchange, he had fond memories of Ningbo but little time to explore it. Discovering its culture in Belfast made him feel both surprised and at home, and he hopes to visit Ningbo again.

At Ming Xuan Chinese Restaurant, the cultural corner features distinctive Chinese elements and has become a popular attraction among diners, according to restaurant partner Crystal Huang. Blending Ningbo's cultural heritage with Chinese cuisine, the display offers overseas Chinese visitors a touch of home while introducing other diners to Chinese culture in an accessible, everyday setting.