The Liverpool station of the “China Traditional Arts International Touring Exhibition” will present the finest selections of Shanghai intangible cultural heritage, organized under four major sections: Craft Arts, Handicrafts, Farmer Paintings, and Opera Arts.
Through diverse artistic forms, the exhibition showcases the unique charm and contemporary vitality of Chinese culture, fostering cultural exchange and deeper mutual appreciation between China and the UK.
Shanghai Craft Arts
This section features traditional craftworks such as ceramics, cloisonné enamel, lacquer art, jade carving, stone carving, and metal sculpture—representing several national and municipal intangible cultural heritage items. These exquisite works highlight both exceptional craftsmanship and the dynamic fusion between traditional techniques and contemporary design.
Shanghai Handicrafts
This section includes Haipai paper-cutting, woodblock printing, Gu-style embroidery, and straw weaving, demonstrating the rich development and diverse styles of Shanghai’s modern handcraft traditions. The works reveal the city’s regional characteristics and the cultural charm of Haipai aesthetics.
Shanghai Farmer Paintings
Shanghai Farmer Paintings, known for their Jiangnan water-town charm, feature distinctive compositions, vivid colours, and expressive folkloric imagery. Added to the Shanghai Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2007, these works depict rural life, urban scenes, festivals, and everyday moments with sincerity and warmth, representing a key form of modern Chinese folk art.
Opera Arts
This section highlights Peking Opera costumes, character portraits, and painted facial masks, covering a full range of role types including sheng, dan, jing, and chou. As a national treasure and UNESCO-listed intangible cultural heritage since 2010, Peking Opera offers a vivid demonstration of China’s theatrical aesthetics and cultural depth.
Exhibition duration: 9 October - 8 November 2026
Exhibition Location: World Museum, National Museums Liverpool, United Kingdom