The gold-traced lacquerware of Ningbo exhibited at Sofia Chinese Cultural Center, Bulgaria. [Photo/ zj.zjol.com] 

Ningbo in Zhejiang province recently opened an exhibition to showcase some of its intangible cultural heritages at Sofia Chinese Cultural Center, in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, as an effort to promote its local culture and deepen the cultural exchanges between the country and itself. 

Four kinds of over 100 traditional local handicrafts will be shown at the exhibition lasting from Sept 24 to Oct 15, including the gold-and-silver-thread embroidery, gold-traced lacquerware, gilded wood sculpture, and animal-bone-inlaid woodenware.

These works represent four traditional handicraft techniques of Ningbo, which are listed as four intangible cultural heritages under state protection. 

The exhibition is part of the 2018 China (Ningbo) Culture Week that opened in Bulgaria on Sept 24, which will also see multiple other cultural activities in the following days until Sept 30, such as a symphony concert performed by Chinese and Bulgarian musicians, and a film festival showing mini movies made by the two countries. 

As the starting point of the ancient Maritime Silk Road in East China, Ningbo has always been an envoy of cultural exchanges between the state and other countries, and is now committed to promoting China-CEEC cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative. 

The Sofia Chinese Cultural Center in Bulgaria, established by Ningbo authorities under the supervision of the central government last year, is a testament to the city's efforts in promoting such cooperation.

"It is our sincere hope that more Bulgarian citizens will get to know the culture of China, including Ningbo, and enhance the friendship with Chinese people," said Yang Jin, deputy head of the city's press and publication bureau at the opening ceremony of the culture week.

The gilded wood sculptures of Ningbo exhibited at Sofia Chinese Cultural Center, Bulgaria. [Photo/ zj.zjol.com]

The animal-bone-inlaid woodenware of Ningbo exhibited at Sofia Chinese Cultural Center, Bulgaria. [Photo/ zj.zjol.com]