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| Yao Huifen (left), creator of the Suzhou embroidery, "Spring Scenery of Taihu Lake," communicates with a guest from Kyrgyzstan. |
The All-China Women's Federation hosted a special exhibition to celebrate the Global Leaders' Meeting on Women, held in Beijing on October 13-14. "Heritage Blossoms, Women Shine" was the theme of the exhibition, which had four sections: Beauty of Women, Beauty of Tradition, Beauty of Labor, and Beauty of Harmony. Forty-six crafts, recommended by women's federations and relevant associations, were on display. The exhibits, highlighting China's intangible cultural heritage, served as a bridge connecting traditional Chinese culture with cultures from around the world. Women of China English Monthly presents some of the crafts, which demonstrate the charms of Chinese civilization, featuring the beauty of harmony and the vigor of the era.
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| National-level representative inheritor Jiang Zaihong introduces the Hunan embroidery, "Lotus Fragrance All Around." |
"This work, 'Spring Scenery of Taihu Lake,' depicts the beautiful scene of Taihu Lake, in Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu Province. It was embroidered by utilizing more than 100 colors of threads. The delicately made craft shows the beauty of the flourishing spring season in nature," said Yao Huifen, a national-level representative inheritor of Suzhou embroidery, as she introduced the exhibit to Zamira Akbagysheva, President of the Congress of Women of Kyrgyz Republic. Akbagysheva was a guest who attended the Global Leaders' Meeting on Women, held in Beijing on October 13-14, 2025.
Akbagysheva said she very much enjoys traditional Chinese art. She also said the inheritance of craftsmanship, which showcases the unique charms of China's intangible cultural heritage, is key to passing on Chinese culture through generations. Since 1995, she added, Kyrgyzstan has organized various meetings and exhibitions to promote communications with China's arts community.
As a Chinese craftswoman, Yao said she was "extremely excited" when her work was selected for the special exhibition. "It's a great honor to have our foreign friends see our crafts of intangible cultural heritage. We, the national-level inheritors, shoulder our responsibilities of helping traditional Chinese craftsmanship go global," she said.
Yao's thoughts were echoed by Jiang Zaihong, another national-level representative inheritor. Jiang specializes in Hunan embroidery, a folk art that originated in Central China's Hunan Province. "I hope people from around the world, especially our fellow sisters, will sense the beauty of traditional Chinese culture through these crafts. Women artists and craftsmakers will contribute our wisdom and strength as we tell China's stories through arts and crafts," Jiang said.
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| Calligraphy "Autumn Charms of China, Welcoming Guests from Around the World; Devotion of Women, Composing a Glorious Chapter of Great Era" [By Sun Xiaoyun] |
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| Straw Painting "Splendid Spring Scenery" [By Zhou Yumei] The work conveys the vitality of spring and expresses auspicious wishes for prosperity and good fortune. |
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| Chinese Painting "Fragrance Spreading Afar" [By Kong Zi] The artist draws on the classical lotus motif, which conveys the qualities of uprightness and inner fragrance and symbolizes women's noble virtues. |
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| Filigree Inlay "Eternal Prosperity" Ruyi [By Cheng Shumei] Filigree inlay, one of the "Eight Beijing Imperial Handicrafts," is a traditional imperial craft used mainly in the making of jewelry, ornaments and ceremonial objects. |
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| Miao Embroidery "Red Gown in Rosy Glow" [Created by Miao embroiderers from Guizhou and designed by Hou Zhijie] Miao embroidery, known as an "epic worn on the body," is a traditional folk embroidery art form of the Miao ethnic group practiced in Southeastern Guizhou and Bijie, in Guizhou Province. |
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| Copper Sculpture "Golden Divine Deer" [By Zhu Bingren] Inspired by the sacred deer depicted in the "Deer King Jataka" mural, in Cave 257 of the Mogao Grottoes, in Dunhuang, the work symbolizes women's inner gentleness, grace, vitality and wisdom. |
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| Li Brocade "Seasons in Harmony, Women Chasing Dreams" [By lead artisan Huang Lingfeng, and Liu Weitong] The artists used a combination of spinning, dyeing, weaving and embroidering techniques to create this work, which depicts the landscapes of the Wuzhi Mountains throughout the year. |
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| Dough Modeling "Flowers in Full Bloom" [By Zhu Xuebing] The main body of the work features the peony, as a symbol of the Chinese nation's prosperity and the vitality of women worldwide. |
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| Traditional Carpet Weaving "Blooming Pomegranate on Silk Road" [By Aibibula Tuerxun] Woven on a smooth silk base, the work depicts a vivid scene of ethnic unity and shared celebration of abundance. |
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| Handmade Porcelain "Flowers Blooming Together" [By Xu Lizhi] The central motif is the porcelain flower, which symbolizes women around the world who, like porcelain blossoms, embody both beauty and resilience as they bloom gracefully on the global stage. |
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| Filigree-Inlaid Gem Painting "Women United for Dream of Peace" [By Wang Feiqin] The work celebrates the diversity and beauty of women worldwide, and symbolizes their unity in building and sharing a better world for all. |
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| Tibetan Carpet "Spring Bud Blooms" [By Xue Ting] The work symbolizes ethnic unity and hope, and highlights the role of the Spring Bud Project in supporting girls' growth and promoting diversity and inclusiveness. |
Photos by Zhang Jiamin
(Women of China English Monthly November 2025)
Editor: Wang Shasha
