By Zhao Yu

In the summer of 2026, Ningbo expanded its international cultural outreach through a series of events across Asia and Europe. From Dragon Boat Festival celebrations in Colombo, Sri Lanka, to the Global Zhejiang Business Community New Quality Productive Forces Development Conference in Seoul, South Korea, and the Mostra Internazionale dell'Artigianato in Florence, Italy, the city's Hi Craft Cultural Hubs and intangible cultural heritage showcases introduced international audiences to Ningbo's traditional crafts and cultural identity.

Sri Lanka: Cultural Hub Brings Ningbo Traditions to Dragon Boat Festival

Ningbo's Hi Craft Cultural Hub, a compact cultural exhibition, made its debut in Sri Lanka on June 13 during the 2026 China-Sri Lanka Friendship Cup Dragon Boat Regatta at Port City Colombo, showcasing the city's traditions through interactive exhibits and hands-on cultural activities.

The regatta, jointly organized by Chinese and Sri Lankan partners, attracted more than 1,000 local residents, overseas Chinese expats, and international visitors. As part of the event, the Hi Craft Cultural Hub offered visitors a glimpse into Ningbo's cultural heritage and Dragon Boat Festival traditions.

The exhibition featured a range of heritage-inspired merchandise, including paper-cutting art, drum-shaped lanterns, shadow-puppet crafts and Ningbo-themed fridge magnets. Visitors stopped to photograph the displays while exhibition staff explained the cultural significance of each item and the city's intangible cultural heritage.

Interactive workshops proved especially popular. Visitors tried their hand at bamboo weaving to make wind chimes and stuffing embroidered sachets with fragrant herbs such as mugwort and cloves. For many Sri Lankans, it was their first experience with Chinese folk traditions.

Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong also visited the exhibition, saying the Hi Craft Cultural Hub offers an accessible and engaging way to share Chinese culture overseas. He said the compact exhibition format makes it easier for visitors to engage directly with Chinese culture and encourages more personal exchanges between people from the two countries.

Seoul: Business Conference Showcases Ningbo's Culture and Innovation

In May, the Global Zhejiang Business Community New Quality Productivity Development Conference was held in Seoul, South Korea.

Zeng Changbiao, vice president of the Global Zhejiang Merchants Association, said that although the Hi Craft Cultural Hub is compact, it brings together elements of Ningbo's history, cultural heritage and intangible cultural traditions in an accessible way for international audiences. Supported by the global Zhejiang business network, the initiative can reach communities around the world.

Also featured at the event was the "Ningbo in Light" installation, which presented a visual overview of the city's cultural heritage, landmark scenery and emerging industries, including robotics. The display combined elements of Ningbo's commercial heritage with contemporary industrial development, offering visitors a snapshot of the city's past, present and future.

Zeng also said Zhejiang-based businesses could make use of the conference to engage with leading South Korean companies in artificial intelligence, smart technologies and digital services. By combining digital tools with cultural branding, companies could strengthen the global reach of Ningbo's products and cultural content.

Florence: Traditional Crafts Take Center Stage

In April, works by Zhenhai District's Red Peony Painting and Calligraphy Center and products from the "Hi Craft" heritage crafts label were showcased at the 2026 Mostra Internazionale dell'Artigianato in Florence, Italy.

As Italy's first internationally recognized handicrafts fair, the exhibition attracted professional buyers and visitors from around the world. At the Ningbo booth, Jiang Hongsheng, director of the Red Peony Painting and Calligraphy International Exchange Center, demonstrated traditional Chinese painting by creating peonies, orchids and bamboo with brush and ink. The live demonstrations drew steady crowds, with many stopping to watch and trying their hand at Chinese brush painting.

"It is a great honor to be invited to the exhibition," Jiang said. "There is strong interest in traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy among international visitors. Since the fair opened, our booth has welcomed more than 1,000 visitors each day."

Alongside the live demonstrations, Jiang also presented more than a dozen products under Zhenhai's "Hi Craft" heritage crafts label, including Xupu rural art, bamboo-woven wind chime kits, traditional round fans and handcrafted clasp purses. Many visitors and exhibitors demonstrated strong curiosity about the origins and production techniques behind the products.

The exhibition forms part of Ningbo's initiative to encourage local companies to promote the city's culture at overseas trade shows, combining business outreach with cultural exchange. Last year, the initiative was recognized by the China International Communications Group as one of the country's Top 10 Outstanding International Communication Cases.