By Jin Yuhan

From handcrafted fans and city guidebooks to engraved seals and interactive installations, Ningbo's cultural heritage and history are being showcased overseas through the "Hi Craft" exhibitions.

The traveling exhibition offers international audiences a closer look at the city's traditions, landmarks and coastal culture, while creating new opportunities for cultural exchange and deeper connections between Ningbo and communities abroad.

Ningbo Culture Arrives in Nigeria

The "Hi Craft" exhibition recently opened at Ken Yang Mining (Hong Kong) Limited in Nigeria, bringing Ningbo's cultural heritage to a mining site in West Africa.

For many local visitors, it was their first opportunity to learn about Ningbo and its culture. Some examined the intricate patterns on traditional fans, while others asked about the stories behind jigsaw puzzles featuring the city's landmarks. The exhibits and hands-on activities sparked enthusiastic dialogue among employees and local residents.

The exhibition also resonated with Ningbo natives who have made their lives in Nigeria. Chen Liang, assistant general manager of Ken Yang Mining and a native of Fenghua, Ningbo, moved to Nigeria in 2010 and has worked there for more than a decade. "It is a great honor to share the culture of my hometown at a mining site in Nigeria. We invited not only our employees but also residents from nearby communities to take part," Chen said.

For local visitor Stephen Pam, the exhibition offered a new perspective on Ningbo and China. He said he hoped to visit China one day and see the country for himself.

Ken Yang Mining was established in Nigeria by investors from Ningbo. Based in Nasarawa State, the company is engaged in the mining and processing of tantalum, niobium, tin, zirconium and other minerals.

Nigeria is an important trade partner for Ningbo in West Africa. By bringing Ningbo's culture to the company's Nigerian operations, "Hi Craft" is helping employees and local residents learn more about the city while creating another avenue for people-to-people exchange.

Building Connections in Malawi's Financial Sector

The exhibition has also recently opened at the Xidian International Securities Exchange in Malawi.

The Xidian International Securities Exchange, established in 2023, is Malawi's first international securities exchange, with agriculture, mining and infrastructure among the key sectors represented on the platform.

Liao Junhua, chairman of the exchange, said the exhibition adds a cultural dimension to the platform's work with international investors and local employees.

"As an international securities platform based in Malawi, we aim not only to facilitate investment but also to promote cultural understanding. While exploring investment opportunities in Malawi's agriculture and mining sectors, international investors can also learn about Ningbo and its urban culture through the exhibition. For our Malawian employees, it offers a more personal understanding of the Chinese partners they work with," Liao said. "That kind of familiarity can make cross-border communication easier and help build stronger, longer-lasting business relationships."

"My name is Praise, and I'm from Malawi!" said a young employee at the exchange, holding up a Ningbo city guidebook. She had just finished making several prints with engraved seals at the exhibition.

"My work is all about Candlestick charts and trading data. It's a refreshing break to see this exhibition and find out that every part of Ningbo has a story to tell. I really want to visit the city one day," she said.

A Ningbo Corner Finds a Home in a Thai Factory

Another "Hi Craft" exhibition has been set up in the workers' lounge of Huatai Intelligent Technology (Thailand) Co., Ltd. During lunch breaks, Chinese and Thai employees can often be seen browsing books about Ningbo and using traditional engraved graphic seals to stamp patterns.

The exhibition brings a piece of Ningbo into the employees' everyday surroundings, giving workers from different backgrounds an opportunity to learn more about the city and each other.

The Huatai Intelligent Thailand factory is a major overseas manufacturing base of Junhe Pump Industry Co., Ltd. Covering nearly 80,000 square meters, it has a planned annual production capacity of 2 million water pumps, with most products destined for the North American market. The factory currently employs 187 people, including 41 Chinese nationals, making it one of Ningbo's key manufacturing bases in Southeast Asia.

"We hope not only to bring our products to overseas markets, but also to help our overseas employees learn more about our company and Ningbo," said Sun Qinghua, a deputy general manager at Huatai. He emphasized that employees are central to the company's development, and shared cultural experiences can help build stronger connections among the workforce.

Thai employee Maifa often stops by to browse the books about Ningbo. "I didn't know much about Ningbo before," she said. "Through the exhibition, I learned about its history and discovered a city that combines a long heritage with a vibrant modern character."

Her Chinese colleagues have also introduced her to Ningbo specialties such as tangyuan. "I hope I'll have the chance to visit the company's headquarters in Ningbo someday, learn more about the city and experience its culture for myself," she said.