A special exhibition titled Contour of the Time: Classics, Heritage and Convergence, held under the theme “Enduring Heritage, Harmonious Asia-Pacific,” opened in Shenzhen on the afternoon of November 4, 2026. The opening ceremony was co-hosted by Yu Wen, Vice President of CICG Asia-Pacific, and Chen Mu, General Manager of Rongbaozhai Greater Bay Area.

Attendees included Yu Yingfu, Vice President of China International Communications Group (CICG); Huang Limin, Deputy Director-General of the Publicity Department of the CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee; Jin Xiu, Second-Level Inspector of the Shenzhen Federation of Literary and Art Circles; Zhao Dong, Party Committee Secretary and Director of Rongbaozhai Co., Ltd.; and Yang Jianping, Party Committee Secretary and President of CICG Asia-Pacific.

A Wing Chun Opening With Humanoid Robots

The ceremony opened with a human-robot Wing Chun performance. Dong Chonghua, an intangible cultural heritage inheritor of Wing Chun (Ip Man lineage), performed alongside AGIBOT humanoid robots. According to the report, the performance blended traditional martial arts with modern AI and showed how technology can breathe new life into intangible cultural heritage.

Yu Yingfu, Jin Xiu and Zhao Dong delivered remarks in turn, addressing the carrying forward of intangible cultural heritage, the use of digital technology to drive cultural innovation, and exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations in the Asia-Pacific.

Organizers Frame Exhibition Around APEC Meeting

Yu noted that the exhibition took place ahead of the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting. He said it is of great significance for promoting intangible cultural heritage across the Asia-Pacific and for fostering exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations in the region.

He described intangible cultural heritage as a living testament to the continuity of Chinese civilization. Keeping this heritage alive, he said, requires preserving traditional skills, finding new ways to bring them into modern life and passing them on to future generations. Passing on culture also requires both preservation and storytelling, with new approaches needed to share China's stories with the world. Citing the Asia-Pacific's diverse cultures and national conditions, he called for deeper understanding through culture and greater mutual trust through communication, bringing together efforts to build an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future.

Shenzhen's Wider Exhibition Lineup

Jin Xiu said the special exhibition stands out for its deep cultural expression and international outlook. On behalf of the Shenzhen Federation of Literary and Art Circles, she congratulated the organizers on its opening. She said the exhibition is an inspiration for Shenzhen's artists and cultural workers, showing how digital and intelligent technologies can breathe new life into intangible cultural heritage and how multilingual communication can reach international audiences. The Federation, she said, is proud to serve as a bridge between the city's cultural life and wider cultural exchange.

She reminded the audience that the special exhibition is being held alongside three other exhibitions in Shenzhen:

  • The Blooming Splendor: Exhibition of Works by Winners of the Shanhua Award for Chinese Folk Crafts
  • The 16th Guangdong Folk Craft Masterpieces Exhibition
  • The Shenzhen Fine Folk Arts and Crafts Exhibition

Together, she said, the four exhibitions complement one another, inspire Shenzhen's artists and cultural workers and help Asia-Pacific audiences discover the vitality of Chinese culture through Shenzhen. Jin said the Federation is ready to work with all parties to sustain the dialogue set in motion by the exhibition.

Rongbaozhai Cites Centuries-Old Mission

Zhao Dong reflected on Rongbaozhai's more than 350 years of commitment to its cultural mission. He said the exhibition reflects the company's vision of bringing its centuries-old cultural heritage into contemporary dialogue and contributing to exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations. It aims to showcase the richness of Chinese culture, demonstrate Rongbaozhai's cultural commitment as a time-honored brand, and provide a platform for international exchange. Through technology and international dialogue, it seeks to take intangible cultural heritage beyond static displays, keeping traditional crafts alive and connecting cultures.

Zhao also outlined Rongbaozhai's dual-headquarters strategy: one in Beijing, the other in the Greater Bay Area, where the company is developing its full range of cultural and artistic operations. With Hong Kong as its gateway, Shenzhen as its hub and Guangzhou as its base, Rongbaozhai aims to build a network for cultural exchange and art trading across the Asia-Pacific and beyond, fulfilling its mission as a state-owned cultural enterprise.

APEC Special Issue and Documentary Launch

At the event, Yang Jianping introduced and announced the release of the APEC special issue of China Report ASEAN. Centered on the theme “Building an Asia-Pacific Community to Prosper Together,” the issue examines APEC cooperation mechanisms and brings Shenzhen's stories to life. One highlight is the special report titled Bringing Ancient Paintings Back to Life, which focuses on Rongbaozhai and serves as a lasting record of the exhibition.

Following the release of the special issue, a premiere and launch ceremony was held for the micro-documentary Revival of an Ancient Art: Woodblock Watermark Printing. Yu Yingfu, Huang Limin, Jin Xiu, Zhao Dong, Yang Jianping and other guests took the stage to release the documentary. Highlights from the documentary were screened at the event. The documentary showcases the tracing, block carving and printing processes involved in Rongbaozhai's woodblock watermark printing technique and how this traditional craft is being brought into modern life.

Roundtables on Technology and Youth Dialogue

Two high-level roundtable discussions followed the launch ceremony, opening with a dance performance by students from South Pacific island countries studying in China.

The first roundtable, themed Contemporary Narratives of Intangible Cultural Heritage and Technological Empowerment, featured six speakers:

  • Zhong Ruolei, Design Department Manager at Rongbaozhai Greater Bay Area and curator of the special exhibition
  • Li Jingping, Chairman of Shandong Cultural Industry Vocational College
  • Han Kaiyi, musician
  • Fei Xiang, choreographer
  • Liu Xiehui, Deputy General Manager and Chief Operating Officer of Beijing Qingyan Lingzhi Technology Co., Ltd.
  • Yang Aimin, Professor at Peking University with a PhD in Management

Drawing on their experience in cross-disciplinary approaches to intangible cultural heritage, vocational education and heritage preservation, AI music, stage technology, digital assessment and ecological civilization, the speakers explored ways to take intangible cultural heritage beyond its traditional boundaries.

The second roundtable focused on “Asia-Pacific Youth 'I Read China': Cross-Cultural Reading and Youth Dialogue.” Speakers included Ni Peng, Vice Dean of the School of History, Culture and Tourism at Liaocheng University; Sun Han, co-founder of BoNien Press; Li Jida, a doctoral student from Botswana at Jinan University; Xuan Han, a Russian student at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies; Zhu Ailin, a Russian graduate student at Shenzhen University; and Lộc Thị Anh Thư, a Vietnamese graduate student at Shenzhen University. Focusing on reading classics, writing stories for a city, learning Chinese characters and cross-cultural engagement, the speakers shared their views on telling Chinese stories in a multilingual context and on creating platforms for Chinese and overseas youth to exchange ideas.

Guests Tour Art Spaces and Try Traditional Crafts

After the opening ceremony, guests toured the Rongbaozhai (Shenzhen) Art Space and the Rongbaozhai Art and Living Space, exploring the special exhibition and its interactive areas. They viewed paintings and calligraphy from Rongbaozhai's collection, woodblock watermark prints, traditional scholars' objects, contemporary gallery art and modern craft designs. Guests also tried their hand at woodblock watermark printing and joined tea and floral art activities, a firsthand experience of how traditional crafts remain vibrant and relevant today.