Beijing craftsmanship takes center stage at Tianjin expo

Traditional craftsmanship is taking on both ceremonial and everyday forms at the 2026 China Culture and Tourism Industries Expo, which opened on Sept 3 in Tianjin.

Beijing Gongmei Group is presenting 13 high-end arts and crafts works, alongside contemporary products inspired by intangible cultural heritage, at the expo, which runs through Sept 6 at the Tianjin Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Center.

Held under the theme of deepening the integration of culture and tourism, creating a better life through innovation, the expo brings together new formats, products and experiences from across the culture and tourism sector.

At the Beijing Gongmei booth in the international cultural tourism cooperation exhibition area, works including the cloisonne vase Beauty in Harmony, the cloisonne ornament Silk Road Steed, the filigree-handled box Golden Orchid in Bloom and the carved lacquer plate Blossoming Silk Road are displayed alongside contemporary cultural products.

The juxtaposition highlights two sides of traditional craftsmanship — its role in creating works of artistic and ceremonial significance, and its potential to become part of contemporary life.

The booth is also hosting demonstrations of traditional techniques, including Beijing embroidery and cloisonne, both recognized as national-level intangible cultural heritage. Visitors can watch artisans carry out the intricate processes involved in making the crafts, turning techniques often encountered as finished objects in museums to life in a more immediate and interactive way.

Another part of the display comes from Yuxun, a consumer brand launched by Beijing Gongmei in 2023. Its products range from accessories and home decorations to seasonal gifts and everyday items. Among them are products inspired by Beijing's Central Axis and traditional folk crafts.

The brand works with intangible cultural heritage practitioners, master craftsmen and artists from across China to explore ways of translating traditional techniques into contemporary designs and products.

For Beijing Gongmei, the exhibition offers a chance to put high-end craftsmanship and more accessible cultural products side by side, reflecting broader efforts to bring traditional arts and crafts closer to contemporary consumers.

The group's participation also highlights growing cultural and tourism exchanges between Beijing and neighboring Tianjin, with traditional craftsmanship serving as a link between the two cities.