PR100416

LIAOCHENG, China, Oct. 18, 2023 /Xinhua-AsiaNet/--

From October 14 to 16, the 15th China Jiangbei Watertown and Pearl of Two

Rivers (Liaocheng) Gourd Culture Art Festival was held in Chinese Gourd

Cultural Park in Dongchangfu District of Liaocheng. The event saw the

participation of dozens of acclaimed artists and craftsmen, scholars from

universities and enterprises, as well as over 5,000 gourd merchants from 17

provinces across China.

This year's art festival, themed "Inviting People Everywhere to Talk on the

Bond with Gourd", featured a series of exciting activities and events. They

included Chinese Gourd Craft Competition, Chinese Boutique Gourd Products

Exhibition, an exhibition of entries in Chinese Gourd Craft Competition, an

exhibition of entries in Gourd Cultural Creativity Competition, a

hundred-meter-long scroll painting of gourd created by teenagers, a visit to

the gourd growing base, Summit Forum on Gourd Industry, an auction of gourd

boutique products, the inauguration ceremony of Chinese Gourd Culture

Institute, the release of the Hai'er Cosmosplat online platform for gourd

industry, the promotion of culture and tourism projects in Liaocheng and gourd

trade negotiations, according to News Office of Dongchangfu District of

Liaocheng.

This year's art festival also featured a Chinese Gourd Craft Competition and

Gourd Cultural Creativity Competition. The festival received a total of 88

entries, showcasing a rich variety of styles and innovative ideas. Among them,

five pieces of works by Ma Jianghong such as Flying Apsaras won a gold prize in

the Chinese Gourd Craft Competition; Monk Sibu by Hong Fulu and Gourd Made

Aromatherapy Device of Qiantang by Ming Jinzhong and Xie Yuchen won a gold

prize in the Chinese Gourd Cultural Creativity Competition.

In 2008, Dongchang gourd carving was officially recognized as a national

intangible cultural heritage. The Dongchangfu District was designated as the

epicenter of gourd carving culture and art in China. Its gourd sales accounted

for 75% of the national market share, generating an annual benefit of 1.6

billion yuan. The clustering effect of the gourd trade, known as "buying and

selling gourds across the world", has become increasingly prominent. China

(Liaocheng) Gourd Culture and Art Festival was initiated in 2007 and has been

held for 14 consecutive years. From its beginnings with around 60 exhibitors,

it has bloomed into a event featuring over 5,000 participants. Its geographical

influence has expanded from four neighboring provinces and municipalities to

nationwide. The festival's turnover has grown from 6 million yuan to 120

million yuan. It has become an iconic cultural and tourism industry brand in

Liaocheng and a vital platform for gourd culture exchange in China.

Source: News Office of Dongchangfu District of Liaocheng

Image Attachments Links:

   Link: https://iop.asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=442717

   Caption: Flying Apsaras, a gold prize-winning entry in the Chinese Gourd Craft

Competition

   Link: https://iop.asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=442720

   Caption: Boutique gourds of different crafts, models and designs shown in the Chinese

Gourd Culture Museum

   Link: https://iop.asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=442721

   Caption: Trading area of Yellow River Market in the Gourd Culture and Art Festival