As leaders gather in Tianjin for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit, the city’s intangible cultural heritage is emerging as a unifying force. Visitors from SCO member states, including Pakistan’s Zoon Ahmed Khan and Russia’s Salionova Alina, are discovering how Tianjin’s traditions foster cross-cultural dialogue through hands-on experiences.
Where Folklore Meets Diplomacy
Khan meticulously layered pigments onto a Yangliuqing Woodblock New Year Print, tracing a craft dating to the Ming Dynasty. 'Each color symbolizes prosperity, harmony, or longevity,' she noted, admiring how these artworks transform homes during Lunar New Year. Nearby, Alina shaped clay into expressive figures under a master of the 180-year-old Clay Figure Zhang tradition. 'It’s like holding history in your hands,' she remarked, cradling a freshly molded scene from Qing-era market life.
A Tea Ceremony of Shared Values
The cultural immersion extended to Tianjin’s teahouses, where the floral aroma of jasmine tea sparked conversations about trade routes and modern connectivity. As steam curled from porcelain cups, participants reflected on how such rituals – once exchanged along the Silk Road – now find new relevance through SCO’s multilateral frameworks.
Organizers emphasize that these exchanges aren’t mere performances. By engaging with heritage crafts and traditions, delegates gain tangible insights into the resilience, creativity, and communal values that underpin regional cooperation. In Tianjin’s workshops and bustling markets, cultural diplomacy is being redefined – one brushstroke, clay figure, and teacup at a time.
