A European exchange exhibition on Shanghai woolen needlepoint tapestry opened at the China Cultural Center in Brussels, Belgium on Thursday. The exhibition brought woolen needlepoint tapestry to European audiences for the first time, enabling them to have close contact with this kind of art, and through the development of the traditional skill to experience the integration of civilization and mutual learning.

Woolen needlepoint tapestry is a kind of artwork made by embroidering with colored wool yarn on special mesh linen. The works exhibited in the exhibition are themed on "The Palace Museum," "Great Wall" and "Alps," showing both the reproduction of traditional oil paintings and the presentation of natural scenery.

"Chinese culture is extensive and profound. The works on display are Chinese national intangible cultural heritage works," said Ge Yiyou, director of the China Cultural Center in Brussels. "Visitors can feel the spirit of Chinese artisans, the beauty and thickness of woolen needlepoint tapestry and its European origin."  

"After a century of inheritance and development, woolen needlepoint tapestry has come into its own. It is a result of cultural exchanges between China and the west and an outstanding representative of cultural exchanges between China and Europe," said Cao Zhongming, Chinese ambassador to Belgium.

Cao also hoped that the exhibition would arouse the emotional resonance of the Chinese and Belgian people.

These exhibits come from the Shanghai Museum of Arts and Crafts, which has been housed in a French Renaissance building since 1905. In addition to the 40 works of fine woolen needlepoint tapestry displayed statically, there is also the story of "Chinese oil painting" told by the film played on a loop.

At the workshop, Fan Shujun, a third generation successor of Shanghai woolen needlepoint tapestry, led the audience to embroider their own "panda woolen needlepoint tapestry" personally.

The exhibition will open to the public from July 5 at the China Cultural Center in Brussels until September 18.