Intangible cultural heritage of Xizang's Sakya County on display in Xuhui

An exhibition celebrating the splendid intangible cultural heritage of Sakya County in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region raised its curtain at the Shanghai Duoyunxuan Art Center in Xuhui District on Sunday.

With beautiful melodies from Xizang resounding at the art center, performers from Sakya, dressed in traditional attire, joined artists from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music to stage a performance on Sunday to mark the opening of the exhibition.

About 30 thangka masterpieces are on display at the exhibition, among which are precious high-definition replicas from the Sakya Monastery collection that depict the life of Phags-pa (1235-1280), head of the monastery.

Thangka, a traditional Xizang intangible cultural heritage form, is a kind of colored scroll painting on cloth, silk, or paper. Xizang thangka was included in the first batch of national-level intangible cultural heritage listed by the State Council, China's cabinet, in 2006.

It is known as the "encyclopedia of Xizang," and Sakya has played a significant role in the development of Xizang thangka as the erstwhile culture and art center of the autonomous region.

It is representative of ancient Xizang culture and is an important stop for tourists traveling to Xizang due to its history and culture, the mysterious Sakya Monastery, traditional folk art, magical folklore, and breathtaking beauty.

The Sakya Monastery, which enjoys almost the same fame as the Dunhuang Grottoes in northwest China's Gansu Province, for its large collection of Buddhist scriptures, valuable porcelain and vivid murals, has a history of over 900 years. It was listed as a heritage protection site by the State Council in 1961.

The exhibition presents over six centuries of Sakya painting development, allowing audiences to deeply feel the enduring charm of China's traditional culture.

It also features traditional Pulu woolcraft and dozens of local cultural and creative products, which have traveled 4,000 kilometers and are making a collective appearance in Shanghai.

These include Xizang incense, barley hand cream and Lhatse knives which showcase exquisite thousand-year-old forging skills.

Each exhibition item reveals the unique charm of Xizang culture.

Meanwhile, a new direct flight from Shanghai to Shigatse City (with a stop in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province), where Sakya is located, will start operation from May.

Operated by China Eastern Airlines, the route is scheduled to run from May 1 to October 25, with two flights per week – on Thursdays and Sundays, connecting Shanghai, Shaanxi and Xizang.

It will significantly reduce the time traveling between Shigatse and Shanghai.

If you go

Opening hours: 10am-5pm, through May 5

Venue: Shanghai Duoyunxuan Art Center

Address: 1188 Tianyaoqiao Rd, Xuhui District 徐汇区天钥桥路1188号

Admission: Free