A boy shows off a dragon made of straw. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]

Unique handicraft products from Chun'an county, Hangzhou shined at the Florence International Handicraft Exhibition on April 26.

Florence, Italy, known as the world's art capital and the birthplace of the European Renaissance, hosts the prestigious International Handicraft Exhibition, established in 1931. It is Italy's oldest and one of Europe's most renowned handicraft exhibitions.

As a melting pot of Xin'an and Huizhou cultures, Chun'an has historically been a vital hub of communication and cultural exchange in western Zhejiang.

Fish rubbings, an art form originating from the Song Dynasty (960-1279) in China, involves imprinting the image of a real fish onto paper using ink or paint, inspired by ancient Chinese stone rubbings. Fish tracing and painting utilize traditional and modern techniques to create unique fish illustrations using pen-point drawing methods.

On the other hand, 10 golden Fenkou straw dragons dazzled the audience, showcasing adorable figures with their unique material craftsmanship and red ribbons, captivating the hearts of foreign children.

With over 400 years of history, Qingxi dragon inkstones, featuring various styles and exquisite carvings, have been exported to more than 10 countries and regions, including Southeast Asia and Western Europe. They are popular among tourists and scholars alike.

A visitor takes a close look at a copper kettle. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]

A series of handmade copper kettles depicting the 12 zodiac animals, crafted by copper kettle artisan Jiang Nianhe, was also on display. For over 30 years, he has combined traditional copper craftsmanship with modern aesthetics, creating elegant and refined copper teapots.

A spokesperson from the Chun'an county's communication authority department said that the exhibition is not only a cultural exchange event but also an opportunity for Chun'an to strengthen the preservation and development of traditional culture. "We hope to showcase China's excellent traditional culture while leveraging international platforms like this to facilitate more high-quality cultural exchanges between overseas resources and Chun'an."