Traditional arts shine during Creative Dec.

Residents in Longhua District experience traditional handcraft at Saturday’s event. Sun Yuchen

About 1,000 people joined hands to finish a leaf print artwork at Mission Hills Mall in Longhua District on Saturday to unveil Creative December, a cultural gala featuring traditional arts and crafts, fashion shows and art exhibitions.

Wang Ning, an intangible cultural heritage inheritor who spent more than one month making traditional Chinese paper cuts based on what he had discovered in Guanlan Subdistrict in Longhua, opened his exhibition at MH Maker.

“I was deeply touched by the natural environment, the ancient architecture and the folk customs here. I put all these elements into my paper cuttings,” he told the audience at the opening ceremony of Longhua’s Creative December, which will last until the end of the month.

The audience was amazed to watch a fashion show featuring foreign models and displaying traditional Chinese art works produced by craftsmen at Art & Craft Factory at MH Maker.

Visitors to the gala were also invited to join art activities for free, like painting on recycled wooden slices and making Christmas gifts out of recycled materials.

“We had a very special experience today here as my kid and I made traditional handicrafts together and I think it was very meaningful to my family,” said a visitor surnamed Zhang.

According to the organizers, more cultural events will be held after the opening ceremony.

More than 10 artists will open their exhibitions featuring creative arts.

Several photographers will hold a photo show featuring scenic spots and the history of Longhua.

Dang Lun, a famous Guqin producer and player, will display and introduce the charm of Guqin, a plucked seven-string Chinese musical instrument in the zither family with a history of more than 3,000 years.

Famous collector Shen Hong will hold a salon about traditional Spring Festival posters.

This year's Creative December also features several sports and travel events, such as an international extreme frisbee event, a skateboarding competition and a landscape painting event in Guanlan.