Visitors appreciate stone carvings at the 17th China Four Famous Stones Carving Art Exhibition launched at the China Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum in Beijing on Friday.[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The 17th China Four Famous Stones Carving Art Exhibition kicked off at the China Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum in Beijing on Friday.

The exhibition displays exquisite artworks carved from Shoushan, Qingtian, Changhua, and Balin stones along with beautiful raw stones, presenting visitors with a visual feast.

The exhibited works embrace the open attitudes that have evolved throughout time, showcasing the fusion of fashion with tradition, according to organizers of the exhibition that runs till Oct 27.

Personnel in the fields of arts and crafts attend the exhibition's opening ceremony.[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Of the country's four famous stones, Shoushan stone of Fujian province is known for its vibrant colors, while Changhua stone of Zhejiang province is as splendid as peonies. Qingtian stone, also of Zhejiang province, has a gentle blue hue and Balin stone from the Inner Mongolia autonomous region is valued for its transparency and vivid colors.

The displayed items feature themes that reflect traditional cultural imagery alongside contemporary original designs.

In addition to displaying over 50 representative works selected from each of the four famous stone production areas, renowned masters also performed live demonstrations of their skills and a sales area is open to visitors for purchasing stone carvings and cultural products.

After its conclusion, a special VR Cloud Exhibition Hall restoring the entire exhibition will be launched, providing viewers with an immersive artistic experience.

Wang Chenyang, Party secretary of the China Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum, delivers a speech at the opening ceremony.[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Wang Chenyang, Party secretary of the China Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum, says the exhibition aims to inherit and promote the excellent traditional culture of China and celebrate the innovative achievements of the country's cultural undertakings in the new era.

Ren Jianxin, vice-chairman of the China National Arts and Crafts Society, notes that the exhibition integrates art and history, providing the collecting community to gain deeper insights into China's colorful stone carving art and traditional culture.

Lin Cheng, an official from Fujian province where Shoushan stone originates, says the exhibition has staged 16 sessions since 2005.

This year's event features exquisite works, appreciation performances and exchanges among masters, showcasing the beauty of the four famous stones while enhancing the exchange of carving techniques among production areas.

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Officials launch the exhibition at the China Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum.[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]