The WorldSkills Museum in Shanghai unveiled a temporary exhibition themed Blanc de Chine on July 15 to mark World Youth Skills Day, with free public admission beginning July 16.

Blanc de Chine, or "white from China", is the French name given to porcelain produced in Dehua county, East China's Fujian province, renowned for its exceptional quality and refined aesthetics.

The exhibition features more than 100 art pieces created by Chinese master artisans.

Porcelain artistry

Organized around the theme "CHINA", it is divided into five sections — Classic, Horse, Icon, Nature, and Advance — highlighting the artistry, craftsmanship, and innovation of Dehua white porcelain.

Visitors can discover techniques including ultra-thin, high-toughness porcelain fashioned into garments just 0.2 millimeters thick, resembling silk despite being made entirely from ceramic; vividly colored porcelain that combines hand-painted mineral pigments with Tangka art, jewelry inlay, and ceramic firing; and intricately hollowed porcelain inspired by the delicate patterns of traditional paper-cutting.

Interactive zones incorporating artificial intelligence and artistic installations offer hands-on activities designed to make traditional skills more engaging.

The exhibition also showcases three exclusive works created for the 48th WorldSkills competition, incorporating botanical motifs from WorldSkills member countries, the competition's mascots, and iconic Shanghai landmarks such as the Oriental Pearl Tower and white magnolia flowers.

Skills outreach

At the museum, the second batch of Shanghai WorldSkills ambassadors also received their certificates. The six newly appointed ambassadors represent fields such as aerospace assembly, digital software, floristry, sugar art, restaurant service, and hotel reception.

A concurrent briefing brought together representatives of 28 Shanghai-based institutions from 19 countries. Several consular officials pledged to coordinate with their home governments to support participation in the 48th WorldSkills competition.

The event also marked the launch of a citywide skills discovery route linking five cultural venues, including the WorldSkills Museum, Shanghai Textile Museum, and Shanghai Science and Technology Museum. Visitors can collect stamps on a skills passport and participate in online quizzes through July 17.

The ceremony marked the successful conclusion of the Yangtze River Delta tour campaign featuring the museum's mascots, Nengneng and Qiaoqiao. Since June 10, three WorldSkills trucks have served as "mobile WorldSkills Museums," bringing museum exhibits, stories from WorldSkills champions, and hands-on skills experiences to 10 key vocational institutions in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui provinces.

Over the 15-day tour, the trucks traveled 2,500 kilometers, attracting more than 15,000 students and teachers. Seven WorldSkills competitors and 10 master artisans shared their journeys of pursuing excellence through skills with over 5,000 participants.

After returning to Shanghai, the trucks continued their tour across commercial areas, campuses, industrial parks, and communities before arriving at the WorldSkills Museum, further expanding public awareness of WorldSkills through a mobile skills culture experience.

Skills experience

The museum launched WE Arena, a new interactive space offering hands-on experiences in floristry, sugar art, mechatronics, and information technology infrastructure. Future sessions will expand to include optical technology, painting and decoration, and new competition categories such as smart security technology and dental restoration.

WE Arena will be open every Saturday through early September, with reservations available through the museum's official channels. The program will also extend its activities to communities across Shanghai.

Source: Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Human Resources and Social Security