A Cross-Straits Folk Culture Exhibition was unveiled on Haitan Ancient Town, Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone, Chinese mainland’s closest neighbor of Taiwan. As many as 700  exhibits were contributed by an elderly native named Chen Naizhong to vividly showcase changes in Pingtan’s folk culture.

Sectioned to 6 different themes based on the life in olden days' Pingtan, the exhibition focuses on the fishing activities, marine trade, coastal defense, arts, matrimonial customs, and the islander’s life.

The fishing culture section exhibits ship models of the  three different periods, representing the evolvement of fishing vessels in Pingtan. Apart from ships,  fishing tools such as fishing nets, straw rain capes, and bamboo baskets are also on show.

The marine trade area puts on display some of the porcelain that was salvaged in waters off Pingtan Island, as well as goods that were transported along the ancient Silk Road to various regions.

The coastal defense section features the Cane Shield Exercise, an ancient military tactics.

In the arts section, traditional Chinese musical instruments used by the Shihuan Symphony are mounted on a wall to demonstarte the legacy of the local Ciming Opera and its music genre.

The culture sections for matrimonial customs and everyday life brings back dowries and daily articles in the early days, including kitchenware and also a typical three-piece wedding set used by the bride, which were usually comprised of a wardrobe, a table and a trousseau, basically reproducing the life in Pingtan back in the olden days.

“I hope more people will get to know the charm of Pingtan’s local culture and enhance the cultural identity and self-confidence of Pingtan people,”said Chen.

Items used in matrimonial ceremony in the olden days [Photo by Lin Yingshu]

Old musical instruments [Photo by Lin Yingshu]

Straw rain cape for fishermen [Photo by Lin Yingshu]

Antique earthen jar [Photo by Lin Yingshu]