Romania’s participation in the Beijing International Week of Intangible Cultural Heritage 2025 was carried out by the Ministry of Culture, in partnership with the Romanian Cultural Institute through the Romanian Cultural Institute in Beijing, and was fundamentally built upon the contribution of two representative folk artisans, whose work and creative practice formed the conceptual and exhibition core of the Romanian stand. Through their presence, Romania proposed a model of representing intangible cultural heritage centered on the living practice of craftsmanship, the direct transmission of knowledge, and authentic cultural dialogue.
Held between 17 and 21 October 2025, in Beijing’s newly developed sub-central area, the event brought together more than 300 bearers of intangible cultural heritage from over 60 countries, and was hosted by leading cultural institutions such as the Beijing Grand Canal Museum, Beijing City Library, and Central Green Forest Park. The 2025 edition placed a strong emphasis on the international dimension of intangible cultural heritage and its role in the sustainable development of communities, providing an extensive framework for the exchange of experience among specialists, creators, and the general public.
Within this context, Romania’s stand was conceived as a unified space, articulated around the creations and presence of the two invited artisans, offering the public a coherent and in-depth reading of Romanian tradition as a complex cultural system.
Cornelia Bodescu, a folk artisan widely recognized for her work in the research, conservation, and promotion of the Romanian traditional costume, presented in Beijing an extensive collection of women’s and men’s folk costumes, alongside traditional adornments and beads, towels, textiles, and embroideries of remarkable technical refinement. The ensemble highlighted the regional diversity, structural coherence, and symbolic density of the Romanian folk costume, proposing its interpretation as a form of cultural identity, social memory, and aesthetic expression. Cornelia Bodescu’s presence was further complemented by moments of traditional vocal performance, through which the material dimension of heritage was placed in direct relation with its musical and performative aspects.
Flavius Bihoreanu, a folk artisan specializing in traditional weaving, embroidery, and objects with ritual functions, made a decisive contribution to the configuration of the Romanian stand by presenting a collection of authentic textiles and embroideries, as well as a collection of decorated eggs, representative of Romania’s symbolic heritage. A distinctive element of his participation consisted of practical demonstrations offered to the public, allowing visitors to observe in real time the working techniques, the process of creation, and the symbolic logic of decorative motifs. This approach transformed the stand into a space of direct knowledge transmission, in which intangible cultural heritage was perceived as a process rather than merely a finished result.
Over the course of the five days, the event attracted a large audience, estimated at over 100,000 visitors, while the Romanian stand enjoyed sustained interest and appreciation from both the public and international participants, confirming the relevance and coherence of the proposed concept. Through this participation, Romania strengthened its cultural visibility in China and reaffirmed traditional heritage as an active cultural resource, capable of supporting intercultural dialogue and fostering mutual understanding in a global context.
