Personal stories: Breathing new life into ancient craft

The 11th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair, which ended recently, saw a big turnout of exhibitors who love culture. They came from different parts of the world, spoke different languages, yet had one thing in common – their desire to preserve cultural heritage. Here are six of them.

Hossein Khalifi, chief representative of the Iran Tourism and Cultural Heritage Association in China, sits at his exhibition booth of Iranian carpets and tapestry. [Photo by He Keyao/chinadaily.com.cn]

Khalifi - spreading Iranian culture through tapestries

"My favorite Chinese film is Infernal Affairs," Hossein Khalifi, chief representative of the Iran Tourism and Cultural Heritage Association in China, said in fluent mandarin. "I learned the Chinese language because it’s challenging and I like it."

Khalifi came to China in 2006 after he finished his studies in Chinese in college. He has been working in China for nearly ten years. In 2010, he was appointed as the deputy director of the Iranian pavilion in the Shanghai World Expo.

"Around 2,500 years ago, ancient Iranian traders introduced carpets to China through the Silk Road. And 2,500 years later, we bring Iranian carpets with modern elements to this platform," he said at the exhibition booth at the ICIF.