Hi, I'm Lily, an exchange student from London, UK. I love collecting umbrellas from all over the world. I'm Zi Shen, Lily's good friend. Today, I'm taking her to experience a Fujian intangible cultural heritage item, the Fuzhou oil paper umbrella. Zixuan, look at my collection, a black umbrella from the 19th century.

In Britain, gentlemen never leave home without their black umbrellas. They were both practical for rent and a symbol of dignity, like our Antiquity emblem. Wow, such a sense of ceremony. What about this list umbrella? This was for afternoon tea. Lily's patrons had to march the dress. It was like a social accessory. Lily your umbrellas emphasize practicality and etiquette but I feel they lack a bit of yi qing Look at our Fuzhou oil paper umbrella Yi jing What does that mean For example, the patterns on this umbrella. When you're walking around with it open,

the rain drops gather on the surface, making the flowers look as if they're blooming, vivid, and dewy. Moreover, the term oil paper is a homophone for having children, symbolizing the blessing of many descendants. This is what we call emotion embedded within objects. That's yi jin. What are these fine ribs? They were umbrella ribs made from bamboo, lightweight yet resilient, also symbolizing the bamboo's flexibility and everlasting vitality.

Bamboo for the frame, paper for the canopy. So like our lace umbrellas they are more decorative than practical There more to it Oil paper umbrellas aren just beautiful and meaningful They are also highly practical, perfect for shade and rain. Let me explain the craftsmanship, and you'll understand. Shipping the bamboo ribs.

Three-year-old bamboo is selected, then hand-carved into 24-32 smooth ribs. Assembling the frame, cotton thread binds the ribs into a firm, perfectly round frame. Pasting the paper canopy, fan-shaped paper is pasted on with red paste, then trimmed by hand. Hand painting designs, artists paint paintings like jasmine with mineral pigments, bringing umbrella to life.

Applying waterproof oil Layers of tone oil are applied creating a waterproof sheen for generations Once it dry I send it to you When you back in England and open it in the rain it will be like carrying a piece of Fujio reining charm with you I can't wait! This will be the most special piece in my collection, not just an umbrella, but Chinese Ijin. This is what I wanted to share with you, an umbrella that doesn't just provide shade or block rain, but also carry sand rain, blessings and our culture.

When I share it to my friends, I will tell them it's the Yi Jing umbrella from Fuzhou, China. Someday, we can even share the cloud umbrella together. You in Iran and England, me under the Fuzhou sun, sharing the story of our umbrella. Oil paper umbrellas, carry a million number of many. Letters Across the Ocean, Conveying China's Sentiment, Telling China's Stories, Sharing China's Culture.