Intangible Cultural Heritage

Dong Yamei

Master of the ancient art of Mother-of-Pearl Lacquer Inlay

For over three decades, Dong Yamei has been breathing new life into an ancient craft. As a recognized provincial-level inheritor of Yangzhou Lacquer Art — a technique traced back more than two thousand years — her hands have created monumental works that now grace the halls of Nanjing's Youth Olympic Center, five-star hotels, and national museums.

What makes her work extraordinary is not just scale — it's the seamless bridge she builds between heritage and modernity. From a 10.8-meter lacquer mural to delicate mother-of-pearl jewelry that catches light like captured moonlight, each piece carries the same philosophy: tradition is not a museum piece — it's a living conversation.