Traditional patterns leading the way in cultural preservation and innovation

Traditional patterns from Beijing's Xicheng district were displayed at the seventh China International Import Expo, hosted from Nov 5 to 10 in Shanghai.

Earlier this year, Xicheng district launched a project to preserve and digitalize patterns, in an effort to protect the district's cultural genes and tell its stories.

The project has been digitalizing patterns found by cultural heritage protection organizations. So far, more than 8,000 have been collected from 65 cultural heritage spots, and have been reproduced in the form of four books and a database.

They include the heavenly palace caldron ceiling at the Beijing Ancient Architecture Museum. Fridge magnets based on the ceiling pattern sold out this October, making revenues of 4 million yuan ($557,000).

For its next step, Xicheng district plans to continue digitalizing patterns, publishing the discoveries in books, and will set up an experience center to explain the cultural significance of traditional patterns.