On January 24, BUCEA Luban Global School launched the “Chinese Architectural Craftsmanship: Ancient Architectural Painting” winter camp 2026.

At the opening ceremony, experts including BIAN Jingyi, traditional architectural painting specialist from Beijing Fangxiu Ergu Construction Engineering Co., Ltd.; LI Yanzhao, traditional architectural painting craftsman and inheritor of traditional architectural painting techniques; XU Feng'an, intangible cultural heritage inheritor of Jizhou mass timber construction craftsmanship; and JIANG Yongliang, master painter from Beijing Garden & Ancient Architecture Engineering Co., Ltd., gathered with students.

BUCEA Vice President CHEN Zhaohui emphasized that traditional architectural painting is a treasure of China’s traditional architectural culture. The winter camp continued to adopt the “scholars + artisans” dual-mentor model, inviting experts to guide students in systematically learning the history and techniques of architectural painting, while enabling them to personally experience the complete process from design drafting to color application. Using the architectural paintings of Luban Temple paintings as a practical reference, the winter camp allows young participants to appreciate the legacy of craftsmanship through classic works. She stressed that training in traditional skills is not only about technical instruction, but also about cultivating the “artisan spirit.”

Mr. BIAN Jingyi delivered the opening lecture of the winter camp. He gave a multidimensional introduction to the historical context, artistic features, craftsmanship techniques, and preservation and inheritance of architectural painting, laying a solid theoretical foundation for the hands-on practice that followed.

Vice President CHEN Zhaohui and Mr. BIAN Jingyi jointly presenting the camp flag to the student representatives.

LI Yanzhao, representing the camp instructors, delivering a speech.

Before the official opening, BUCEA Luban Global School, in collaboration with the Jizhou District Culture and Tourism Bureau, conducted a preparatory field survey at the Jizhou Luban Temple, a municipal-level protected cultural heritage site in Tianjin. Over the course of two days, more than 30 mentors and students carried out architectural painting mapping and data collection.

The winter camp activities attracted media attention during the field survey. A Tianjin Daily reporter visited the survey site at Jizhou Luban Temple, capturing young participants as they conducted on-site mapping and replication of architectural paintings. The report particularly highlighted the hands-on experience of the international student UMENNADI BARNABAS CHINEDU, documenting his journey from observing the patterns to carefully reproducing them with brushwork.

The winter camp mentor team brought together a group of distinguished experts: Master BIAN Jingyi, known as a “living dictionary of ancient architectural painting,” who has systematically documented architectural painting techniques and possesses extensive overseas engineering experience; GAO Yejing, a technical expert in digital documentation and reproduction of architectural painting; ZHANG Xiufen, a representative inheritor of national intangible cultural heritage who has long been engaged in preserving traditional painting techniques at the Palace Museum; CHEN Qing, a specialist in scientific conservation of cultural heritage; LI Yanzhao, honored as a “Grand Craftsman of Beijing” and a skilled inheritor of traditional techniques; JIANG Yongliang, master painter and craft technician with extensive practical construction experience; XU Feng’an, intangible cultural heritage inheritor dedicated to local mass timber construction craftsmanship; XIAO Dong, noted for achievements in cultural relic protection projects and Great Wall research; YANG Zhen, expert in architectural imaging and heritage conservation research; and senior designer CONG Wei, experienced in ancient building design and research.

During the winter camp, students received systematic training in the full process of architectural painting, from design drafting and powder application to gold leafing and color application, through lectures, on-site observation, and hands-on practice.

The “Chinese Architectural Craftsmanship: Ancient Architectural Painting” winter camp 2026 represents an important initiative by BUCEA to promote the inheritance of intangible cultural heritage and to integrate the “New Engineering” approach with cultural education.