Tucked to the north of Lake Dongting – the birthplace of dragon boat racing – lies a Chinese province rich in “invisible” cultural heritage.

Hubei Province, literally meaning “north of the lake”, cradles a collection of cultural ethnic values that the United Nations has listed as intangible oral cultural heritage needing protection.

This heritage has trickled down hundreds of generations via word of mouth and was etched on decorative objects, in puppet shows and festivals.

Some of these objects have made it all the way to Malta and are on display at St James Cavalier in Valletta.

From shadow puppets to floral paper cuts, traditional wedding dresses to detailed embroidery on sandals, the exhibition tells tales of imperial dragons and phoenix dances.

The display is a celebration of the eloquence and meticulousness of the province’s craftsmen shown in every objects they created to recount their folktales. It provides an overview of traditional malt sugar sculptures that are loved in the countryside and the popular shadow puppetry that originated some two thousand years ago.

During the Han Dynasty, a devastated emperor had summoned his court officers to bring his beloved concubine back to life.

His subjects immediately carved the woman’s shape out of donkey leather, which they adorned with painted clothes and “brought her back to life” through this puppet’s shadow.

Leather puppets on sticks are used to tell dramatic fairy tales and myths to this day.

The collection will be on display until Sunday at St James Cavalier, which is open between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. on weekends.

The Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, administered by Unseco, was adopted in 2003 and is ratified by 132 States.