The 2015 Boao Forum for Asia has concluded in the Chinese island province of Hainan. It is an annual gathering of leaders from governments, businesses and academia to share their visions on the most pressing issues in Asia and the world.

But when they were not discussing business, the leaders were able to take some of the pressure off by getting a look at exhibitions of Chinese intangible cultural heritage.

The Thangka exhibition attracted world leaders, business executives and scholars from 49 countries and regions to stop by for a look over the four days. Many of them were surprised to hear that many of the Thangka paintings were actually done by undergraduates from Aba county in Sichuan province.

On the other side of the hall there is an exhibition of precious ceramic works, produced by official kilns of the Song Dynasty, about a thousand years ago. It is the 12th consecutive year that Song Dynasty ceramics are on show at Boao Forum for Asia.

“I don’t often see exhibitions like this in Hong Kong, where I come from. And it’s the first time I’ve participated in the Boao Forum. So it’s really been great for me to take a closer look at the ceramics,” a visitor said.

The exhibitions are not open to the public. But the finest selection of China’s intangible cultural heritage has impressed participants from all over the world.