A striking naked-eye 3D display at the WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 Expo opens onto a futuristic virtual skills space. It is one of the most eye-catching features of the WorldSkills Museum booth in Hall 5.2 of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), where the museum is bringing its stories, collections and interactive experiences to visitors during the Competition.

Moving through the space, visitors can explore objects from around the world, discover stories behind different skills, and try some of them for themselves.

The WorldSkills Museum was established in Shanghai as part of China’s commitment to creating a lasting legacy for the WorldSkills movement after Shanghai won the bid to host this year’s Competition. The booth’s opening section traces that journey, from site selection to the transportation of exhibits and the museum’s appearances at WorldSkills Lyon 2024 and the third Vocational Skills Competition of China in 2025.

The museum’s permanent collection features more than 800 exhibits from 39 countries and regions. Thirteen selected pieces are on display at the Expo, offering glimpses into how skills have shaped human civilization and continue to create new possibilities.

Among them is a medal from WorldSkills Lyon 2024 and the Albert Vidal Award trophy, both symbols of the global skills movement. Traditional Chinese craftsmanship is represented by Shoushan stone carving, while wood carvings and ceramic sculptures from the China Disabled Persons’ Federation show how skills can help people overcome barriers and create value. An exoskeleton robot powered by extended-range technology highlights another side of the collection: traditional expertise can evolve through technological innovation.

A model of the Jiaolong submersible is another highlight. It was donated by the National Deep Sea Base Management Center on the occasion of the one-year countdown to WorldSkills Shanghai 2026. In June, the WorldSkills flag was carried aboard the Jiaolong on a journey into the deep sea, extending the Competition’s reach far beyond the venue in Shanghai.

The booth also brings skills to life through demonstrations and interactive experiences. A special exhibition titled Blanc de Chine, featuring white porcelain, is currently on display and runs throughout the WorldSkills Competition. Zheng Jianzhong, one of the artists featured in the exhibition and a nationally recognized inheritor of Dehua porcelain-making techniques, can be found demonstrating porcelain carving. Visitors can also try shaping a small flower from porcelain clay.

More activities will be introduced through 26 September, covering a wide range of skills and interests, from making phone straps to interactive experiences such as the Mind-Controlled Spider. A special rabbit-lantern-making session will also be held on 25 September, the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, bringing a traditional craft into the Expo and adding another festive touch.

The booth’s Merchandise Store has proved another popular stop. With 93 products across 31 categories, the collection turns ideas from the world of skills into objects visitors can take home with them. Among the highlights is a series inspired by traditional Chinese mortise-and-tenon joinery.