Furniture made of zuozhen wood is on display at a Nantong zuozhen furniture museum in Tangzha town, Nantong. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

Nanjing University of the Arts unveiled its teaching and practice center for cultural heritage at a zuozhen (corylus heterophylla) furniture museum in Nantong, Jiangsu province on June 20.

Three local furniture artists, including Yan Deqing, curator of the museum, were appointed as guest professors of the university's Humanities College.

According to the agreement between the two sides, teachers and students from the Nanjing university will regularly visit the museum to carry out scientific research and real-world training.

"We aim to integrate the outstanding traditional Chinese culture into the education," said Professor Shen Yizhen, dean of the Humanities College.

Yan echoed Shen’s idea, stating that visiting the museum will help college students learn about intangible cultural heritage more directly.

Zuozhen is a rare type of redwood, mainly used to make furniture. Nantong has been China's major production center of zuozhen furniture since the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

With its unique styles and techniques, Nantong zuozhen furniture is an importance part of traditional Chinese furniture art.

The Nantong zuozhen furniture museum, located at No 105 Nanshi Street, Tangzha town, was the first of its kind in China and opened to the public on Oct 1, 2015.

It is home to more than 200 works, including bookcases, beds, chairs and desks produced during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing dynasties and the Republic of China (1912-1949).