China brings cultural feast to Berlin

Updated: 2015-05-22 08:07

By Xinhua(China Daily Europe)

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Chinese Film week and waist-drum dancers among the offerings

For anyone curious about Chinese culture the next week in Berlin brings several delights. A series of events are being held in the German capital showcasing Chinese culture and inviting residents and tourists to experience a colorful China.

A festival of Chinese cuisine launched the two-week event, called Experience China, on May 17. Top chefs from Chengdu, Sichuan province, served some 200 guests with exotic dishes and dim sum that represented traditional culinary art.

China brings cultural feast to Berlin

Chinese dancers wearing traditional costumes perform during the opening ceremony of Experience China in Berlin, Germany, on May 17. Xinhua

"Culinary art is an important component of Chinese culture," says Shi Mingde, Chinese ambassador to Germany, adding that China is willing to strengthen cultural exchanges with Germany and to help the German public better understand China.

Artists and experts from China are bringing dances, music, handicrafts and picture exhibitions to Berlin.

Highlights include Sichuan Opera, acrobatics, puppetry, embroidery and traditional paper-cutting.

Kung fu masters will show the audience their understanding of Chinese martial arts and the spirit of warriors. Artists from Hunan province will demonstrate the dances and music of Chinese minority ethnic groups in Berlin's Maritim Hotel.

In the Gardens of the World in the east of the city, 43 panda sculptures have been on display so visitors could get a look at the Chinese mascots.

Between May 22 and 27, Chinese Film Week will be held at Babylon Cinema, screening films about modern China and the country's fairy tales.

On May 24, when Berlin celebrates its annual world cultural carnival, 30 waist-drum dancers from Ansai, Shaanxi province, will join the parade and show the vigor of Western China.

Beside cultural events, experts and officials from Beijing also attended a forum on May 19 to share the Chinese capital's experience in city development, urban planning and historical protection.

"With a wide variety of content, Experience China brings a feast of culture to Berlin and offers an opportunity for Berliners to see and hear China closely," says Zhang Yanbin, director general of the State Council Information Office of China.

He says the event has been held in more than 30 countries since 1999 and three times in Berlin.

This year, the event is being held as part of Berlin's Asia-Pacific Weeks and is co-organized by the State Council Information Office and the Chinese embassy in Germany.

China brings cultural feast to Berlin

A visitor checks out at a panda sculpture iat Gardens of the World. Wang Qian / For China Daily

China brings cultural feast to Berlin

A child views a Chinese food exhibition during the opening ceremony of Experience China culture event in Berlin, Germany, on May 17. Zhan Fan / Xinhua

(China Daily European Weekly 05/22/2015 page26)