Qipao exhibit attracts global audience to second international cultural festival

An exhibition featuring a range of qipao gowns opened on Sept 19 south of the Shenyang Palace Museum, driving the second Shenyang International Qipao Cultural Festival.

The exhibition, named "Shengjing 1639", which started with a brilliant qipao show and singing and dancing performance, attracted the international audience.

A total of 1,636 women dressed in qipao gathered at the festival, including models from Russia and students from Africa.

Qipao, which literally means the bannerman's gowns, is a form-fitting Chinese dress popular during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

"This festival has the power to lead a fashion trend and elevate the cultural taste of Shenyang. Leveraging these activities, Shenyang will definitely stride onto the national as well as the international stage," said Li Dan, a college student.

Indeed, the traditional qipao dress of has become a fashionable item this autumn among Shenyang's residents, appealing to everyone from elegant elderly citizens to children and foreign models.

Besides the qipao show, Shenyang is ramping up a series of recreational activities and sports competitions, to strengthen its global communication.

On Sept 9, an international marathon was held at the Shenyang Olympic Sports Center.

More than 20,000 contestants from China and abroad took part in the competition. A total of 62 foreign contestants from 17 countries and regions also participated the event, including runners from Kenya, Ethiopia, Morocco, Mongolia, Tanzania, Uganda, Australia, Brazil, Belgium and Germany.

On Aug 30, about 30 governmental officials from 20 African countries visited Shenyang's Yuanda Agriculture Group. During their trip, they inspected the precise drip irrigating technology of the company.

Some of the foreign officials expressed their desire to introduce the technology to their countries, hoping to save water resource and improve irrigating efficiency.

(China Daily European Weekly 11/16/2018 page16)