Changjiang Daily reporter Zhang Meng, Li Qinxue, correspondent E Wenlu
The Eiffel Tower is full of tourists, the banks of the Seine are full of lights, and Paris is a romantic scene.
On the Seine River Derbilee Bridge in Paris, Chinese girls pluck the zither, Switzerland boys play the cello, Chinese and Western music and the breeze, blowing the heart, making people linger. A pop-up show of bosom friends and voices was unveiled next to the Eiffel Tower, which amazed tourists from all over the world on the streets of Paris.
Not long ago, the overseas promotion activity of "Let the World Understand China along the Yangtze River" was held in Paris, France, and became an important part of the Yangtze River Culture and Art Season.
Guided by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and sponsored by the Hubei Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, after carrying out the dialogue between Jingchu culture and the regional cultures of the Yangtze River Basin, and the dialogue between the Yangtze River culture and the Yellow River culture, the event went to France and Luxembourg to carry out overseas promotion activities of the Yangtze River culture with the results of cultural exchanges and mutual learning, which lasted for three months.
"The foundation of the development of friendship between China and France lies in the people-to-people and the vitality is in the localities, and I hope you will do more such exchange activities." During the overseas promotion of Yangtze River culture, Lu Shaye, Chinese ambassador to France, said in an interview with a reporter from the Yangtze River Daily.
Look at the phoenix costumes, practice Wudang Taiji, learn Daye embroidery, smell Xiangyang sachets, and pin en Shi Yulu...... Foreigners perceive China through the cultural symbols of the Yangtze River
"I know, it's Chinese clothes." On the banks of the Seine, a group of international supermodels came here, and their clothes were embroidered with the "Chu Feng" pattern. "The Chinese phoenix is beautiful and fascinating. I love China! "This charming Yangtze River cultural show deeply attracted the retired doctor Maria. Like many visitors from all over the world, she stopped for a long time to immerse herself in the artistic atmosphere of East and West.
In front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, international supermodels wore phoenix-themed costumes on the catwalk. Photo by Jia Dai Tengfei
After hearing that the design of this fashionable clothing was inspired by the cultural relics of Hubei thousands of years ago, such as the jade phoenix of the Shijiahe River and the drum of the tiger seat, Maria praised it again and again. She took out her mobile phone and showed reporters pictures of her travels in China when she was young, recalling some of China's past years ago. "The presentation of this group of young people was very wonderful and gave me a new understanding of Chinese culture now. It was a long-standing, open, respectable culture. Maria told reporters in a mixture of Chinese and English. Before leaving, Maria left her name in the reporter's notebook. She hopes to use this opportunity to connect with China again.
"Can we follow Chinese Kung Fu?" On the streets of Luxembourg, a group of tourists are attracted by the performance of Wudang Tai Chi. This is an international tour group of more than 30 people. "We are from France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy ......" "It's a pleasure to meet China!" Tourists from more than 10 different countries in Europe gathered around and introduced themselves. Some people danced and gestured martial arts movements, and some people hoped to get a chance to take a photo with the Wudang martial arts inheritors.
In Luxembourg's landmark square, foreign tourists practice Chinese kung fu with Wudang Tai Chi inheritors. Photo by Changjiang Daily reporter Zhang Meng
A short time later, on the square in front of the Adolf Bridge in Luxembourg, dozens of people lined up and practiced Chinese kung fu with the Wudang Taiji inheritor. World-famous cultural attractions have been transformed into a different kind of "cultural school", and Chinese kung fu has built a bridge of friendship. "What a wonderful experience! We are very willing to organize a group to go to Hubei, travel to the Yangtze River, and then go to Wudang Mountain to learn Tai Chi. After experiencing the original Chinese kung fu, they said goodbye to the reporter with great anticipation.
In the downtown area of Paris, a group of France teenagers communicated with the inheritors of Xiangyang sachet and Daye embroidery skills, and experienced the North Africa heritage of the lake with a needle; At the China booth of the Paris International Tourism Exhibition, guests from all over the world picked up Enshi Yulu tea and tasted it carefully to feel the fragrance of Jingchu tea......
The Yangtze River, sea and land combined transport, from the river to the sea. The culture of the Yangtze River leads to the sea and runs to the world. Every appearance of the Yangtze River culture has brought surprises to overseas people, and they can always recognize at a glance that these cultural exchange activities with rich charm are cultural symbols from China.
"Since ancient times, the Yangtze River has been an important cultural 'artery' connecting China and the world." Zheng Xiaoyun, a distinguished professor at the School of History and Culture of Hubei University and a scientific advisor to the UNESCO Global Water Museum Network, believes that the international communication effect of the Yangtze River culture is huge. The overseas dissemination of the Yangtze River culture requires many specific symbolic elements to be presented to the world.
Cultural symbols are the embodiment of a country's cultural soft power, which stems from cultural identity and cultural self-confidence. Fu Caiwu, Dean of the National Institute of Cultural Development at Wuhan University and Director of the Theory and Policy Research Committee of the Yangtze River Culture Promotion Association, explained: "The Yangtze River has the potential to enhance China's influence and discourse power in the international community, and can play a unique role in shaping the country's image and disseminating it to the outside world. ”
The flash mob of "Yangtze River Meets Seine" and the international version of "Song of the Yangtze River" MV became popular overseas, and foreign young people said that "this is a wonderful artistic encounter"
"Family, do you know how stylish it is when our Chinese performance is seen on the streets of Paris!" Internet blogger "Sister Bixuan Li of France", who has lived in Paris for 18 years and has 1.8 million followers on the Internet, paid attention to the flash mob of "Yangtze River Meets Seine" cooperated by Hubei Cultural Tourism and young France artists, and posted a live video on his online account.
At the flash mob scene of "Yangtze River Meets Seine", young Chinese and foreign artists joined hands to show on the banks of the Seine River in Paris. Photo by Jia Dai Tengfei
Recently, with the popularity of a series of creative videos of the Yangtze River culture with strong network sense, easy communication, easy to read and understand, and in line with the preferences of young people, there has been an upsurge of attention to the Yangtze River culture on the Internet at home and abroad.
At present, the international version of the MV of "Song of the Yangtze River" has been played more than 400,000 times on the Facebook platform "Discover Wuhan" account, becoming a popular product for the overseas dissemination of China's image, allowing more overseas netizens to see the charm of the Yangtze River culture through the Internet.
"The international version of "Song of the Yangtze River" sang in Paris, hoping to reach our California in the United States." United States netizen @Yu Peng said. "The fusion of East and West, the harmony of the piano and the song, is beautiful." France netizen @Paris Yuejie said. "The Yangtze River belongs to the world, Jingchu belongs to the world, and we look forward to seeing friends from all over the world who appreciate Jingchu culture on the streets of Paris on the streets of Paris, on the banks of the Seine." Netizen @Tang Dynasty Music watched the sunrise and said.
"It's a wonderful artistic encounter!" Benjamin, a young emerging artist and cellist from Switzerland, made a special trip from his hometown of Lausanne to Paris to participate in the "Yangtze River Meets Seine" flash mob event. He and Chinese Wudang Tai Chi inheritor, Chinese guzheng player in France, Russia ballet dancer, France international supermodel, and young people from several different countries came to a Yangtze River cultural show on the banks of the Seine. For this performance, he deliberately changed into a Chinese-style performance costume embroidered with gold dragon patterns that day.
At the flash mob scene of "Yangtze River Meets Seine", Chinese and foreign young artists joined hands to perform classic music. Photo by Jia Dai Tengfei
Benjamin is only 23 years old this year after graduating from the Royal Academy of Music in London, but he has won more than 10 music awards and has appeared on the stage of many international concerts. This meeting with friends with the piano deepened his understanding of Chinese music. Talking about Chinese culture, he confided his yearning: "Just as you bring Chinese culture to the Seine, I also want to send more music to China." I am very much looking forward to playing "Song of the Yangtze River" by the Yangtze River. ”
Remy · Ayron, president of the France Artists Association and chairman of the France Association of Plastic Artists, said in an interview with reporters: "I think the Yangtze River culture conveys friendship to the outside world. With a foundation of trust, together we can build a more tolerant global village that is more in line with our common interests. Through the great river of the Yangtze River, with all its beautiful cultural resources, we can build a peaceful and sustainable world. ”
"The development of Paris has benefited from the Seine, like the whole of Hubei through which the Yangtze River passes, thanks to the long and stretched course of this great river." Remy · Ayron said. When he learned that the opening ceremony of the Yangtze River Culture and Art Season held in Wuhan, Hubei Province, was based on the Yangtze River, he thought it was similar to the artistic expression of the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris. "These two events have made us understand that through cultural and artistic exchanges, the world can share the same language and feel the same emotions." Remy · Ayron said.
The friendship between countries lies in the people-to-people relationship, and the France guy knows the inheritor of North Africa: he must come to Hubei to meet and experience Chinese culture
"Nice to meet you, my brother." At the crowded Paris International Travel Show, after the France guy Aurelian met Peng Tao, the inheritor of Daye embroidery, he hurriedly registered a WeChat account and warmly sent the first greeting to the Chinese brother. In order to express his love for Chinese culture, Aurelian changed into Peng Tao's clothes on the spot, and the two took a photo of "good brothers". He thinks that the clothes decorated with this embroidery technique are the most Chinese. Aurelian promised Peng Tao that he would come to Hubei to meet and experience Chinese culture.
The Daye embroidery displayed by Peng Tao, the inheritor of intangible cultural heritage, was featured in the People's Daily, and on September 20, the 14th edition of "Hello! China's "booth debuted at the Paris International Tourism Professional Exhibition" The article wrote, "Daye embroidery, Wudang martial arts and other intangible cultural heritage displays, attracting the attention of the audience". China's booth, Daye embroidery inheritor introduced embroidery bookmarks to foreign friends", and published pictures of Peng Tao's interaction with foreign friends.
Peng Tao gained a lot from this exchange trip to promote Hubei cultural tourism. "As soon as some international travel agents made a move, they bought all the more than 10 samples on display. They hope to use these unique Chinese intangible cultural heritage products to open up the France and European markets. "During this period after returning to China, Peng Tao received order inquiries from customers in France almost every day." When communicating with foreign friends, they are very fond of our intangible cultural heritage products, and they have kind expressions on their faces. Peng Tao said.
"A France friend tasted Enshi Yulu, his eyes lit up, and he was pleasantly surprised to tell me that he liked it very much and wanted me to teach him to say 'very delicious' in Chinese." The Enshi Yulu skills demonstrated by He Jie, the inheritor of intangible cultural heritage, were very popular, and she had to give out cups of tea everywhere she went. He Jie said: "I feel extremely proud and proud, this is the charm of Chinese culture! ”
After watching the live performance of He Jie, the inheritor of Enshi Yulu's production skills, the foreign children also wanted to taste it. Photo by Jia Dai Tengfei
The sachet in the hand of Cui Mingfan, the inheritor of intangible cultural heritage, attracted many foreigners to take a closer look, hold it in the palm of his hand and smell it again. "Xiangyang sachet a small folk handicraft can go abroad, this is what I never expected!" Cui Mingfan said with emotion, "A foreign friend bought a few sachets and said that he not only likes sachets, but also likes Chinese culture. In the past few days, she has been chatting with me constantly, and she still wants to worship me as a teacher. ”
Foreign friends were attracted by the Xiangyang sachet displayed by Cui Mingfan, the inheritor of intangible cultural heritage. Photo by Jiang Yida
During their time overseas, Qin Xia and Jiang Shiqing, the inheritors of Wudang martial arts, wore long robes, stepped on cloud shoes, moved smartly and elegantly, and became the most beautiful "stars" on the streets of Paris.
The friendship between countries lies in the people-to-people relationship, and the people-to-people relationship lies in the heart-to-heart connection.
"We are not so far away from each other, and we have connected to the emotional 'earth's qi' of ordinary people, and seeing the happy smiles on their faces, the hearts of the people of the two countries have become closer to each other." Every martial arts movement they demonstrate has become the object of serious imitation by the local people. "Foreign friends pay so much attention to Wudang martial arts, not only because Wudang martial arts can be practiced and played, but also because of its rich cultural connotation and the concept of physical and mental harmony." Jiang Shiqing said when talking about the exchange experience.
According to statistics, about 500 million people in more than 150 countries and regions around the world practice Taijiquan. "In recent years, more and more foreigners have come to Wudang Mountain to travel, practice martial arts, and experience the lifestyle of harmony between nature and man." Jiang Shiqing told reporters that now more "foreign disciples" have grown into "foreign coaches" and have settled in Wudang Mountain, Hubei.
Hubei has become one of the regions with the highest concentration of France investment in China. Wang Fang, President of the France-China Development and Exchange Committee, said: "The promotion of Hubei cultural tourism in Paris has allowed more France people to get close to Chinese culture and feel the charm of the Yangtze River. In such excellent international exchanges, mutual understanding and friendship have been enhanced. ”
Jingchu culture has become an important window for the world to read China. The local mainstream media in France, Paris Inspiration magazine, reported on the Hubei cultural tourism exchange activity. According to the report, this event not only demonstrated Hubei's profound cultural heritage and tourism resources, but also allowed the world to understand China along the Yangtze River and enhanced cultural exchanges between China and France. Hubei has shown a three-dimensional and vivid image of Yangtze River culture and tourism to the world, arousing more people's yearning and visiting for this land. Whether you are a history and culture lover or a nature explorer, Hubei will be the perfect place for you.
(Editor-in-chief on duty: Chen Zhiyuan, director on duty, Zhang Meng, editor on duty, Lu Jing)