Lantern Festival celebration held by Beijing Service Bureau for Diplomatic Missions attracts guests from across world

Buoyed by the Lantern Festival atmosphere, about 300 envoys and diplomats from more than 40 countries and international organizations gathered at the Diplomatic Residence Compound in Beijing on Friday night to watch celebrations.

Art performances, a creative culture-themed temple fair, an intangible cultural heritage experience and some other interactive experiences enriched the events, attracting the presence of officials among visitors.

Li Li, director-general of the Beijing Service Bureau for Diplomatic Missions, noted that it was the first time the bureau had organized such a large-scale public activity since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. He hoped the foreign guests had a happy Lantern Festival in this “second hometown” of China and seized the opportunity to understand and fall in love with China.

The evening kicked off with a cheerful and sonorous Chinese drum dance. The Zhi Shang Jiang Shan, or Rivers and Mountains on a Fingertip, a creative program inspired by the art forms of poetry, music and painting won loud applauds from the audience.

The show organizers also prepared an ensemble of guqin and guzheng (both traditional Chinese string instruments) to complete the essence of ancient Chinese music.

A sand painting demonstration and the recitation of Li Bai’s classic poem Qiang Jin Jiu (Bring in the Wine) brought to the audience the delights of authentic Chinese culture.

A traditional dance, Flying Bird, showed the ideals and realm of the ancient Chinese people in pursuit of freedom and detachment. Magician Peng Ju performed ancient Chinese-style magic and invited some audience members to participate in the show, which included mind reading.

A piano performance of Spring Festival Prelude and Colorful Clouds Chasing The Moon complemented the festival atmosphere and concluded the show.

After the show, foreign guests visited branch venues and public areas to learn about intangible cultural heritage skills and Chinese folk customs.

The temple fair exhibited a model of the Central Axis of Beijing, which was hand-carved by world-famous chef Duan Yongcheng on high-density foam.

Foreign guests were attracted by the exquisite handicrafts of windmills, kites and velvet flowers, and traditional Chinese-style Hanfu clothing.

At this event, nearly 100 guests participated in the Chinese traditional culture activities, including the handcrafting of rabbit palace lanterns, rabbit fans and rabbit statues.

The activity was hosted by the Beijing Service Bureau for Diplomatic Missions and sponsored by Yanghe Distillery. Their aim was to display signature traditional Chinese culture and festivities, create an interaction and exchange between Chinese and foreign people, and advance the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.