Fengdu phoenix in Mexican sister city

A golden phoenix sculpture was recently shipped thousands of miles from Fengdu, a county in Chongqing, to stand in the heart of its sister city Guanajuato, Mexico, as a gesture of their growing friendship.

Inspired by a divine bird in Chinese folklore, the sculpture symbolizes good fortune, peace and prosperity.

"This gift is not only a witness to the profound friendship between the two (cities), but also our expectation for future cooperation," Fengdu Mayor Tang Shouyuan said at the unveiling ceremony in Guanajuato.

Led by the mayor, the Fengdu delegation used its visit to promote the county's culture and enhance its ties with the Mexican city in tourism, trade and people-to-people exchanges.

This year marks the 52nd anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Mexico, as well as the 11th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Mexico comprehensive strategic partnership.

In November 2021, Fengdu and Guanajuato established a sister-city relationship.

"The magnificent sculpture embodies Fengdu culture and our friendship," said Samantha Smith Gutierrez, mayor of Guanajuato, during the unveiling ceremony.

"We both respect traditional culture and ancestors, which is the foundation of our relationship," Gutierrez said.

The sculpture will not only enrich the local cultural landscape, but also bring fortune and luck to the city, she added.

Fengdu and Guanajuato are both internationally renowned tourist destinations and have significant cultural similarities.

Fengdu is famed for its captivating "Ghost City" culture, with the Fengdu Temple Fair designated as a national intangible cultural heritage.

Similarly, Guanajuato stands out as a prime Mexican city for its famed "Day of the Dead" festival, which is celebrated in Mexico on Nov 1 and 2. The Historic Town of Guanajuato and Adjacent Mines has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In recent years, the bond between Fengdu and Guanajuato has continued to strengthen, evolving from governmental to grassroots interactions.

In August last year, both sides signed a memorandum of cooperation to create a model of international sister-city exchanges, including reciprocal delegation exchanges during major festivals, the installation of sculptures in one another's downtown areas and the development of platforms to facilitate the sales of products.

At the latest event, the Guanajuato government and the Fengdu delegation reaffirmed their commitment to continuing cultural exchanges and artistic promotions.

Tang said Fengdu is promoting economic and trade collaborations between the sister cities in the creative and cultural sectors, including telecommunications, mask making and calabash painting production.

Fengdu is also famous for producing and exporting zhacai, a traditional Chinese pickle made from mustard cabbage stems. The condiment, which dates back at least 100 years, has become a delicacy on dinner tables outside China.

On Oct 27, the first batch of Fengdu zhacai was exported to Guanajuato, according to Xinhua News Agency.