Embassy event brings Shaanxi to Washington

The aroma of freshly made biangbiang noodles mingled with the rhythms of Tang Dynasty music as the Chinese embassy in Washington welcomed more than 7,000 visitors on Saturday.

Part of the annual "Around the World Embassy Tour", the event this year transported attendees to Northwest China's Shaanxi province, offering a vibrant window into the "cradle of Chinese civilization" and the opportunities of an opening China.

In keynote remarks, Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng highlighted the province's historical weight.

"Shaanxi is like a river, carrying the continuity of Chinese civilization," Xie said. "As a saying goes, 'To understand 5,000 years of Chinese history, visit Shaanxi'."

He noted that 14 dynasties once established their capitals there, nurturing cultural treasures from the Terracotta Warriors to Xi'an drum music.

Fast-forward to the present, Shaanxi is emerging as a hub of future growth, he said, describing the province as a "frontier of China's opening-up" with a key role in the Belt and Road Initiative and a leading presence in high-tech industries.

"A more prosperous China will surely be an anchor of peace and a harbor of stability in a turbulent world," he said. "A more open China will bring strong momentum and vast opportunities for shared development of all countries."

Shaanxi is helping renew the China-US friendship through local-level exchanges and people-to-people ties, Xie said, adding that the province and its cities have established 13 sister-city partnerships with US counterparts.

He cited the 14th China-US Tourism Leadership Summit in Xi'an in 2024 and a joint performance by Utah's One Voice Children's Choir and Chinese students beneath the city's ancient wall in 2025 as evidence of a sustained public appetite for exchange and cooperation.

After more than 50 years of diplomatic engagement, China-US relations have reached another crossroads, he said, urging both sides to draw lessons from history, focus on steady and sustainable development, and seek "a right way" to coexist in the new era.

Fan Weibin, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the Shaanxi Provincial People's Congress, said the province is expanding cooperation with the US in trade, culture, tourism, education and other sectors, and welcomed more US people to experience Shaanxi firsthand.

A highlight of the open house event was a performance of Xi'an drum music, known as a "living fossil" of Chinese music. Musicians in Tang Dynasty (618-907) attire played drums, flutes and chimes, while a vibrant yangko dance brought to life the folk traditions of northern Shaanxi.

The audience responded with enthusiastic applause and cheers, enjoying this direct encounter with musical and dance traditions passed down for centuries.

The embassy grounds were transformed into a lively showcase of culture and heritage. Visitors tried their hand at painting shehuo masks and explored ancient murals through virtual reality.

Stalls featuring cultural products and other goods from local Shaanxi companies drew large crowds, with long lines forming for regional delicacies.

Flavor of Chang'an

Among the exhibitors, Lu Zhiqi of Shaanxi Ziqi Food Company said he was proud to bring local flavors to Washington. "We hope visitors can taste the flavor of Chang'an (Xi'an's ancient name) — and of China — through our traditional delicacies," he said.

Lu added that the company combines traditional techniques with digital production lines to produce additive-free products tailored to US market trends.

Ralph Winnie Jr, director of the China program at the Eurasia Center, said such events underscore the value of cultural diplomacy.

"People-to-people exchanges and relationship building are very important to break down cultural barriers and promote understanding," he said.

David Harrison, a high school teacher from Virginia, said, "I've seen the Terracotta Warriors in books, but the craftsmanship here makes it all feel so real."

The technology displays highlighted China's rapid change and inspired him to bring his students to visit, he said.

yifanxu@chinadailyusa.com