A series of cultural events, titled "Mid-Autumn Festival in Poetry: Discover Hebei," kicked off in Kuwait on Saturday, featuring a performance called "Where the Moonlight of Hebei Meets the Gulf." The event was co-organized by the Chinese Cultural Center in Kuwait and the Hebei Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, with over 300 attendees from Kuwait's cultural, artistic, and media circles, as well as Chinese culture enthusiasts.
The event was held under the supervision of the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Chinese Embassy in Kuwait. It was attended by Chinese Ambassador to Kuwait Yang Xin, Secretary-General of the Kuwaiti National Council for Culture, Arts, and Letters Mohammad Al-Jassar, and Director of the Chinese Cultural Center in Kuwait Liu Jin Hong, along with other guests from Kuwaiti society.
The event took the traditional Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival as its starting point, using the moon as a common symbol, and combined artistic performances, intangible cultural heritage displays, tourism promotion, and interactive activities. The goal was to introduce Kuwaiti audiences to the distinctive culture and tourist resources of Hebei province.
Chinese Ambassador Yang Xin stated in a speech that the Mid-Autumn Festival represents a joyful time for family reunions and embodies the Chinese people's aspirations for a good harvest, harmony, and sharing. He added that the desire for family reunions and a better life is a shared sentiment between the Chinese and Kuwaiti people, reflecting the similarities between their cultures.
This year marks the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Kuwait, with Yang emphasizing that the two countries have worked together for over half a century to promote friendly cooperation in various fields based on mutual respect, equality, and mutual benefit. He noted that cultural exchanges have effectively enhanced understanding and rapprochement between the Chinese and Kuwaiti people.
The event featured performances such as lion dances, wushu and tai chi demonstrations, and shadow puppet shows from Tangshan city in Hebei province. Kuwaiti artists participated by playing Chinese and Arabic musical pieces using pianos, flutes, and traditional Arabic instruments. A singer performed a Chinese song titled "The Moon Represents My Heart," while students from Chinese language classes at the Chinese Cultural Center recited Chinese and Kuwaiti poems centered around the moon.
The accompanying activities included tasting moon cakes, displaying Hebei's intangible cultural heritage products, and traditional Chinese and Arabic calligraphy experiences. There were also Mid-Autumn Festival wish-writing and traditional Chinese games, as well as a photo exhibition titled "Beautiful Hebei." The events will continue for two days, with the Chinese Cultural Center in Kuwait hosting a product exhibition and workshops for Hebei's intangible cultural heritage on Sunday.
Key points
- The events aim to introduce Kuwaiti audiences to Hebei's cultural and tourist resources.
