Encounter the fusion of Sino-French cultural exchanges

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France. On the stage of historical exchanges, the two countries have shared a series of remarkable moments and milestones.

On January 24, 2004, the Eiffel Tower was illuminated in "Chinese Red" for the first time. Bathed in a warm glow of light, the 115-year-old tower resembled a fluttering artist adding a rich touch of Chinese color to Paris.

In the same month, French audiences experienced for the first time original Chinese ballet performances of "The Bright Red Lanterns Hung High" and "The Red Detachment of Women." This marked a deep collaboration between China and France in the field of dance, conveying the exquisite language of culture to a wider audience.

In 2014, the "Ten Masterpieces of French Painting," a special exhibition commemorating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France was held at the National Museum of China in Beijing. This special exhibition brought together 10 exquisite paintings from several museums including the Louvre, the Musee d’Orsay, Centre Pompidou, the Palace of Versailles and the Picasso Museum, in a showcase boasting both high artistic quality and historical value.

In September 2016, experts and scholars in the field of cultural heritage from China and France initiated a series of exchanges and collaborations centered around "Gongshutang," a state-protected cultural relics site in the ancient Chinese city of Xi’an in Shaanxi Province. This resulted in interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary research, which contributed to the advancement of research into the conservation of the cultural relics found at Gongshutang. At the same time, it facilitated the improvement of technical expertise in the field of conservation on both sides.

This winter at the Harbin Ice and Snow World, a landscape inspired by the 2024 China-France Year of Culture and Tourism, has made a big impact. It incorporates two world-famous cultural heritage sites, the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris and the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, as its core elements. A bridge symbolizing friendship connects the ice sculptures that represent these two regions, creating a visually stunning scene.

Over the decades, through the language of various forms of art, the people of both countries have forged deep bonds in their shared cultural exploration. This is an important chapter in the fusion and meeting of two civilizations, heralding a promising future of even richer collaboration and exchange.