The opera "Romeo and Juliet" by French composer Charles Gounod is slated for a performance on Thursday night in Beijing. This rendition, under the baton of a Chinese conductor and pianist with the accompaniment of three prominent French singers, is set to mark the inaugural event of the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism.

The year 2024 marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France, a milestone celebrated by the launch of the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism. This event, aligning with the anniversary, is a testament to the agreement between the leaders of both countries to deepen cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

Following a series of cultural events held in each other's countries during the Cultural Year program from 2003 to 2005 and the celebration of the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations in 2014, the two countries are now joining forces to organize the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism, another significant event in cultural collaborations, said Wang Xudong, director of the Palace Museum.

Throughout the year, China and France will alternately host a series of cultural events for the general public, covering performing arts, visual arts, cultural heritage and tourism promotion. The lineup includes art exhibitions, concerts, orchestra tours, costume shows, and festivals featuring lanterns and kites. It aims to foster a deeper appreciation of both countries' rich cultures and strengthen mutual understanding.

For instance, the Palace of Versailles, in collaboration with the Forbidden City's Museum of the Imperial Palace, will host an exhibition that explores the interactions between the French and Chinese courts during the late 17th and 18th centuries. This exhibit highlights the rich history of exchange between the two countries in science, technology and art during that era.

This year features an array of cultural activities, like art exhibitions from major French cultural institutions, musicals and ballet performances, according to Joan Valadou, the consul general of France in Shanghai. He underscored the pivotal role of culture in the Sino-French relationship while speaking to the China Media Group and noted that this dynamic relationship spans governmental and non-governmental cooperation.

The China-France Year of Culture and Tourism in China commenced on January 5 at the Harbin Festival of Sculpture on Ice and Snow. Here, magnificent replicas of Notre-Dame de Paris and the Temple of Heaven, both UNESCO World Heritage sites, stood side by side, illuminating the festival park. The French counterpart of the inauguration is scheduled for January 31, featuring a grand concert at Versailles.

Amidst these cultural exchanges, the impact of culinary arts on fostering cultural connections is not to be overlooked. During the Yuyuan Garden Lantern Festival in Paris in December 2023, 700 Nanxiang xiaolongbao, an intangible cultural heritage from Shanghai, sold out in less than an hour. The steamed buns, renowned for their delicate taste, attracted a large crowd at the festival.

This traditional Shanghai delicacy traveled thousands of kilometers to make its appearance in France, thanks to the dedicated efforts of You Yumin, the sixth-generation inheritor of the Nanxiang small steamed bun and her team. Due to transportation limitations and the need for specific ingredients, much of this culinary preparation was undertaken locally. Upon arriving in Paris in early December, You Yumin and her apprentice immediately visited local markets to select the necessary ingredients.

"In Shanghai, pork from the front leg, known for its leanness and lack of fat, is typically the meat of choice," said You. "However, here we have to use pork belly as a substitute due to its higher fat content."

"As for flour, the high-gluten variety here is too robust for our needs, whereas the low-gluten flour doesn't meet our quality standards. That's why we've made adjustments, combining bread flour and cake flour to produce an ideal blend for pastry flour," she added.

Though the lantern festival begins in the afternoon, You and her team start their work early each morning. At their stand in the Yuyuan Garden, they meticulously prepare the stuffing, roll out dough and craft small steamed buns, readying themselves for the arrival of the lengthy queue of customers that forms by the time they open.

A French tourist expressed his fondness for xiaolongbao, describing it as "very delicious, with a soft and pleasing taste, really good." Another visitor shared that his wife is from Shanghai, and they specifically came to experience a taste of Shanghai. "We haven't been back in over a year, so finding it here is really heartwarming," he said.

At the Yuyuan Garden Lantern Festival in Paris, along with xiaolongbao, a plethora of renowned Chinese brands, both contemporary and time-honored, were showcased. Spanning a diverse range of consumer sectors such as jewelry, watches, cosmetics and traditional Chinese medicine, the festival offered tourists from around the world an immersive experience of Oriental lifestyle and aesthetics through its products and services.