Chinese elements shine at S. African flower festival

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A floral extravaganza ended Saturday in South Africa's resort town of Parys with Chinese elements among the highlights of the gala.

The Free State Madeira Flower Festival, which features exquisite performers, floats and giant flowers puppets, attracted thousands of visitors from across South Africa and abroad.

Models dressed in flowers are seen on the streets during the massive flower parade in Parys, South Africa, December 8, 2018. /Photo via People.cn

A special Chinese Cuisine Night hosted by the Chinese Consulate-General in Johannesburg was one of the two-day festival's biggest hits.

Presented at the event were various Chinese foods, traditional songs and dances from both countries, Chinese martial arts and a spectacular fireworks show.

Chinese food becomes a hit during the flower festival in Parys, South Africa, December 8, 2018. /Photo via People.cn

Cultural communications will take on a bigger role in developing bilateral relations, promoting mutual understanding and trust and building bridges of friendship and cooperation, said Chinese Consul-general in Johannesburg Ruan Ping.

"To make the South African culture a part of the Chinese people's life and to have the Chinese culture understood and adopted by the South African friends are the theme of this Chinese Cuisine Night," he noted.

Models dressed in flowers are seen during the massive flower parade in Parys, South Africa, December 8, 2018. /Photo via People.cn

This is the second time that a fully-fledged, massive flower parade has taken to the streets in Parys, according to the organizer.

The festival is a joint venture between the governments of the Free State and Portugal's Madeira Island.

(Cover: Models hold flowers during the massive flower parade in Parys, South Africa, December 8, 2018. /Photo via People.cn)

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency