The cross-cultural event, Festival Croisements, turns 12 this year. The focus of the festival is Franco-Chinese artistic collaborations and the event features a number of French artists who draw inspiration from Chinese life and culture.

The popularity of Festival Croisements is growing in China and last year more than 4 million people attended events around the country. 

This year's festival, which closed on June 9, featured 216 events spanning the classical to the contemporary, taking place in 30 cities across China.  

   Chinese rock star Cui Jian and dancer Wang Yabin promote Festival Croisements. /VCG Photo  

"We wanted to share with the Chinese public French culture, French creation and also understand more what the Chinese need and want from us," said France's ambassador to China Maurice Gourdault-Montagne, "What makes the French culture different from many others in Europe is that the background is very deep, very ancient, and also that our project is not for the elite. Which means that there's also a link between social development and culture." 

The 2017 event is also supported by five cultural ambassadors; dancer and choreographer Wang Yabin, sculptor Sui Jianguo, film director Jia Zhangke, rock star Cui Jian and cartoonist and illustrator Lu Ming. 

"When my work was exhibited at French festivals, the audience felt they saw something very oriental. Yet, when it premiered here in China, people said they saw a Western means of expression in the same dance. So, I believe the process of creation is such a wonderful way of communicating culture," Wang Yabin said. 

From Monet to Soulages: Paths of Modern Western Painting Exhibition /VCG Photo

Known as The Godfather of Chinese rock 'n' roll, Cui Jian says he has benefited a lot from this cultural communication with the West.  

“My experience with French culture was through French food. I remember going to Maxim's when I was young. Later this restaurant became the venue for many of my works. I learned many things and many practical things from them. In fact, the first professional music association that I entered was in France and until this day I'm still receiving pay checks from stations in France who play my music thanks to the association,” Cui said. 

Thanks to artists like Cui Jian, French culture is evolving in China alongside domestic equivalents. 

"The West was interested in China in the beginning because of the socio-political changes that were happening then. And they were consuming what they thought was important and interesting. On the other hand, for us, we went from being isolated to opening up and being exposed not only to technical things but also ideals, to which we added our own emotions and understanding, and that's how my music came about. Musicians like differences. When music starts, there are no more ideological differences, no more religious differences, or cultural differences, there's only trust," Cui said.