In the evening of July 6 local time, with an acappella version of the Chinese folk song Jasmine—“What a beautiful jasmine flower/What a beautiful jasmine flower...” —performed by the art troupe of Beijing International Studies University, the “Charming Beijing” Exhibition, the second event of “Meeting China ----- Commemorating the 200th Anniversary of Marx’s Birth”, was unveiled at the ancient Roman Site Museum in Marx’s hometown—Trier, Germany.
This exhibition series was co-hosted by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (the CPAFFC), the Beijing People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (the BPAFFC), the General Administration of Cultural Heritage of Rheinland-Pfalz, and the Association of Germany China Friendship Societies. The series mainly includes the “2018 Beijing Mark” Photo Exhibition, showcases of China’s intangible cultural heritage and art performances. The photo exhibition displayed 70 photographs that delivered a historical and contemporary image of Beijing. These photos tell ever-changing development of Beijing, a thousand-year-old capital, from different aspects such as the historic axis, humanistic Beijing, energetic Beijing, 2022 Winter Olympics and coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. In addition, the photos captured Beijing’s splendid moments marking its endeavor to become a modern cosmopolis. In particular, these photos highlighted the achievements of Beijing’s “Four Centers” strategy as well as the development and changes thanks to reform and opening-up in the past 40 years. Visitors can enjoy a tour of time and space across the ancient capital via the photos----starting from the new Beijing Daxing International Airport and feeling the new look of the capital city of a prosperous country in the new era, along the charming city axis with a history of one thousand years. The exhibition will last for one month until the end of July.
At the opening ceremony, the art troupe of Beijing International Studies University performed songs and dances with a strong traditional Chinese flavor, such as Full of Joy, Blooming Flowers and Full Moon, which won long-lasting applause from the audience. Five folk artists from Huairou District, Beijing, including inheritors of intangible cultural heritage Bai Fenglian, Gao Linrong and Wang Chuanfeng presented how to make a Red Temple lantern, draw a ceramic painting, perform traditional Erkui wrestling, among other intangible cultural heritage arts. In the exhibition area of intangible cultural heritage, there are exhibits of carved lacquer, ceramic paintings and Red Temple lanterns. At the same time, the promo videos about Beijing and ancient royal places including Yuanmingyuan Park and the Summer Palace are played at the exhibition, attracting a large number of visitors.
According to the sponsors, on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of Karl Marx’s birth and the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening-up, the thematic exhibition held in Karl Marx’s hometown is to commemorate the great philosopher influencing the whole world. Moreover, through strengthening cultural exchange, the exhibition is also aimed at opening a window for the German people to know China and Beijing, showing them a real, vivid and complete picture of China as well as an open, inclusive, harmonious and livable Beijing, and further deepening the friendship between the Chinese and German people.
