Chinese Culture Festival going strong in Russia

In Moscow, September 3rd, the Chinese Culture Festival started as an essential part of Russia’s 2010 Chinese Language Year program. The festival includes shows of Chinese kung fu, a Chinese tea ceremony, fire and Chinese lanterns, animated movies, creative posters, and national craft displays, such as two-sided embroidery, as well as performances of songs and dances of Chinese ethnic groups.

One of the most eagerly awaited shows was the kung fu display by the legendary Shaolin monks. One Moscow citizen named Alexander, who watched the Chinese kung fu show for the first time, said, “It was fantastic!” 

Chinese tea culture also aroused great interest among the locals. While the Chinese tea ceremony show was going on at the Central House of Artists in Moscow, the entrance of the House was jam-packed with people. Like curious children, they asked aloud, “What’s the difference between Chinese green tea and black tea?” “Why do the same tea leaves could be used for seven times’ tea making?!”

This year’s festival mixed the old with the new with an exhibit of Chinese computer games and sets by Chinese DJs, such as DJ Weng Weng, considered one of the founders of Chinese electronic music.

The first Festival of Chinese Art was organized in 2007 as part of the Year of China in Russia, and it has grown bigger each year. Yang Zhijin, Chinese vice-minister of culture, said during its opening ceremony that he hoped this festival would help deepen Sino-Russia cultural cooperation.