Shanghai cultural heritage shines at historic Egyptian library

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt - Culture is a fundamental human factor for enhancing cooperation between peoples, said Mohamed Sultan, governor of the Egyptian coastal city of Alexandria, amid an ongoing exhibition of intangible cultural heritage from Shanghai, China's most populous city.

Egypt and China are connected by trade, economic and cultural ties over thousands of years, Sultan told Xinhua while inspecting unique Chinese heritage pieces being displayed in the Library of Alexandria.

The first session of the International Tour Exhibition of Chinese Traditional Fine Arts was opened in the historic library last week.

Under the topic of "Culture across Ancient and Modern", the Exhibition of Shanghai Intangible Cultural Heritage in Daily Life, which will last until Aug 27, has showcased more than 130 pieces including Jinshan farmer paintings, Shanghai-style woolen tapestries, Shanghai-style silk works, opera customs, jade and bamboo carvings from Shanghai, sister city of Alexandria for 26 years.

Shanghai will host an exhibition of artwork from Egyptian children that will include drawings and paintings about Alexandria on Sept 23, Sultan noted.

Alexandria is a historic city once dominated by the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations, while the library itself was the meeting point for businesspeople who traded on the Silk Road.

The Chinese exhibition shows the deep and historical relations between Egypt and China, Huda Meqaty, deputy director of the Library of Alexandria told Xinhua.

The exhibition will encourage Egyptian youths to learn more about their Chinese peers through cultural communication, Meqaty said.

"Dialogue between young generations from both sides is necessary to bridge the gap between the two peoples," Meqaty explained.

Shi Yuewen, a Chinese cultural counselor in Egypt, said the mutual understanding between the two countries isn't sufficient because of geographic distance and language.

There should be more active communications between the two peoples through exhibitions mirroring culture and heritage, he noted.

The exhibition is divided into four areas: Life as Painting, Gorgeous Brocades and Silk Articles, Beauty in the Square and Elegant Melody.

Admiring the Jinshan farmer painting Golden Harvest, Return from Fishing, which features novel design, bright colors and simple shapes, Mahmoud Atta, a 22-year-old trainer in the Model African Union, said he was stunned.

"I was really surprised to see very simple but sophisticated paintings that tell stories of the daily life of people," Atta said.

The folk music performance with traditional wooden instruments and dazzling costumes at the entrance of the exhibition was enough to envision the beauty of Shanghai, he added.

Zynab al-Sayed, an 18-year-old high school student, took a selfie wearing Peking Opera costumes.

Al-Sayed said she was eager to learn about Chinese culture, describing the exhibition as "the best opportunity for getting closer to the Chinese".

Xinhua

(China Daily 08/16/2018 page17)