Jinan Art Shines at Hwaseong Cultural Festival, Chinese Culture Amazes Sister City Hwaseong, South Korea

Recently, on the grand stage in front of the Hwaseong Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Suwon, South Korea, a mesmerizing performance titled "Jasmine Flowers" from Jinan, China, was unfolding. The performance featured graceful water sleeves, melodious singing, enchanting traditional music, and attire that blended the essence of ink painting with classical and contemporary styles. It left the audience in awe, adding a touch of enchantment to the golden autumn. Simultaneously, it marked the commencement of the 60th Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival 2023 International Sister Cities Art Troupe Performance.

Innovative Integration Program "Jasmine Flower" from Jinan, China [Photo via Jinan International Communication Center]

This year's Hwaseong Cultural Festival coincides with the 30th anniversary of Jinan's establishment as an international sister city to Suwon. To celebrate this occasion, the Jinan Bureau of Culture and Tourism meticulously organized and creatively curated the performance, integrating resources from three state-owned arts troupes. Nine outstanding young actors were selected to present a unique and imaginative program, which earned enthusiastic cheers from the audience. The acrobatic performance "Brothers: A Duo Act" was the second act of the show. This program brilliantly fused artful design with dance elements, fully embodying the power and grace of Chinese acrobatics. The captivating performance by national first-class actor and international gold medalist Kong Haitao, along with his partner Tang Zhicheng, elicited waves of applause and ovations from the audience.

The acrobatic performance "Brothers: A Duo Act" [Photo via Jinan International Communication Center]

In the afternoon, the art troupes from Suwon and friendly sister cities of Suwon, which are situated in countries such as Germany, Vietnam, and Indonesia, shared the stage, presenting a diverse array of performances. Their distinct yet harmonious performances illuminated the stage, collectively elevating the 60th Hwaseong Cultural Festival to new heights. 'We are incredibly fortunate to represent Jinan in this cultural exchange event. We hope that through our performance, we can showcase the grandeur of China, the distinctive culture of Shandong, and the spirit of Quancheng (Jinan) to the audience in our friendly city of Suwon. Furthermore, the joint performance with artists from various countries not only affirms the traditional idea that art knows no boundaries but also conveys the spirit of unity, peace, and friendship of our times,' noted He Ruixue, an outstanding young actor from the Jinan Opera and Quyi Center.

This performance fully embodies the charm of the City of Spring and its artistic standards. Through exchanges and mutual learning with foreign peers, bridging each other's shortcomings, and enhancing each other's strengths, we have collectively progressed and demonstrated the artistic elegance of Jinan, China. This has garnered the most applause from the live audience.

(Source:Jinan International Communication Center)