China Cultural Centre in Sofia celebrates Mid-Autumn Festival with a series of events

The week-long series of activities of the China Cultural Center in Sofia, Mid-Autumn Festival "Together We See the Same Moon", officially started on September 16. This series of activities includes six main themes: a recital of Mid-Autumn Festival poems, a joint exhibition of works by Chinese and Bulgarian artists, a cultural tourism promotion on the theme of the Grand Canal, a themed cocktail "Tea Meets Wine", an exhibition of Xiangshan fish-shaped lanterns, and a "Moon Rabbit" to express our gratitude to our Bulgarian friends. It conveys the deep and sophisticated Chinese culture behind the Mid-Autumn Festival.

On the evening of September 16 under a full moon, more than a hundred guests from China and Bulgaria gathered at the center to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. The opening ceremony of the poetry recital and the joint Chinese-Bulgarian exhibition was under the leadership of the Embassy of China in Bulgaria, and was organised by the China Cultural Center in Sofia, the Shanghai Association for International Cultural Exchange and the Union of Bulgarian Artists. The Deputy Speakers of the National Assembly, Mr. Tsoncho Ganev and Mr. Andrey Chorbanov, the Ambassador of China to Bulgaria H.E. Dai Qingli, the Director of the Science and Technology Department of the Shanghai Association for Foreign Cultural Exchange, Ms. Yang Yen, the Chairman of the Union of Bulgarian Artists, Mr. Lyuben Genov, the Director of the Chinese Cultural Center in Sofia, Mr. Hong Hai, as well as representatives of the cultural, tourist, educational, business and media circles, Chinese and Bulgarian students and friends attended the event.

Director Hong Hai said in his welcome speech that "Together We See the Same Moon" is a global brand launched by China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and is also one of the center's annual key activities. More and more Bulgarian friends can learn about it through various cultural activities, get to know the Mid-Autumn Festival, like it and feel the rich content of Chinese culture through it.

Addressing the event, Chinese Ambassador to Bulgaria Dai Qingli said that the Mid-Autumn Festival was one of the oldest in China, symbolizing family gathering, joy and harmony.

It carried the expectations of the Chinese people for a better life, Dai said, adding that although thousands of kilometers separated China from Bulgaria, the two peoples shared the same Moon and prayed for a happy family, social harmony and world peace.

Dai also noted that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Bulgaria.

She said that over the past 75 years, China and Bulgaria have achieved fruitful cooperation in various fields, especially in cultural exchanges, where the two countries continued to promote people-to-people communication through mutual recognition of civilizations, strengthen understanding and deepen friendship through various activities.

This exhibition is another vivid example of the cultural integration of the two countries.

In his speech, the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly and Chairman of the Bulgaria-China Friendship Group, Mr. Tsoncho Ganev, thanked the envoys who have contributed to the dissemination of Chinese culture in Bulgaria.

Through various cultural activities such as the Dragon Boat Festival, the Second China-Bulgaria Wushu Culture Festival and the Tourism Culture Promotion Week, people in Bulgaria have the opportunity to appreciate the treasures of Chinese culture, allowing people from both countries to understand each other better. Mr. Ganev expressed his expectation that further cooperation between the two countries in the fields of culture and economy will lead to even more visible results and projects.

In her congratulatory address, the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms. Rositsa Kirova, wished everyone a happy Mid-Autumn Festival. She highly appreciated China's long history and cultural contribution to the world and stressed the importance of the traditional friendship and cooperative relations between Bulgaria and China, and expressed confidence in the further deepening of exchanges on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The Director of the Science and Technology Department of the Shanghai Association, Ms. Yang Yen, hopes that through this exhibition, it can showcase the unique charm of art from the two countries, promote exchanges and cooperation between artists from China and Bulgaria, and contribute to the deepening of cultural exchanges between the two countries.

After that, the guests cut the ribbon of the 2024 China-Bulgaria Joint Art Exhibition together.

The poetry recital dedicated to the Mid-Autumn Festival is divided into three themes, "Traveling the Grand Canal with Poetry", "Talking about Civilization with a Song of Roses" and "The Moon is Full and the People are Together", covering poetry recitation, dancing, singing, folk music performance, etc. Under this format, wishes for a happy family and harmony in the world on the night of Mid-Autumn Festival are sent.

Integration of culture and tourism is one of the highlights of the recital. The Center specially planned this fusion between promoting cultural tourism dedicated to the Grand Canal, choosing famous cities and landscapes along the canal, and using poetry as a travel guide through China. Bulgarian youths dressed in traditional Chinese Hanfu clothes, to the sound of guzheng, recited classic poems such as "Spring River in the Colorful Moonlit Night," "I Contemplate Mount Tai," and "The Boat Under the Maple Tree," transporting guests to the poetic vision of the Grand Canal running through the north and south and flowing for thousands of years.

In addition, through the song "Light", the audience was introduced to the "line" - "Beijing's Central Axis: an ensemble of buildings showing the ideal order of the Chinese capital", which was inscribed on the World Heritage List by UNESCO in July this year. It is also a warm welcome to the public to travel to China.

At the same time, the interesting interactive Q&A session allowed guests to enhance their understanding of the Mid-Autumn Festival culture and the Chinese Moon Exploration Project presented by Chang'e 6.

The intertwining and flourishing of Chinese and Bulgarian cultures was also fully demonstrated in this poetic encounter. The Bulgarian song "One Bulgarian Rose" sung by Chinese children, the recital poems presented by Bulgarian students, and the "Changyuan" dance performed by Chinese and Bulgarian students demonstrated the idea that appreciating one's own beauty amidst the sharing and togetherness of beauty. The event ended successfully with the theme song "Let's Wish Each Other Longevity" sung by all participants.