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Canada News.Net
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Canada News.Net
Foreign athletes embrace culture, innovation at Chengdu World Games
CHENGDU, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- During the ongoing 12th World Games, held in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, foreign athletes are immersing themselves in Chinese culture and the vibrant atmosphere of the city. "I want to see the giant panda and also learn more about local culture," said Indian wushu sanda player Namrata Batra. Batra has been practicing wushu since 2015 and is now exploring the cultural roots behind the sport. "I have heard that Sichuan's Qingcheng Mountain area is famous for wushu, and I hope to get the chance to learn more moves there," she said. In the women's 52-kilogram wushu sanda event, Batra won a silver medal, marking India's first-ever podium finish in wushu at the Chengdu World Games. "The level of wushu across the world is improving, and the competition is becoming increasingly close," said Zhang Yuping, secretary-general of the International Wushu Federation. "This shows that wushu has entered a new stage, with more people around the world taking part." Beyond competition, foreign athletes are taking part in cultural experiences such as Sichuan Opera face-changing, sugar painting and Chinese calligraphy. "I love Chinese dishes, especially Sichuan food. They are super delicious," said Jose Perurena, president of the International World Games Association. Chengdu's modern development has also left an impression. "I could really feel the city's energy while walking through the bustling Chunxi Road commercial district and Taikoo Li," said Ida May Hudson, a member of Canada's national floorball team. She and her teammates arrived early, visiting exhibitions, attending fairs, and trying on hanfu, traditional Chinese clothing. The World Games is not only a major sports event but also a platform for international exchanges, according to Yin Jian, director of Chengdu's municipal center for promoting opening-up and cooperation. "Chengdu is fully showcasing its openness and vitality through this international event," Yin said. To facilitate travel and spending for visitors, Chengdu has enabled 65,000 merchants to accept foreign card payments and now supports 21 international e-wallets for seamless transactions. Chengdu also hosts 427 stores with tax refund services, including 103 that offer instant tax refunds. Additionally, foreign bank cards can now be used directly on the city's buses and metro, while some tourist attractions, airports and metro hubs have provided multilingual guidance. Athletes have also been impressed by the technological innovation. During the Games, China-developed robots for patrolling, retail and delivery were deployed to support event services. "The use of these robots has enhanced the athletes' experience and created more opportunities for our products," said Zeng Qi, chief technology officer of Eventec, a Chengdu-based technology company. Another highlight is the smart glasses, which are capable of real-time translation in over 40 languages and have attracted widespread interest among athletes. "The Games provide an excellent platform for innovative companies like us, bringing in more opportunities for cross-border cooperation and international expansion," said Liu Yu of Sichuan INMO Technology Co., Ltd., the developer of the glasses.
Time Out
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Catch the Shaolin Warriors live in action from July 25–28
Ever seen a monk break bricks with bare hands and total stillness in his eyes? The world knows the Shaolin not just as monks, but as legends. For centuries, these warriors from China have dedicated themselves to mastering kung fu. Now, they're stepping out of the temple's shadows and flying to Bangkok for a rare chance to witness the art of ancient fighting up close. From July 25 to 28, catch this world-famous performance at Parc Paragon, Siam Paragon, as part of 'The Nation's Tribute to the King', a celebration marking His Majesty the King's 73rd Birthday and 50 years of diplomatic ties between Thailand and China. It's more than just Shaolin kung fu. This event is a cultural showcase featuring traditions and performing arts from both countries. The Shaolin performance alone tells a story that's over 1,500 years old, rooted in the sacred Songshan Mountains of China. With every move, you'll see a blend of raw power, graceful precision and deep Zen discipline. But there's plenty more to enjoy: Sichuan Opera mask-changing (bian lian): Watch in awe as performers magically switch colourful masks in a blink, a mesmerising tradition from the Chinese Opera Association. Children's khon performance: Young talents bring the Ramayana epic to life through traditional Thai masked dance. Candle dance: Experience the delicate beauty of this Thai classical dance, performed by students from Srinakharinwirot University Demonstration School. Thai-Chinese cultural music fusion: Enjoy a combination of Chinese Guzheng and Thai classical instruments such as the dulcimer and fiddle, a musical symbol of friendship between the two nations.
The Star
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Feature: A young Iraqi's journey to top of Chinese proficiency competition
ERBIL, Iraq, June 2 (Xinhua) -- Mohammed Sarkawt Azeez, a freshman at Iraq's Salahaddin University, has claimed first prize in the 24th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for foreign university students in Iraq. Azeez, who goes by the Chinese name Mu Ming, celebrated the win by sharing a photo of his award certificate on WeChat, writing: "I got first place!" His message quickly drew congratulations from friends and classmates. The competition, held on Monday under the theme "One World, One Family," featured three segments: a talent performance, a themed speech, and a Q&A session. Contestants demonstrated a wide range of skills, from Sichuan Opera face-changing and Tai Chi to traditional calligraphy and ink painting. Mu's emotive rendition of the Chinese song "Jin Sheng Yuan" (The Affinities of This Life) drew particular praise from judges and audience members alike. When his name was announced as the winner, Mu stood momentarily in stunned silence before breaking into a wide smile. "I never imagined I could achieve something like this in just seven months," he said, eyes shining with excitement. Mu, a native speaker of Arabic and Kurdish, also speaks English and Turkish. Yet he says learning Chinese has been a completely different experience. "Chinese culture is deep, elegant, and rich in history," he said. "Learning the language has opened my mind. I stay up late practicing pronunciation, memorising characters, and studying Chinese culture." His decision to major in Chinese was driven by a belief that it would "open the door to the world." His parents, he added, have supported him from the start. "They know how passionate I am, and they believe this path will create future opportunities." Now set to represent Iraq at the global finals in China later this year, Mu is preparing for a larger stage. "I know it will be a bigger challenge, but I'm ready," he said. "I want to use this opportunity to grow, to share our culture, and to connect with others." Beyond language learning, Mu's ambitions are broader. He hopes to establish a business platform linking Iraq and China, aiming to introduce more Chinese products to Iraq while promoting Iraqi goods and culture in China. "It's more than just business," he said. "It's a bridge - a bridge of understanding and friendship between our people."
The Star
28-04-2025
- Business
- The Star
Sichuan Week of China Pavilion kicks off at Expo 2025 Osaka
OSAKA, Japan, April 28 (Xinhua) -- The Sichuan Week of China Pavilion kicked off Monday at Expo 2025 Osaka, with more than 150 guests attending the opening ceremony. Themed "The Splendid Bashu Culture, Together For A Better Future," the Sichuan Week features events such as exhibitions, cultural performances and investment promotions in both Osaka and Sichuan. At the opening ceremony, a series of performances, including Sichuan Opera face-changing and giant puppets of northern Sichuan, spotlighted Sichuan's intangible cultural heritage and showcased the Bashu culture. Chen Jian'an, vice chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), said in his speech at the opening ceremony that the theme of Expo 2025, "Designing Future Society for Our Lives," is highly compatible with the core concept of green development in the new era presented by the China Pavilion, and also forms a dialogue that transcends time and space with the ecological wisdom of Sichuan Province as the "Land of Abundance" and the harmonious concept of "Home of Pandas." Noting that Hiroshima Prefecture and Sichuan Province established a friendly cooperative relationship in September 1984, Vice Governor of Hiroshima Prefecture Mika Yokota said that over more than 40 years, the two regions have continually engaged in exchanges at all levels in various fields, which have yielded fruitful results and established a deep relationship of trust. Chinese Consul General in Osaka Xue Jian expressed confidence that riding the wave of this global event, Sichuan Province and Japan will bring about innovation and creativity in cooperation and produce more fruitful outcomes. Hikaru Nagano, executive director of Expo 2025 Osaka's International Relations Bureau, said in fluent Mandarin that since its opening on April 13, the China Pavilion has quickly become a popular attraction for visitors from all over Japan and around the world. As the first province to make its debut in the China Pavilion, Sichuan brought its intangible cultural heritage products such as Shu embroidery, lacquerware, bamboo weaving items, and oil-paper umbrellas, as well as IP cultural and creative products featuring giant pandas and golden snub-nosed monkeys.
Associated Press
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Sichuan Week, China Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan Kicks off Today, Showcasing Splendid Bashu Culture
OSAKA, JP / ACCESS Newswire / April 28, 2025 / On April 28, Sichuan Week, China Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, officially kicks off, marking a significant milestone as the first Chinese province to host activities at the level of provinces. Running from April 28 to 30, Sichuan Week is centered around the theme 'The Splendid Bashu Culture, Together For A Better Future.' The Sichuan Week is structured around three primary components: 'Meeting Sichuan', 'Feeling Sichuan', and 'Promoting Sichuan', and incorporates a detailed '1+2+3+N' planning framework for the event, namely this framework comprises ONE theme: 'The Splendid Bashu Culture, Together For A Better Future"; TWO online and offline venues in both Osaka and Sichuan, and THREE thematic events: the opening ceremony, exhibitions, and cultural performances. In addition, N stands for a wide array of side events, including investment promotions, children's art displays, municipal (prefectural) thematic days, and Sichuan product exhibitions. The event, aimed at highlighting Sichuan's historical legacy, livable urban landscapes, and thriving business environment, as well as recent advancements across the domains of economy, society, culture, tourism, and technology, seeks to strengthen its economic and trade ties with Japan and other participating nations of the Expo. Notably, special exhibitions will spotlight Sichuan's intangible cultural heritage, including Shu embroidery, lacquerware, bamboo weaving, oil-paper umbrellas, and the popular 'Twin Treasures' IP featuring giant pandas and golden snub-nosed monkeys. The event will offer interactive experiences such as Mianzhu New Year painting rubbings in the 'Harmony Between Mankind and Nature' area of the China Pavilion. Additionally, Sichuan's strengths in industries like electronic information and clean energy, alongside key topics such as environmental protection and ecological civilization, will be highlighted through engaging special presentations, including 'Modernized Sichuan' and 'Panda Xiangxiang' videos combined with multimedia storytelling. Moreover, the cultural programs, such as Sichuan Opera, Shu music, martial arts, tea ceremonies, puppet shows, acrobatic performances, and flash mobs, will enrich the cultural atmosphere both inside and outside the China Pavilion. These programs will immerse visitors in an authentic experience of Sichuan's unique cultural customs. In addition, the 'China (Sichuan)-Japan Economic and Trade Exchange and Enterprise Meeting' will be held in Osaka, and meanwhile Sichuan Japanese-funded Enterprises Meetings will be held in Chengdu by taking the form of government-enterprise dialogue, featuring concurrent government-business discussions. Meanwhile, Chengdu and Deyang will host specialized promotion sessions and thematic exhibitions, designed to showcase municipal (prefectural) strengths and foster connections and exchanges with Japanese institutions and enterprises, further driving bilateral economic and trade cooperation. Contact Info Company: Sichuan International Communication Center Contact: Xie Xiuli Email: [email protected] Website: Country/Region: China SOURCE: Sichuan International Communication Center press release
