Chinese visitors had an opportunity to experience wine, Rooibos tea, aloe products, food and fresh fruits from South Africa, as well as enjoy performances by African dancers and drummers at the first South African Wine Tasting and Products Exhibition on September 10, 2016, held at the South African Embassy in Beijing.

Traveling to South Africa is also an attractive option for many Chinese people. Visitors had a visual journey of the rainbow nation in a tourism presentation given by Bradley Brouwer, President of Asia Pacific for South African Tourism.

"We gave people a bit of education on South Africa, and let them know how beautiful the country is, and to inspire them to go," Brouwer told ChinAfrica. "I am very impressed by Chinese people's enthusiasm. We didn't' expect so many people to attend [the exhibition]."

A total of 33 importers and distributors of South African products in China participated in the exhibition, and more than 1,000 visitors attended the event, said Chang Le, the embassy's marketing officer.

The exhibition is one of a variety of activities taking place during the South Africa Week in Beijing from September 9-13, hosted by the South African Embassy in collaboration with Brand South Africa, South African Tourism, South African Airways and other South African companies in China. The series of events aim to further deepen the footprint of the South African brand in China, promote trade and investment, people-to-people relations and tourism, and to open the world's eyes to the endless possibilities of South Africa, according to the organizers.

"South Africa and China also have much to celebrate with the success of our ever-increasing trade and investment, coupled with closer bilateral and multilateral cooperation increasingly anchored by our people-to-people relations," said Dolana Msimang, South African Ambassador to China.

In addition to the Wine Tasting and Products Exhibition, the South Africa Week also includes Women's Dialogue and Photo Exhibition in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the South African Women's March, and a Celebrating Women in Business Breakfast.

Zhang Yipeng (front), Founder of Smash a Cup company offers visitors Rooibos cappuccino at the exhibition (LIU JIAN)