| The latest in a series of visual delights to celebrate the Year of China in South Africa 2015 has gone on display in South Africa's capital.
The "Charming Beijing, Passionate Winter Olympics" photo exhibition opened at the National Library of South Africa in Tshwane on September 23.
Co-hosted by the Beijing Association for Cultural Exchanges and Beijing Review (a leading Chinese news weekly with websites in five languages), the exhibition consists of five parts: The Charm of an Ancient Capital, A Modern Metropolis, Cultural Appeal, Passion for Winter Olympics and Friendly Exchanges. The 64 photos on display illustrate Beijing's city landscape and cultural life, as well as local Beijingers' eagerness to host the 2022 Winter Olympics.
Lin Keqing, Deputy Mayor of Beijing, Li Song, Minister at the Chinese Embassy in South Africa, Zheng Wen, Cultural Affairs Counselor at the Chinese Embassy, Eddy Maepa Executive Director of Core Programs of National Library of South Africa and Zhao Weidong, Vice President of Beijing Association for Cultural Exchanges were among distinguished guests attending the opening ceremony.
Welcoming guests,Maepa congratulated the people of China on winning the bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics and gave his good wishes for successful preparations.
As September is South Africa's Heritage Month and the country's Heritage Day is celebrated on September 24, Maepa said he trusted the photo exhibition would enhance understanding of the cultural heritage of both Chinese and South Africans.
The photo exhibition has been designed to present the Chinese capital's historical and cultural appeal to a wide audience. To date, more than 80 similar exhibitions have toured the globe to more than 60 cities in some 40 countries, spanning a 10-plus-year period.
The week-long Tshwane exhibition features high-resolution photos printed on silk canvases. It is hoped the impressive presentation will attract a large number of visitors.
At the opening ceremony, the hosts donated books such as Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, Imperial Peking: Seven Centuries of China, My Story in Beijing and This Stop, Beijing to the National Library, in order to help South Africans learn more about China and its capital city.
The exhibition will move to the China Cultural Center in Mauritius in late September and early October.
(L-R) Li Song, Minister of the Chinese Embassy, Zheng Wen, Cultural Affairs Counselor at the Chinese Embassy, Lin Keqing, Deputy Mayor of Beijing and Eddy Maepa Executive Director of Core Programs of National Library of South Africa are briefed on the photo exhibition by Zhao Weidong, Vice-President of Beijing Association for Cultural Exchanges (Photo by Francisco Little)
Local people visit the exhibition (Photo by Francisco Little)
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