Feature: Iranians bathed in diverse culture from China's Xinjiang

by Hassan Rouhvand

TEHRAN, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- The words "Experience China in Iran" inscribed in the center of a big banner shaded with a deep azure hue and posted at the yard of Niavaran Cultural Center welcome the visitors to the opening ceremony of a Chinese cultural event in Iran's capital Tehran on Monday.

A further reading of the posters and designs in the interior setting of the cultural center invites us to learn more about the theme of the event, namely, cultural exploration of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

The one-week event, titled "2016 Experience China in Iran," is open to public from Aug. 22 until Aug. 28 and features Xinjiang through a photo exhibition, seminars and other cultural activities.

As Iranian and other countries' cultural officials and diplomats, groups of Chinese and Iranian artists, media representatives and other guests stepped into the main hall for official opening, a live music by Xinjiang performers attracts sights and senses of the participants.

The audience are then invited to listen to the remarks and messages of the officials from both countries to the event.

Cui Yuying, deputy director of China's State Council Information Office, said the festival will help the Iranian people know more about Xinjiang and feel the diverse culture in China.

"Iran and China enjoy vast area of cultural commonalities ... and it would be a great success to keep this culture of deep friendship between two countries alive," Ali Moradkhani, Iran's deputy minister of Culture and Islamic Guidence, said.

A photo exhibition, which occupies major space of Niavaran Cultural hall, presents Xinjiang with a long artistic history of singing and dancing, not only as China's cultural treasure but also an important component of the world's music and art.

The images also picture the colorful ethnoscape of Xinjiang where different ethnic groups such as Uygur, Kazak, Kirgiz, Tajik and Mongolians have over time created the splendid music of harmonic life together in peace.

Mohammad, a medical student from Tehran's Shahid Beheshti University who visited the exhibition, told Xinhua that "holding such exhibitions and gatherings will help us get familiar with the Chinese culture. The musical performance is very good, very beautiful."

The event was jointly organized by the State Council Information Office of China, the autonomous regional government of Xinjiang and the Chinese Embassy in Iran.

Festival, which runs through Aug. 28, will showcase Xinjiang's music and dance, traditional costumes and other cultural heritage, in addition to its nature and tourist attractions.