Chinese Spring Festival celebration kicks off in Budapest

A three-day Chinese Spring Festival celebration was inaugurated here on Friday in the framework of the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Hungary.

In the spirit of this outstanding anniversary, the Hungarian-Chinese Cultural Association organized the event from Jan. 25 to 27, with the support of the Chinese Embassy in Hungary.

The event takes place in the so-called Millennium Park in the heart of Budapest and launched by Chinese ambassador to Hungary Duan Jielong.

"Despite the complex international environment, China has remained a supporter of opening up, of multilateralism and of the free trade system," said Duan.

The festival celebration presented a huge panda exhibition on the gallery, an intellectual cultural heritage exhibition that included an exhibition of painting and calligraphy, a tea ceremony demonstration and tea tasting, a demonstration of clinical methods of Chinese natural medicine and traditional medicine, as well as health advices.

Hungarians eager to travel in China could choose from many tourist destinations, while others could see kung-fu shows, feel and touch traditional Chinese clothes, try them on and take photos in them.

Visitors of the festival can taste Chinese delicacies, and get a glimpse of the famous Sugar Painting.

In addition to presentations and exhibitions, guests of the festival also have the pleasure of viewing stage productions.

"Promoting the culture of the two nations is an important goal for the festival," said Marta Matrai, First Officer of the Hungarian parliament, who also participated in the opening ceremony. "In today's complicated world, friendship between our two nations and our two peoples is an asset that is worth to be cherished and protected," she added.

Besides a wide range of artistic productions including dragon and lion dance, traditional Chinese instrumental shows, Beijing opera, folk dance, children's dance, the Hungarian State Post presented its new special stamp featuring the Year of the Pig, in honor of the forthcoming Chinese lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 5 this year.