[ICF 2019] China-Nepal Cultural & Art Exchange Evening held at Peking University
Nov 21, 2019
Peking University, Nov. 21, 2019: Peking University held a special China-Nepal Cultural & Art Exchange Evening on November 13, as part of Peking University International Culture Festival 2019.
China-Nepal Cultural & Art Exchange Evening
Themed “Across the Himalayas”, the event was hosted by the Office of International Relations at Peking University, co-hosted by the Office of Global Communications at Peking University, and organized by Beijing View Insight Consulting Service Co,. Ltd. Delegates from the Embassy of Nepal and China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs were in attendance.
The audience enjoyed an evening of Nepali and Chinese performances. These included Nepali song and dance, Peking Opera and even a demonstration of “kung fu tea”, which was then presented to the special guests to taste.
The feature act of the evening was Sur Sudha, a band known as Nepal’s “Musical Ambassadors”. Sur Sudha promoted a message of peace and harmony through Nepali instrumental music, specifically the flute, sitar, tablas and guitar, enthralling the audience with the lyricism and speed of their melodies.
In addition, a sand mandala was specifically made for the event, with an elaborate explanation of the beautiful ritual. In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, the sand mandala is swept away upon completion, symbolizing the impermanence of life. For the guests at the Exchange Evening, this meant a surprise gift at the very end: a pouch of coloured sand to remember the wonderful yet impermanent night.
Overall, the event was a great success, captivating the Chinese and Nepali audience with music from across the Himalayas, and allowing everyone to come away with deeper appreciation of each other’s cultures.
2019 is a historic year for China-Nepal relations. Nepali President Bidya Devi Bhandari visited China in April, while Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Nepal in October, making him the first Chinese president to do so in 23 years. Moreover, peace and harmony also lie at the core of Peking University International Culture Festival 2019, themed “The Harmony of Civilizations and Prosperity for All—the Changing World and the Future of Humankind”.
Reported by: Cherry Zheng
Edited by: Huang Weijian
