SEOUL, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- The "Chengdu: More Than Just Giant Pandas" tourism promotion event and the opening ceremony of the "Twin Gems of Jinjiang, Myriad Sights of Tianfu" joint calligraphy and painting exhibition were held in Seoul, South Korea, on the 16th.

the "Chengdu: More Than Just Giant Pandas" tourism promotion event and the opening ceremony of the "Twin Gems of Jinjiang, Myriad Sights of Tianfu" joint calligraphy and painting exhibition in Seoul

Co-hosted by the Seoul Chinese Cultural Center, the Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism, and the Gangbuk Cultural Foundation of Seoul, the event aimed to showcase Chengdu's profound historical and cultural heritage, its cultural and tourism resources, and its vitality as a modern city, thereby building a new bridge for cultural exchanges between China and South Korea. More than 200 attendees, including guests from various sectors of South Korean society and local residents, attended the event.

In his address, Jeong Chang-soo, head of Seoul's Gangbuk District Office, stated that culture serves as a vital bond for enhancing mutual understanding. He noted that the event provided a valuable opportunity for the South Korean public to get closer to Chengdu and experience Chinese culture, expressing his hope that artistic exchanges would serve as a bridge to continuously deepen friendship and mutual trust between the two sides.

Li Tianhao, deputy director of the Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism, remarked that Chengdu is home to historical sites such as the Wuhou Shrine and the Du Fu Thatched Cottage, and that distinctive cultural elements including Shu brocade, Shu embroidery, Sichuan cuisine, and Sichuan opera have been integrated into the city's development. He added that by combining tourism promotion with a calligraphy and painting exhibition, the event presented a comprehensive view of Chengdu's diverse urban charm, and expressed hope that this initiative would serve as a starting point to elevate bilateral cultural and tourism exchanges and cooperation to a new level.

That afternoon, deputy curators from the Du Fu Thatched Cottage Museum and the Wuhou Shrine Museum delivered special lectures, introducing the historical and cultural significance of these two landmarks.

The concurrently opened "Twin Gems of Jinjiang, Myriad Sights of Tianfu" joint calligraphy and painting exhibition will run until the 30th of this month, showcasing Chengdu's rich historical heritage and its contemporary vibrancy through calligraphy, paintings, and cultural creative products.