China's Qinghai province, one of the country's biggest western territories, is raising its profile in one of the world's most important port cities, Hong Kong. A touring exhibition is introducing Hong Kong to the culture of Qinghai.
As ethnic dancers performed, the exhibition opened at the Hong Kong International Convention Center, Tuesday. The exhibition is called, "Beauty of Qinghai, a Tour of Hong Kong". The event is organized by the Qinghai provincial government. The aim is to present the province's allure in respect to its history, culture, religion, and folk arts. Performances are augmented by large graphics displays.
Song Xiuyan, governor of Qinghai province, said, "For most of our friends in Hong Kong, Qinghai may not be a familiar locale. It's considered distant and maybe even a little mysterious - like the picture drawn in the folk song by Wang Luobin. However, Qinghai has witnessed enormous progress. It's no longer a faraway place.
The opening ceremony was attended by some 500 people who seemed mesmerized by the displays.
Provincial officials say there's been boom in tourism. And more and more people from Hong Kong are looking at Qinghai as their next holiday destination. The exhibition aims to attract more Hong Kong residents to come and appreciate the diverse ethnic culture of one of China's largest territories.
(CCTV March 27,2008)