Xi'an, 5 May (ZXS) -- Feeling the "taste of Shaanxi" at the China-Central Asia Summit travels through ancient and modern times
Written by Xie Yanbing Huang Yuqin
In early summer in Xi'an, fiery red pomegranate flowers bloom. The first China-Central Asia Summit has once again placed this thousand-year-old capital in the spotlight of the world.
As one of the important birthplaces of the Chinese nation and Chinese civilization, Shaanxi has an endless historical context. This thick soil gave birth to the Zhou Li Qin system, Han style and Tang Yun, and grew the heroic and simple Loess Plateau culture.
From the streets to the inside and outside of the venue, from the airport pick-up ceremony to the welcome banquet, Shaanxi elements are embedded in many details during the summit. History and reality echo each other, and the "taste of Shaanxi" travels through ancient and modern times.
The picture shows the Xi'an Bell Tower. Photo/Visual China
Even before the summit began, "Taste of Shaanxi" was already in the face. The China-Central Asia Summit Press Center, which opened on May 5, became a window into the summit. The slogan "Thousands of years of ancient capital, often come to Chang'an" stands at the entrance, conveying the warm and hospitable style of the Shaanxi people to Chinese and foreign visitors.
Walking into it, many special "booths" are available for Chinese and foreign journalists to immerse themselves in the original Shaanxi style. Admire Fengxiang clay sculptures, taste Jingyang Fu tea, watch Hua Yin shadow puppets, pinch Shaanxi flower buns, interact with Tang Sancai horse holographic projection... The exhibits tell the memories of the Silk Road and the story of Shaanxi for journalists, attracting people to stop.
In front of the main service desk of the news center, a 3D printed Qin kneeling terracotta army stands in a corner. The reporter also found that in the lobby of the hotel where the media personnel stayed, a terracotta warrior "crossed" into the modern day and rode on a motorcycle, revealing the unique arrogance and humor of Shaanxi people.
The heads of state of the five Central Asian countries arrived at Xi'an Xianyang International Airport one after another, and the ancient traditional folk entertainment dance, the waist drum, came into view. The local people dressed in full costumes, beat the waist drum of northern Shaanxi, danced the northern Shaanxi song, and welcomed the distinguished guests who came from afar. The vigorous, straightforward and warm "taste of Shaanxi" accompanied by the beat of the drum, participated in forming the first impression of the heads of state on this yellow land.
Similarly, in the Tang Paradise Ziyun Tower, the "Tang Grand Gift" welcomes distinguished guests, and the "taste of Shaanxi" is fully displayed. On the stage of the semi-open collective state banquet, there are not only 3D printed models of Central Asian country buildings, but also the "Four Treasures of Qinling" made of facial sculptures - four rare animals living in Qinling, such as antelope, giant panda, crested ibis and golden monkey, as well as ancient capital cultural landmarks such as Xi'an Big Wild Goose Pagoda and Drum Tower.
On the evening of May 5, the actors performed at a welcome ceremony held in the Tang Paradise in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, to welcome the VIPs attending the China-Central Asia Summit. Photo by Mao Jianjun, reporter of China News Agency
The state banquet menu is made of Tang Jin, the most representative fabric of the Tang Dynasty. The Ziyun Heng goat, which is familiar to Shaanxi people, the gourd chicken known as the "first taste of Chang'an", the staple food Tongsheng Paobun, the Tang Palace Qibao Soup, the thick wine of Xi'an Restaurant, and the fruity Fuping persimmon wine all appear on the menu. Shaanxi "local cuisine" and "hometown wine" became the protagonists of the welcome banquet, bringing a full "taste of Shaanxi".
At the Xi'an International Convention Center, where the summit is held, the flavor is even stronger. Directly opposite the drop-off point of the heads of state of the five Central Asian countries, stands a giant statue of Zhang Qian of the Han Dynasty. As a pioneer of the ancient Silk Road, Zhang Qian has become a cultural symbol of Shaanxi, and the spirit of Zhang Qian has also been internalized as a spiritual character of Shaanxi people.
Walking into the welcome hall, in front of the huge mural of "Qinling Xinhui", the heads of state of the six countries left a group photo. The distinguished guests who came from afar were in the same frame as the majestic Qinling mountains painted by Shaanxi painters, and the historical moment of the first summit held by the heads of state of the six countries in physical form was frozen.
At the scene of the press conference between the heads of state of China and the five Central Asian countries, the reporter noticed that at the top of the conference hall, the lamp with the theme of Tang Dynasty jade ornaments has a unique shape, and there are four lotus flowers on the left and right, which means "more than one year (lotus)", reflecting "win-win cooperation".
On the morning of May 5, Chinese President Xi Jinping presided over the first China-Central Asia Summit in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province and delivered a keynote speech entitled "Working Together to Build a China-Central Asia Community with a Shared Future for Mutual Assistance, Common Development, Universal Security and Friendship for All Generations". Photo by Mao Jianjun, reporter of China News Agency
Throughout the summit, whether in the center of the round table in the main venue of the summit, on the background panel of the roundtable hall on the second floor, or on the commemorative mask of the summit, the summit logo with the image of a six-color pomegranate flower is always eye-catching.
The pomegranate flower is the city flower of Xi'an, where the summit is held, and the six pomegranate petals of the monogram are arranged in a spiraling pattern, and the landmark clock tower of Xi'an is placed in the center. The profound meaning of the traditional friendship between China and the friends of the five Central Asian countries and the common development of future development is expressed in the monogram. After the summit, the heads of state of the six countries also waved shovels together to cultivate soil and plant six pomegranate trees. Pomegranates, originating from Central Asia, connect the history and future of China's exchanges with Central Asian countries.
Looking back at the first China-Central Asia Summit, the friendship of the Silk Road that lasted for a thousand years has endured for a long time, and the "taste of Shaanxi" has also crossed ancient and modern times. Walking in Xi'an, a city where historical accumulation and modern vitality are in harmony, immersed in it, you will also get closer to the ancient Chang'an and enter the present-day China. (End)