Tune in at 8:00 PM on December 9 for the third episode of The Beauty of Shared Arts, a large-scale program of international cultural exchanges co-produced by China Media Group (CMG) and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China. Aired on CCTV-1 General, the new episode will showcase the story of Chinese artifacts restorers in Angkor, Cambodia; explore the “epic of a single leaf” with tea culture envoys from four countries; witness the enduring friendship between Quanzhou’s Wuli Street and Malacca’s Jonker Walk, echoing the strong ties of the Maritime Silk Road from six centuries ago; and delve into the mysteries of the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang from over a millennium ago with cultural scholar and music experts. In this episode, LONG Yang, CCTC host, and XIANG Haoyu, a Guest Researcher at the Department for Asia-Pacific Studies, China Institute of International Studies, will guide you through the dazzling cultural gems flourishing under the Belt and Road Initiative.
Cambodian Princess Sings “Co-nourished by the Lancang-Mekong River” in Chinese
Tea Culture Envoys from Four Countries Unveil the Epic of a Single Leaf
In Episode III of The Beauty of Shared Arts, we will embark on a captivating journey with the Chinese cultural heritage restoration foreign aid team at Cambodia’s Royal Palace. This adventure brings us to Cambodia, an ancient civilization nestled alongside China. Cambodia’s Angkor Wat stands as a cultural jewel among world heritage sites. In this episode, WANG Jing, the leader of the Chinese foreign aid team, and SONG Zhantong, an expert from Cambodia’s Authority for the Protection and Management of Angkor, share their compelling story of “battling” time and rescuing the Angkor ruins. Most members of the team were born in the 1990s, and the young restorers brought the Chinese solution to the restoration of Angkor Wat. They introduced the “reversible restoration method” that fully ensures the authenticity and integrity of the artifacts, leaving ample room for future restoration. With their efforts, the radiance of Angkor Wat will be restored in Cambodia in the near future.
Princess Norodom Jena, a member of the Cambodian Royal Family, also appeared on the site of the program, joining hands with Chinese children to sing the song “Co-nourished by the Lancang-Mekong River”. She also enlightened the audience about the gestures of Cambodia’s classic Apsara dance, a captivating representation of the whole process of a flower’s full bloom. As the late King Norodom Sihanouk once said, the friendship between China and Cambodia is like an ever-blooming flower. In this episode, Princess Jena also sang Nostalgia of China, a song written by her great-grandfather King Norodom Sihanouk, with her graceful voice, showcasing the flourishing of Sino-Cambodian friendship.
In this episode, we also cast our spotlight on the profound tradition of tea culture. Four international tea culture envoys, including LIU Feng from China, Batchimeg from Mongolia, Azimov Farukh from Uzbekistan, and Goigoda Gamage Bandula from Sri Lanka brought the classic tea traditions of their respective countries, as they demonstrated how tea continues to serve as a cultural ambassador, spreading its roots and flourishing worldwide.
Dunhuang Murals from a Millennium Ago Come Back to Life
Trace the Bond of Friendship on the Ancient Streets in China and Malaysia
This episode of The Beauty of Shared Arts takes viewers to the heart of the ancient Silk Road – Dunhuang. Utilizing cutting-edge XR technology, the program seamlessly integrates replicas of “self-playing” instruments inspired by Dunhuang murals, creating a mesmerizing performance where dancers and musicians from China and overseas collaborate to revive the enchanting music and dance scenes depicted in the ancient murals. The live audience is “transported” to that dreamlike era, witnessing the legendary fusion of cultures.
Following the program, we travel from Wuli Street in Yongchun County, Quanzhou to Jonker Walk in Malacca, a key spot, as we rediscover the Maritime Silk Road. In this episode, Gan Tian Loo, Deputy Chairman of the Jonker Walk Management Committee, LYU Jiancheng, Secretary of the CPC Committee of Yongchun County, enthusiastically shared the unique architecture, cuisine, language, and culture of their respective regions. This supportive friendship between them will help China and Malaysia build a brilliant future together.
Join us on December 9, as the third episode of The Beauty of Shared Arts airs at 20:00 on CCTV-1 General!