Feeling the beat of Latin American, Caribbean music in Beijing

The Latin American and Caribbean Youth Music Exchange Program concluded on Wednesday at the China Soong Ching Ling Science and Culture Centre for Young People in Beijing, where artists from six countries — Colombia, Ecuador, Costa Rica, the Bahamas, Chile, and Mexico — offered Chinese youth a vivid taste of Latin American culture.

As part of the 2026 Latin American and Caribbean Arts Season, the three-day event, free to families with children aged 3 to 18, featured special concerts, lawn music carnivals and music co-creation workshops.

On the center's outdoor lawn, Latin American artists guided parents and children through a hands-on introduction to Latin percussion instruments. Participants swayed to the rhythm of the drums, soaking up the passionate, exuberant atmosphere of Caribbean music up close.

During the co-creation workshops, young people met the visiting artists in person to try traditional Latin American instruments and join impromptu ensemble performances, forging understanding and friendship through music.

The program was designed to use immersive artistic experiences to broaden Chinese youth's global outlook and boost their cultural confidence. In face-to-face interactions, Latin American artists and Chinese youth alike gained a closer appreciation for different civilizations and practical experience in international education, helping plant the seeds of Chinese-Latin American people-to-people friendship in young hearts.