Beijing brings its cultural charm to Athens

The Beijing Municipal Government recently launched its "Charming Beijing" in Athens, bringing the capital's cultural heritage and contemporary creativity to Greek audiences through documentary screenings, a seminar and a fair.

Du Yue, deputy director of the publicity department of Beijing Municipal Party Committee, Zhang Gang, counselor of the Chinese embassy in Greece, and Ioannis Theofanopoulos, president of the Greece-China Association attended the opening ceremony.

Zhang said documentaries serve as important bridges across language barriers, fostering mutual understanding among civilizations. He also, welcomed more Greek visitors to explore Beijing. Du introduced the Beijing Cultural Forum, held annually in October, and invited Greek cultural institutions, scholars, and media representatives to participate in cultural exchanges.

The Beijing Radio and Television Station documentary "Panda Adventure" will be broadcast on Greece's Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ERT) and Greek MEGA TV. Tracing the birth, growth, and rewilding of giant pandas, the film uses heartwarming imagery to showcase China's efforts in ecological conservation. Beijing Radio and Television Station and the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation have reached a long-term cooperation agreement on audiovisual content exchange.

In the afternoon, Monastiraki Square was transformed into an open showcase of Beijing's culture and creativity, Cultural and creative products, Winter Olympics souvenirs, time-honored brands, and smart technology products were displayed side by side.

Visitors also had the opportunity to experience traditional crafts, including cloisonné enameling, clay sculpture painting, and auspicious pattern printing, with intangible cultural heritage activities drawing considerable public interest. From the pandas on the screen to the tangible heritage crafts on the street, the event brought Beijing's cultural stories closer to Athens, offering Greek visitors a glimpse of the Chinese capital's heritage, creativity and contemporary life.