Journey Through Civilizations: An Encounter with Liangzhu 2024 World Tour held in Manchester

The Journey Through Civilizations: An Encounter with Liangzhu 2024 World Tour exhibition was held in Manchester, UK this weekend by China Media Group and Liangzhu Relic Site. 

Tang Rui, the Consul General of China in Manchester, together with Diane Hawkins, the Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, Paul Dennett, Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester and Mayor of Salford, and other representatives from Manchester local government, Xinhua Chinese Association, and other residents in Manchester joined this event, which coincided with the traditional Chinese celebration of the Dragon Boat Festival.

On behalf of China's UK ambassador Zheng Zeguang, Tang Rui firstly sent his greetings to compatriots and friends from all walks of life in the United Kingdom. He said that this special exhibition brings a feast of Chinese culture to the local people.

Paul Dennett told CMG that Greater Manchester is known for its cultural diversity and has long had Chinese expatriates living in the region. He said Chinese culture-related exhibitions are conducive to local people from all walks of life to deepen their understanding of China and further promote cooperation. 

After visiting the UK special exhibition of Journey Through Civilizations: An Encounter with Liangzhu, Dennett wrote on the autograph scroll, "We come from different cultures, but today we can share and celebrate each other's cultural traditions and heritage together, which shows the shared humanity."

Mike Haslam, founder and honorary President at International Dragon Boat Federation, inscribed the scroll with the words, "Through friendship comes understanding, and through understanding comes peace". 

Haslam said that he has been interested in Chinese culture for many years, and that for a long time the West has lagged far behind China in terms of economic development, education and all other aspects, yet many Westerners lacked awareness of this. This special exhibition highlights the longevity and depth of traditional Chinese culture.

The special exhibition shows videos about the Liangzhu civilizations through indoor and outdoor screens. In addition, an interactive area was set up, attracting visitors to experience the jade carving, painting, and stamping of the traditional Liangzhu motifs to experience the long history and profoundness of the Chinese civilization. 

On the day of the exhibition, the 10th All England Chinese Dragon Boat Festival was also held in Greater Manchester, with tens of thousands of people watching the competition. Residents and visitors cheered on the competitors and enjoyed cultural performances and experiences such as the Ansai Waist Drums and the Dragon and Lion Dance. 

Located in the Yangtze River Basin of East China's Zhejiang province, the archeological ruins of Liangzhu (circa 3,300-2,300 BCE) reveal an early regional state with a unified belief system based on rice cultivation in Late Neolithic China. It has been listed as one of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO) World Heritage sites since 2019.

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