Chinese culture on display at U.S. embassy

The Chinese embassy in the United States opened to the public on Saturday, drawing thousands of visitors for a day of calligraphy, tea tasting, and traditional performances.

Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai speaks at a welcome ceremony of the open house event of the Chinese embassy in the U.S. on May 4, 2019. [Photo: china-embassy.org]

"The overall stability of China-U.S. relations over the past four decades has been a blessing to not only our two countries, but the whole world," Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai said at the welcome ceremony.

"And the essence of the 40-year story is amity between the people, which lays the foundation for and shapes the future of our relations," he added.

Interactive displays inside the embassy included calligraphy, a tea ceremony, martial arts, and folk music and dance, among others. At the entrance area, scrumptious Chinese food was prepared, drawing long lines of those seeking a "bite of China."

Visitors experience the traditional Chinese culture at the open house event of the Chinese embassy in the U.S. on May 4, 2019. [Photo: China Plus]

Jennifer Bibby-Gerth brought her 6-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son to the event. "Our daughter is from China, so I want her to gain a sense of Chinese culture," she told Xinhua. "I think they are both interested."

The embassy also hosted an award ceremony for a story sharing competition, which invited Americans to present their contributions to the China-U.S. relationship by submitting their personal stories.

The open house event, themed "A Developing China," also featured a photo exhibition of the 40-year diplomatic relations between China and the United States, and exhibitions detailing China-U.S. cooperation in technology and the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative.

Visitors experience the traditional Chinese culture at the open house event of the Chinese embassy in the U.S. on May 4, 2019. [Photo: China Plus]

The Chinese embassy joined 52 international embassies in Washington D.C. that opened their doors to the public on Saturday, as part of the annual Around the World Embassy Tour, a signature event organized by Cultural Tourism DC.