Riyadh –
The Saudi Ministry of Culture launched last Wednesday the third edition of the “Between Two Cultures” Festival, hosting the People’s Republic of China, at Al-Milfa Hall in the Mohammed bin Salman Nonprofit City (Misk City) in Riyadh. The festival is held as part of an international event coinciding with the Saudi–Chinese Cultural Year 2025, aiming to strengthen civilizational dialogue and enhance cultural exchange between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the People’s Republic of China.
On Thursday evening, Mai Al-Rashid, Deputy Minister of Culture, and Zhang Hua, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Saudi Arabia, toured the festival’s pavilions and spoke with artists and participants from both sides.
The event witnessed strong attendance and notable interest in its various performances and activities.
At the pavilion titled “Quanzhou World Heritage – Diversity of Intangible Cultural Heritage,” the calm melodies of traditional Nanyin music resonated, alongside performances featuring Chinese musical instruments such as the yangqin and erhu. Demonstrations of bamboo and rattan crafts from Anxi, the Shunbu women’s tradition of adorning hair with the “flower crown” hairstyle, and tin engraving from Quanzhou attracted large numbers of visitors. Chinese intangible cultural heritage bearers also offered Saudi visitors hands-on experiences in basket weaving, incense board making, and engraving symbolic motifs.
In the Arabic–Chinese Calligraphy Pavilion, calligraphers from both countries presented live demonstrations of Arabic and Chinese calligraphy. Meanwhile, in the virtual reality experience zone of Beijing’s Central Axis, visitors donned special devices to embark on an immersive virtual tour of one of the World Heritage sites.
On stage, the Hunan Song and Dance Arts Troupe presented performances of classical Chinese dance and puppetry, in addition to segments from Sichuan Opera such as “Face Changing” and “Yingge Spark,” drawing enthusiastic applause from the audience. Saudi folk dances added an atmosphere of excitement that reached its peak.
In the outdoor food area, the aromas of Chinese dishes—such as beef noodles, baozi, and rice noodles—filled the air, attracting many Saudi visitors eager to sample them.
Abdulrahman Al-Mutawwa, official spokesperson for the Saudi Ministry of Culture, stated that culture represents a vibrant exchange shaped through dialogue and cooperation. He noted that this year’s “Between Two Cultures” Festival, within the framework of the Saudi–Chinese Cultural Year, placed China at its core, focusing on highlighting points of convergence and celebrating the cultures of both countries.
Al-Mutawwa added that the Saudi–Chinese Cultural Year demonstrated how culture can build lasting and meaningful ties between the two nations and contribute to deepening mutual understanding.
As the year concludes, both sides open new horizons for continued cooperation and cultural exchange through dialogue, creative performances, and the sharing of expertise.
For his part, Ambassador Zhang Hua explained that 2025 marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Saudi Arabia, as well as the first joint cultural year between the two countries. The year began with the “Chinese New Year Market” event organized by the Chinese Embassy in Riyadh and concluded with the “Between Two Cultures” Festival. More than 60 cultural events were held throughout the year, engaging millions of participants from both sides and achieving fruitful results.
Zhang said, “The brilliance of the two countries’ arts on a single stage is an extension of the spirit of the ancient Silk Road and a practical embodiment of the Global Civilization Initiative. I am confident that people-to-people exchanges between our two countries will continue and grow stronger in the future.”
He added that China will host next year the second China–Arab Summit and the second China–Gulf Summit, noting that this festival helped create a positive atmosphere for the upcoming occasions.
The festival runs until January 6, 2026, offering a comprehensive cultural experience that highlights the depth of Chinese civilization and the diversity of its heritage, while showcasing points of convergence and contrast with Saudi culture. This comes as part of the Ministry of Culture’s efforts to build bridges of civilizational communication, enhance the Kingdom’s regional and international presence, and reinforce its position as an active hub for global cultural dialogue.
The festival targets families and individuals, tourists and foreign visitors, official delegations, and professionals in cultural sectors through a diverse program that includes an art exhibition, the “Chinese Street” experience combining both cultures through handicrafts, as well as performing and musical shows and other activities reflecting shared values in heritage and identity, contributing to greater human closeness through culture as a universal language.
The “Between Two Cultures” Festival features several main sections offering visitors a fully integrated cultural experience, أبرزها the joint Saudi–Chinese art exhibition, which presents a variety of artworks including paintings, sculptures, and photographs, reflecting pathways of cultural exchange and shared creative expression between China and Saudi Arabia.
Source: Xinhua
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