On the Thursday evening of February 27, 2025, the Shaanxi Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism hosted a grand promotional event in Johannesburg, themed “The Starting Point of the Silk Road， Hometown of the Terracotta Warriors.” The event aimed to showcase Shaanxi’s rich cultural heritage, tourism resources, and vibrant performances to South African counterparts, promoting cultural exchange and cooperation between China and South Africa.
During the event, inheritors of Shaanxi’s intangible cultural heritage presented a live puppet show and interacted with those present. Additionally, performances featuring traditional Chinese instruments, such as the pipa and erhu, presented classic melodies and Turkish music.
The evening commenced with speeches from Mr Gao Yang, the Director of the Shaanxi Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism; Mr Pan Qingjiang, the Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Johannesburg; and our very own Ms Julie Diphofa, Interim Chief Executive Officer of the South African National Arts Council.
During her speech, the NAC CEO expressed the following ’’ The deep histories of both our nations are rooted in resilience, creativity, and storytelling- whether through music, performance, or visual culture. The Silk Road, a route of trade and cultural exchange, reminds us that artistic expression has always transcended borders. Tonight, as we experience the sights and sounds of Shaanxi- its evocative performances, mesmerising music, and rich tourism offerings- we reaffirm the power of cultural exchange. These moments of dialogue and shared experience strengthen the ties between our peoples, creating new pathways for collaboration in the arts, tourism, and beyond.”
This promotional event was not only a showcase of Shaanxi culture but also an important opportunity to foster international exchange between China and South Africa. Before the commencement of the event, the NAC CEO had an opportunity to engage with the Shaanxi Director of Culture and Tourism on possible partnerships and collaborative initiatives, and they both committed to advancing the engagement into material collaborative initiatives.
