Malls celebrate Chinese culture
Visitors at the typography museum at the Yuyuan Garden Malls on Tuesday
With the solar term dashu, or great heat, arriving on Tuesday, local residents and foreigners alike were invited to feel the coolness of Chinoiserie and traditional Chinese culture at the Yuyuan Garden Malls.
The dining and shopping facilities near the historic garden, which originated from a prosperous market of the City God Temple some 140 years ago, launched a Chinese culture summer season to promote traditional art and skills, especially among the younger generation.
Visitors from home and abroad are invited to experience seal cutting and typography, learn from traditional artisans, make tea and taste traditional vegetarian dishes and drinks at a century-old eatery during the event through August 7.
An exhibition themed on popular Chinese animation “Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation” was unveiled, with young performers wearing hanfu (traditional Han Chinese dress) to showcase traditional lifestyles.
The animation, based on a popular online novel, has been translated into many languages. The exhibition on the third floor of Baohua Building features exhibits, music, traditional food and drink, cosplay as well as various games.
Visitors are invited to experience the traditional lifestyles described in the animation. They can play guqin (a traditional string instrument) and interact with performers.
Hanfu (traditional Han Chinese dress) costumes are on display at the Yuyuan Garden Malls as part of its Chinese culture summer season event.
Visitors take an interest in some of the many traditional culture products at the Yuyuan Garden Malls on Tuesday.
The event incorporates animation elements with traditional culture to attract young visitors, according to Yuyuan Inc, owner of the malls. Previously, the historical landmark around the City God Temple was often regarded as a major attraction for nostalgic senior city residents and tourists.
Fans of the animation can visit a number of sites, including the typography museum, handicraft workshops, Tonghanchuntang Pharmacy and Chunfengsongyuelou Restaurant, to learn about traditional skills, medicines and food.
The Chunfengsongyuelou Restaurant, which translates as spring breeze, pine tree and moon, is over a century old and has reopened after a major renovation. Chefs with the historical eatery released a traditional pearl sugar drink for the event.
The drink, which dates back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907), is cooked with various herbs suitable for the summer heat, according to the restaurant.
The Tonghanchuntang Pharmacy founded in 1783 in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) invites visitors to compete with each other to recognize herbs and medicines.
The event is part of the city's efforts to revive its culture and tourism brands while turning the city into an international shopping destination.
The malls plan to host a series of such cultural festivals this year on themes that include City God culture, Chinese characters, costumes and gold.
A performer dressed in hanfu showcases a traditional lifestyle at the Yuyuan Garden Malls.
An exhibition about the popular Chinese animation “Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation” is one of the attractions at the Yuyuan Garden Malls.
The popular Chinese animation “Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation” has been translated into many languages.
