Qatar Celebrates The New Sichuan Culture And Tourism With Pandas
Image generated with Ai
On June 9, the Sichuan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism hosted “Pandas Tour the World: Sichuan Culture and Tourism in Qatar.” The event included a visit to Al Khor Panda Park to see “Si Hai” and “Jing Jing.” The delegation showcased stunning cultural and tourism visuals from Sichuan, exquisite intangible cultural heritage products, and thoughtfully designed interactive experiences. Notable attendees included Abdullah bin Hamad bin Abdullah Al Attiya, Qatar’s Minister of Municipality, Faiqa, Director of Public Relations, Wang Ying, Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Qatar, and Ding Xiaoqin, General Manager of Qatar Tourism’s Greater China Region, among other distinguished Chinese and Qatari guests.
During the event, Minister of Municipality Al Attiya from Qatar praised Sichuan’s abundant world heritage sites, breathtaking natural landscapes, and diverse range of plant and animal species. He expressed keen interest in Sichuan’s traditional crafts, such as Shu brocade, Shu embroidery, lacquerware, silver filigree, bamboo weaving, as well as Tibetan and Qiang embroidery, all of which hold the status of intangible cultural heritage. He emphasized the importance of fostering cultural and tourism exchanges and cooperation between Qatar and Sichuan.
In the family experience room at Panda Park, Qatari children enthusiastically participated in various hands-on activities. These included painting “Leisurely Panda” and “Oil-paper Umbrellas,” making rubbings of panda motifs, and coloring large panda scrolls. Amidst laughter and playful interactions, they delved into the enchanting world of pandas, discovering the charm of their homeland.
At the event, a parent named Pappas also took part in the Sichuan intangible cultural heritage experience. He remarked, “Bringing my child to participate in today’s interactive activities, our family discovered that ‘Suhail’ (Jing Jing) and ‘Thuraya’ (Si Hai) hail from Sichuan. We also learned about the direct Qatar Airways flight from Doha to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan, which takes less than eight hours and is incredibly convenient.”
The “Pandas Tour the World: Sichuan Culture and Tourism in Qatar” initiative spotlighted the essence of the “Panda Homeland,” aiming to elevate Sichuan’s cultural and tourism allure. It captivated both the Qatari public and media, sparking a newfound enthusiasm among locals to discover the enchantments of Sichuan firsthand. Many eagerly expressed their desire to delve into Sichuan’s natural and cultural marvels.
