Yunnan cultural festival wows audiences in UK

Dancers dressed in ethnic costumes perform traditional dances at the Yunnan Cultural Festival in London on Aug 3. (Photo provided to China Daily)

Audiences were treated to a rich display of Yunnan's culture with an array of meticulously curated events in London, featuring art, music, dance, cuisine, and handicrafts that highlighted the region's glamour.

Situated in southwest China, Yunnan province is renowned for its stunning natural landscapes, home to five UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and its rich tapestry of 27 ethnic groups, each contributing its unique cultures and customs to the region.

The activities marked the debut of the first-ever Yunnan Cultural Festival on Saturday, which was initiated to showcase Yunnan's deep cultural roots and celebrate its rich tradition within the UK society.

The festival kicked off with an ethnic costume fashion show, where models donned the traditional attire of the Yi people -- one of China's largest and most vibrant ethnic minorities, predominantly living in Yunnan province. The intricate designs and distinctive ethnic features of the clothing fascinated the audience.

The event attracted hundreds of attendees. Zhang Jie, co-founder of the festival, said: "The response has been overwhelmingly positive. Seeing so many people from different backgrounds come together to learn about and celebrate Yunnan culture has been incredibly rewarding."

The event reached its climax with the Torch Festival, also known as the Fire Festival, one of the grandest events for the Yi community. People sang and danced around the torches, celebrating the festive vibe.

Arianna Lucente, who has lived in Yunnan for two years since 2007, told China Daily that the minority culture and food at the event were really dear to her and brought back her memories of living there.

"Sometimes I'm a bit nostalgic about Yunnan, and about China. So whenever there's an event going on about it, I'm really happy to participate," she said.

"I think there's not so much knowledge about China yet in London. So I'm really happy that there was a chance to shed light on a different part of China that many people don't know much about that, bring people together and make them more curious about it," she added.

The audience was also delighted by the featured workshop on traditional handicrafts, such as "Jia Ma" woodblock printing. This ancient practice, incorporating motifs of gods, birds, beasts, mountains and vegetation, is believed to ward off misfortune and promote well-being.

"The festival gives insights into who these people are, what they do, and how they live," said Mark Shaw, another member of the audience at the event. "It opens more people to different cultures, in a way so that we understand how different cultures interact."