ON November 24, the “Charming Guangdong” Photography Exhibition was held at the Xiamen University Malaysia. Over 500 guests from various fields, including government departments, businesses, universities, and media from both China and Malaysia, attended the event, experiencing the unique charm of Guangdong.
On the same day, China decided to implement a unilateral visa-free policy for ordinary passport holders from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia on a trial basis. After hearing the news, Malaysian audiences at the event expressed their desire to travel to Guangdong and experience its rapid development and unique culture.
Dato Abdul Majid Ahmad Khan, President of the Malaysia-China Friendship Association, told Nanfang Daily and GDToday reporters that he travelled to Guangdong not long ago and will go to the province early next year to visit some friends and update himself with the province’s latest development.
Majid believes that the “Charming Guangdong” Photography Exhibition “is a positive initiative to introduce Guangdong’s developments to people around the world”. He pointed out that the Exhibition had given him a good impression of all aspects of Guangdong, including its history, development, infrastructure, communication, and people. He was deeply impressed by the photos taken in 1919/2022 showing the tremendous changes in the appearance of Guangzhou over the past century.
Ma Yude, a Malaysian Chinese, told the reporters that his ancestral home is Chaoyang, Guangdong, and he felt very cordial after seeing the photos at the Exhibition. When he heard the news that he could enter China without a visa starting from December 1, he smiled and said that he would definitely go back to Chaoyang to find his roots and travel around Guangdong.
Malaysian students Janna and Ammary think that the Exhibition is distinctive, and both of them are very interested in Guangdong’s food and culture. The two students were particularly excited after hearing about the visa-free policy. They said that they wanted to go to Guangdong to taste delicious food, experience the local cultural vibe, and feel the rapid development of China.
Tan Shunwei and Wee Cheokli from Malaysia felt that the Exhibition was “very interesting and special,” and they liked the photos showcasing the rich culture in Guangdong, such as the “Ancient Village Banquet”. When it came to the visa-free policy, they said that they long to go to Guangdong to enjoy morning tea and taste delicious food.
Guangdong, located in the southernmost part of the Chinese mainland, is adjacent to Hong Kong and Macao to the south, while the Nanling Mountains stretch across its northern region. Facing the vast South China Sea, this region enjoys a mild climate resembling perpetual spring. Serving as a pivotal crossroads connecting the eastern and western regions of China, Guangdong is constantly evolving and experiencing new developments.
Over a millennium ago, the Maritime Silk Road originated from this very region. Treasures such as the Cantonese language, Cantonese Opera, Cantonese cuisine, lion dances, dragon-boat racing, Lingnan arts, Yingge Dance, Wing Chun Kuen, congou tea, and other iconic elements have been the hallmarks of this ancient land, increasingly reaching out to the world.
The “Charming Guangdong” Photography Exhibition was divided into three parts: “Rivers and Seas Converge in Guangdong, Where Everything Coexists Harmoniously,” “Global Economic and Trade Connections Drive Innovation and Entrepreneurship,” and “Lingnan Customs Mingle in Stunning, Affluent, and Fortunate Locales.” With over 50 outstanding photographic works, the Exhibition spotlighted Guangdong’s economic and trade development, customs, cultural heritage, natural scenery, and ecological environment to guests and audiences.
After the day’s event, the Exhibition will be moved from the concert hall of Xiamen University Malaysia to the school library. Photographic works with bilingual illustrations in both Chinese and English will be helpful for students from more than 30 countries and regions around the world to know more about the development of Guangdong and feel the charm of the province.
Previously, the “Charming Guangdong” Photography Exhibition was successfully held in Cairo, Egypt, and is still underway at the Confucius Institute at Ain Shams University in Egypt.
The event forms part of the “2023 Charming China—Cultural Exhibition from Guangdong” event, hosted by the Information Office of the People’s Government of Guangdong Province and the Department of Culture and Tourism of Guangdong Province.
It is organized by Nanfang Media Group, with the support of GDToday and Guangdong Photographers Association, aiming to showcase the profound cultural heritage of Chinese civilization and the charm of Lingnan culture to the world.
