Past and present of chinese culture are melting in a few days. The reason? Europalia China, an International Arts Festival whitch starts this Thursday (8^th of October).

Europalia China has a hugh programme about the nowadays chinese culture and lifestyle. Visual arts, photography expositions, performances, design and fashion, modern dance, architecture, conferences, gastronomy… it will surprise you!

China is a vast country (specially if you compare it with Belgium), full of live.

Here are some shocking dates about China:

• It is a Communist Dictature since the 1^st of October of 1949.
• Now it is leaded by Hu Jintao.
• More than  1314 million people live there.
• His language, Chinese, is the most sponken language.
• It has different religions: budism, confucionism, taoism…

There has been 60 years since the creation of the People’s Republic of China and many things has changed, but there are still many chichés about this rich culture. Europalia China tries to  present the authentic and current chinese culture far away from any stereotypes.

Chinese New Years Eve is NOT the only important party.

I would recomend you “Hamlet”, the chinese version of one of the most popular legendary plays of William Chaquespeare. It is on 11^th and 12^th of October, at 20:15 in the Théâtre Nacional (Boulevard E.Jacqmain 111-115).  If music is you life, this are your best choices: Lang Lang, China’s first real international piano prodigy, is going to play Beethoven and  Prokovief; and the fabulous Qing Mei Wei Hu, quartet of traditional instruments, is staging a performance. Also, a China-weekend will also be organised, where it will be possible to learn Chinese calligraphy, papercutting, and much more!

Here in Hasselt you can also find some special events of Europalia festival. For example on 28 of October there is a concert in Cultuurcentrum of  “one of the best soul bands in Shangai”. Another good option if you prefere classic music it´s on 30 of October at 20.00: The Brussels Philarmonic in the Cultuurcentrum (16/14 euros).

From Thursday 8^th of October till February Brussels is opened to everyone who wants to know more about this rich and energising culture. Are you thinking on going to Europalia? What are you most interested on? Do you feel China far from your culture?

• Sources:

Practical info about the festival
Europalia China festival web-site
Posted in Flanders Today
Chinaviva (Spanish)
Theatre National of Belgium (events)
Extra info in The Voice of Europe

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