Poetry reading marks Duanwu Festival in Vientiane
 
A performance of poetry readings to celebrate China’s Duanwu Festival took place at the Central Club of the National University of Laos (NUOL) in Vientiane on Friday.
The programme comprised numerous poetry readings by students from the Department of Chinese Language, Faculty of Letters, and staff from the Chinese Cultural Centre in Laos.
The readings following the screening of a video titled “Duanwu Festival-Chinese Festival” produced by the Department of International Cooperation and

AStudents recite a poem while dressed in Chinese costume.

Exchange of China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the China Daily.
The event kicked off with a colourful dance named “Friendship of Laos and China”, performed by students from the Department of Chinese Language.
This was followed by the reading of a poem titled “Turning the face to the sea-blooming leaves of trees in spring” by the staff of the China Cultural Centre in Laos.
Students from the Department of Chinese Language again took to the stage to read the poems they had carefully practised. The poems were both contemporary and traditional, reflecting the sentiments of different eras.
The programme continued with a variety of poetry readings. Some poems were read by individuals, some by pairs and groups of students, while others were sung and some were performed in rap style. The students dressed in various costumes, including traditional Chinese dress.
The poems were lyrical and full of meaning, reflecting depth of feeling and revealing the melodic rhythm of Chinese poetry. The event also portrayed the respect felt by Lao students for Chinese literature.
At the close of the show, the performers joined together to sing a song titled “Friendship of Laos and China”, reflecting the close relationship between China and Laos over the generations and indicating the wishes of both countries for good things in the years to come.
The event was jointly organised by the China Cultural Centre in Laos, NUOL, and the Department of Chinese Language.
Present on the occasion were the Deputy Dean of NUOL, Assoc. Prof. Dr Somchanh Bounphanmy, Director of the China Cultural Centre in Laos, Ms Li Yiping, a large number of Lao and Chinese officials, teachers and students.
The audience listened to the poems intently and applauded the performers, following their readings with great interest.
Ms Li Yiping said “This event celebrates the Duanwu Festival. It also enhances the learning and understanding of Chinese culture by Lao students, and serves as a bridge to strengthen relations and understanding between the peoples of Laos and China.”
“It is also a historic event in cultural exchange between the two countries and helps to build a Lao-Chinese community with a shared future,” she added.
“As the Covid-19 situation in Laos improves, the China Cultural Centre in Laos plans to do more to promote culture and tourism and to enthusiastically work with stakeholders in China to organise more events in Laos.”
“This poetry reading programme by the National University of Laos acts as a stage and a window to enable young people in Laos to gain a deeper understanding of Chinese culture. The China Cultural Centre in Laos views it as an important mission now that the Covid outbreak has subsided.”
The Duanwu Festival is also known as the Dragon Boat Festival or Chinese Poets’ Day. It is a public holiday in China and falls on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, which is in late May or June in the Gregorian calendar. This year, the festival was scheduled on Friday June 3.

ByVisith Teppalath
(Latest Update June 6, 2022)