Rabat, January 30 (Xinhua) — Warm spring tide surges in Morocco
The arrival of the Spring Festival signifies the end of winter and the sprouting of spring tide. With the increasingly close economic and cultural exchanges between China and Morocco in recent years, this year’s “Happy Spring Festival” series of activities in Morocco is particularly lively. Whether in the largest city Casablanca or the small town of Taza in the northeast, you can feel the warmth of spring tide.
On January 18th, at the “Chinese Temple Fair” event in Casablanca, Morocco, Moroccan people took a photo with the “Happy Spring Festival” promotional display board. Photo by Huo Jing, a reporter from Xinhua News Agency
On January 17th, at the “Chinese Temple Fair” event in Casablanca, Morocco, Moroccan youth performed lion dance. Photo by Huo Jing, a reporter from Xinhua News Agency
On January 17th, at the “Chinese Temple Fair” event in Casablanca, Morocco, Moroccan people displayed wooden watermark works with the theme of the Chinese Lunar Year of the Snake. Photo by Huo Jing, a reporter from Xinhua News Agency
Eggshell paintings, red oil beef, intangible cultural heritage display, food tasting… The “Chinese Temple Fair” was held on the 17th at the United Nations Plaza in Casablanca, and Moroccan people crowded in front of each booth, their eyes filled with surprise and curiosity.
The temple fair will be held for three consecutive days. After the daily activities, many local people are reluctant to leave for a long time. I hope Casablanca can hold such an event next year, giving more people the opportunity to experience the charm of Chinese culture, “said Redwan, a citizen who experienced the Spring Festival celebration for the first time.
At the temple fair, there are both new friends meeting for the first time and old friends reuniting. This year, Yang Wenyi, the inheritor of the representative intangible cultural heritage project of Chengdu Xinjin Rope Weaving, showcased his skills for the second time at the “Chinese Temple Fair” in Morocco. The colorful silk rope twisted and spun between his fingers, turning into exquisite bracelets and other accessories in the blink of an eye. Like last year, his booth was filled with enthusiastic Moroccan citizens.
Bashim Haddija, a staff member of the Rabat Chinese Cultural Center who assisted in maintaining order in front of Yang Wenyi’s booth, said, “We had a great time celebrating the Spring Festival together in Rabat last year, and it’s great to see each other again this year
This year’s audience is even larger than last year, which shows the increasing influence of Chinese culture. The Moroccan people are very enthusiastic, and I really like it here, “Yang Wenyi told reporters, hoping to come to Morocco often in the future and meet old friends.
On January 19th, in Casablanca, Morocco, the crew members of the first flight of Shanghai Airlines’ “Shanghai Casablanca” route took a photo with personnel from the Moroccan airport. Photo by Huo Jing, a reporter from Xinhua News Agency
Before the Spring Festival, with the resumption and opening of civil aviation routes, personnel exchanges between China and Morocco have become more convenient. On the 19th, Shanghai Airlines opened the “Shanghai Casablanca” route; One day later, Royal Moroccan Airlines resumed direct flights from Casablanca to Beijing.
Xiaoliang, who works in a Chinese enterprise project department in Morocco, told reporters that being able to take the “Shanghai Casablanca” flight home for the Chinese New Year feels very warm. “With this flight, the time to return home has been greatly shortened.
The improvement of air transportation convenience between China and Morocco has also facilitated Chinese tourists to visit the “North African Garden” during the Spring Festival. Mr. Yao, a Chinese tourist, told reporters that he has been longing for the “blue town” of Shefshavan for a long time. He heard about the opening of a new air route and went on a spontaneous trip.
Compared to cities like Casablanca, Taza’s urban size is much smaller, but this cannot stop the pace of Chinese elements.
On the 27th, when the reporter knocked on the gate of the Tazha detachment of the Chinese medical aid team to Morocco, what caught the eye were high hanging Spring Festival decorations and colorful balloons. Moroccan friends specially brought local desserts such as cakes and antelope horn pastries to the medical team to celebrate the Chinese New Year with them. Seeing ink and paper placed on the table, Moroccan friends also experienced writing Spring Festival couplets.
On January 27th, in Taza, Morocco, Hu Haiyan (first from the left), a member of the Taza medical team of China’s aid to Morocco, celebrated the Spring Festival with the Moroccan people. Photo by Huo Jing, a reporter from Xinhua News Agency
Team leader Wang Yuhua told reporters that a generation of Tazha medical personnel have stood firm here and formed a deep friendship with the Moroccan people. Walking on the streets, local residents often greet Chinese medical team members.
The arrival of the Chinese medical team has brought warmth to the Moroccan people, and the superb medical skills and rigorous work style of Chinese doctors have been praised by the local people. To me, the Chinese medical team is not just friends, but also comrades in arms. Chinese doctors are very friendly and responsible, “said Ezankat, who works at the Taza health institution, to reporters.