China-Latin America Cultural Tour Exhibition Opens in Peru with Book Launch

The fourth China-Latin America Cultural Tour Exhibition opened in Peru on August 19, drawing over 150 guests, teachers, and students. The event showcased Chinese culture through interactive experiences, including calligraphy sessions where participants practiced brushstrokes and opportunities to wear Hanfu, traditional Chinese historical garments, while learning about their cultural significance.

The exhibition, themed "Books as Companions, Discovering China Through Reading," was organized into three sections: Chinese publications, cultural and creative products, and hands-on cultural activities. Around 300 Chinese books in multiple languages were displayed, alongside paper-butterfly decorations and other artistic elements.

A key highlight was the Peru launch of the Chinese-Spanish bilingual book series China: Back to the Roots. Adapted from a large-scale documentary on Chinese civilization produced by Shanghai Media Group, the series explores five defining characteristics of Chinese civilization—continuity, creativity, unity, inclusiveness, and peacefulness—through economic, social, and cultural perspectives.

Maribel Temoche, Foreign Director of the Confucius Institute at Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, praised the book's accessible language, noting it offers readers an easy way to understand China's origins, transformations, and development. Zhao Lihong, Chinese Director of the institute, remarked that Peruvians have long been fascinated by stories about China, especially those resonating with daily life and shared experiences, adding that both nations take pride in their ancient civilizations.

Local students recited excerpts from the book and shared personal connections to Chinese culture. One student described the book as a gateway to understanding China, while another noted that learning about Chinese culture broadens perspectives and expands horizons.