“China in Bloom”——the 39th Infiorata Flower Festival Held by Confucius Institute at Kore University of Enna and the Municipal Government of Noto

From May 18th to 20th, local time, the Confucius Institute at Kore University of Enna in Italy and the municipal government of Noto co-hosted the 39th Infiorata Flower Festival with China being the guest of honor. Corrado Bonfanti, Mayor of Noto, Sandro Pappalardo, Director of Office of Tourism of Sicily, Cataldo Salerno, Chairman of Kore University of Enna, Li Ruiyu, Chinese Ambassador to Italy, and Luo Ping, Education Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Italy attended the activity.

Sandro Pappalardo addressed that the 39th Infiorata Flower Festival held by the Confucius Institute at Kore University of Enna and the municipal government of Noto coincided with 2018 EU-China Tourism Year, which is of great importance to promoting the development of tourism economy between Italy and China.

Corrado Bonfanti expressed in the speech that according to statistics, the annual flower festival tourists reach nearly 150,000. This year, Chinese elements have contributed to the charm of the festival which is expected to attract more visitors from Italy, Europe, and the world at large.

Cataldo Salerno introduced in the speech the development of the Confucius Institute at Kore University of Enna, recognizing the important roles of the Chinese and Italian Directors in promoting the development of the Institute.

Li Ruiyu said in the speech that he hoped the event would boost the cultural exchanges and cooperation between China and Italy. Li Ruiyu appreciated the efforts of the Confucius Institute at Kore University of Enna in holding the festival, and expressed his gratitude to the Institute and the municipal government of Noto for their contributions to bilateral cultural exchanges.

Li Ruiyu addressing the opening ceremony

After that, the guests visited the Nicolaci street decorated with a floral carpet in full color, and watched the traditional Chinese music performance and the poetry reading by students in the Chinese Department of Kore University of Enna. Li Ruiyu expressed appreciation for the Chinese proficiency of the students, and hoped that the Confucius Institute at Kore University of Enna will make greater contributions to bilateral cultural exchanges.

Guests appreciating the floral carpet

At the invitation of the Confucius Institute at Kore University of Enna and the municipal government of Noto, 10 teachers and students from Dalian University of Foreign Languages (DUFL), the Chinese Institution in cooperation with the Institute, and Italian artists jointly designed and manufactured the carpet. Eight of the 16 floral mosaics featured with Chinese elements in the Flower Festival were designed by the students from the International Academy of Arts of DUFL. Thanks to the cooperation between artists from the two countries, visitors had an opportunity to appreciate such a spectacular floral carpet with Chinese elements.

Floral carpet with Chinese elements in the Festival

Apart from that, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held in the “Chinese House” established in the Confucius Institute at Kore University of Enna. The “Chinese House”, provides a platform for local people and tourists to learn about Confucius Institutes and Chinese culture. It has hosted various activities including Chinese Calligraphy and Terracotta Warriors exhibitions, cultural lectures on China, cultural heritages, the Silk Road, Confucius, Chinese music and opera, and Chinese stories in Italian novels, as well as experiencing activities of Chinese calligraphy, tea art and traditional Chinese instruments. China National Tourism Administration Rome Office was also invited to hold the Chinese Tourist Attractions Exhibition in the “Chinese House”.

Li Ruiyu visiting the “Chinese House”

Visitors practicing calligraphy in the “Chinese House”

The guests

RAI - Radiotelevisione Italiana, Radio televisione Regione Sicilia, China Central Television, and Xinhua News Agency covered the event.