Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture organized a Chinese Festival, an important part of the 2016 China-Qatar Cultural Year, in Qatar's capital city Doha from Nov 2 to 5.

Hundreds of guests, including Ambassadors to Qatar from some ten countries and media staff from both China and Qatar, were invited to attend the opening ceremony of the festival in the park of the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) on Nov 2. 

The Chinese festival was a total success, according to staff from the Qatar Museums Authority. The festival welcomed more than fifty thousand locals, about ninety percent of which attended the exhibition and shows in the park of MIA over the four days. 

Dozens of beautiful tents with Chinese elements and high-tech stages were set up, along with inflatable panda dolls and dragon-shaped boards, making the vast lawn a complete Chinese-themed spectacle.

Visitors to the Chinese Festival take photos with the inflatable panda doll in the park. [Photo by Zhang Zhidan]

Various activities were staged, like a Chinese puppet show, paper-cutting, shadow play, kite flying, martial arts and tea art. Interactions with local residents made it possible for them to experience Chinese handicraft. Song and dance shows given by art troupes from Zhejiang, as well as the exhibition of traditional Chinese food, attracted visitors from different races. The live broadcast and the eye-catching posters all across Doha made the city warm and pleasing. 

A Chinese film week was held in MIA in addition to the outdoor activities. Many Chinese films were staged on the screen for the Qatari. Also, a dragon boat race added Chinese luster to the Persian Gulf. 

Qatar has a high income economy and is a developed country, backed by the world's third largest natural gas and oil reserves. 

As a vital hub along the Marine Silk Road, it responds actively to the Belt and Road Initiative. China made a signing with Qatar in 2014 to jointly explore Belt and Road concepts. The cultural year between the two countries has built a bridge for cultural exchanges and cooperation, as well as added vitality to the comprehensive development of the China-Qatar relationship. 

Zhejiang, being appointed to organize the Chinese Festival by Ministry of Culture, was an innovative decision. Different from past experiences in organizing the country's cultural activities overseas, Zhejiang has managed to depict a whole picture of the festival this time. 

The province attached great importance to the event. Every art troupe was asked to show the best of Chinese arts with a high sense of responsibility and good spirits. To satisfy both sides, many rounds of negotiation between China and Qatar took place. 

The result turned out to be a success. It would be an experience worth learning from to integrate and mobilize cultural resources of the whole province, according to an official from the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture.

The puppet play attracts the attention of visitors at the Chinese Festival in Doha. [Photo by Zhang Xiaolan]

The face changing show from Sichuan Opera is staged at the Chinese Festival in Doha. [Photo by Hu Xiaonan]