BEIJING, May 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — China Center for International Communication Development (CCCID) issued a press release here on Thursday to promote the Suzhou Day event held at the China Pavilion of Expo 2025 Osaka.
Kunqu Opera Artists Perform The Peony Pavilion: Wandering in the Garden
The press release said the event, officially opening Thursday on the artificial island of “Yumeshima,” showcased the timeless charm of the ancient water town under the theme “Aquatic Suzhou: Everlasting Vitality.”
According to the press release, Intangible Culture heritage (ICH) took center stage throughout Suzhou Day, serving as a cultural bridge between China and Japan. The afternoon’s performances—Kunqu opera, guqin melodies, Pingtan storytelling, and Suzhou embroidery—drew a full house at the China Pavilion’s multifunctional hall, with a Peony Pavilion excerpt earning particular acclaim.
Multiple exhibition zones immersed visitors in Suzhou’s artistic wonders included the ground’s, a Suzhou embroidery rendition of Along the River During the Qingming Festival blended classical and freehand needlework for striking depth, and the Mantis Cat, a dual-sided embroidery masterpiece, amazed viewers with its illusion-like color shift, added the press release.
The mezzanine displayed artifacts like the Hundred-Children Robe, kesi kimono belts, and Suzhou fans—each a testament to artisan craftsmanship.
Suzhou is not only a cultural gem but also a hub of international collaboration. In 1984, Japan’s Sowani Group established Suzhou’s first Sino-foreign joint venture. Today, the city hosts 19,000 foreign enterprises, including 493 projects by 178 Fortune Global 500 companies. Japan ranks as Suzhou’s third-largest foreign investor, with over 1,400 Japanese companies operating in the city.
At the opening ceremony, 216 Japanese dignitaries from government, trade, and business sectors witnessed Suzhou’s commitment to deeper ties. New partnerships were unveiled, including agreements between Nara Prefecture’s Japan-China Friendship Association and Suzhou’s Rian Education Group, as well as between Chinese and Japanese diaspora associations.
Aligned with the Osaka Expo’s theme—”Designing Future Society for Our Lives”—Suzhou presented its carbon-inclusive service system, a platform aiding SMEs and individuals in carbon reduction. Covering everything from paper production to corporate carbon neutrality, the system offers “verification, reduction, trading, and certification” in one chain, already applied in manufacturing, events, and operations. The event also released insights on “Decoding Suzhou’s Green Path to Carbon Neutrality.”
Through cultural allure and sustainable innovation, Suzhou Day at Expo 2025 Osaka became a vibrant celebration of shared heritage and forward-looking collaboration, said the press release.
