CHINESE CHILDRENS CULTURAL EXCHANGE 21/08/2007

Organised by the ‘MOTHERS BRIDGE OF LOVE’ charity

founded by XINRAN

Xinran

Organised by Wendy Wu & Xuan Zhang of the M.B.L

Rex Valentine opened this meeting with a brief welcome in Chinese, then to an introduction with our young interpreter, from Bath University, Suang Xu.

He said it was an honour for BRLSI to be the venue, host and to support this Chinese Cultural Exchange through Xinran’s ‘Mother’s  Bridge of Love’. This endorsed BRLSI as an International Institution and would strengthen our connections with China. Xinran had already visited BRLSI to discuss, for the first time, her new book ‘China Witness’.

She captivated the audience with her charm and sincerity. The room was packed as it is today. She told us about the conditions in China that led her to found the charity in 2004 to find care for the many abandoned children in China. Some of these children have been adopted by families in this country and are here today. Also here are members of the Bath East Asia Chinese & Friends Group. This exchange is to emphasise the things we have in common rather than the differences.

Let us take this opportunity to spare thoughts for the children and adults caught up in the recent devastating floods in China. We know about floods here, but they are much worse in China.

These Chinese children were from the Baixia (BX) Children’s Palace the Mothers Bridge of Love Arts/Events centre in Nanging. This was established in 2001. but has now expanded and has an international Library set up by Xinran, Music & Piano Studio, Computer suite and Youth theatre and Science workshop. BX have now registered 20,000 young members in China. Those at BRLSI to entertain are know as  the East-West Children’s Arts Troup.

The purpose of this trip was fourfold.

1)   Help the 1060 British families who have adopted abandoned Chinese children to understand traditional Chinese culture.

2)   To provide a once in a lifetime opportunity for children East & West to share enjoyment of Chinese Arts and vice-versa.

3)   For Chinese children to become familiar with Western Arts and broaden their educational horizons.

4)   To raise social awareness of the gaps between rich & poor in China.

The programme started with Chinese group dancing and solo performances by young Chinese girls.

Humour was provided by Kenny Ren from London with his numerous talents including Martial Arts, Acrobatics, Face Changing, Balloon Décor and Clowning.

The very young children sat in a space on the floor between

the stage area and adult seats. They were very well behaved. After the midday take-home meal there were demonstrations of Chinese music, painting and calligraphy. The rooms were decorated with Chinese lanterns of various kinds.

                  Chinese girl from Baixia Children’s Palace plays theGuzheng

These were very colourful events as can be seen from photos on www.brlsi.org Chinese Cultural Exchange.

They included folk dancing and solo singing, Children’s drama & pantomime. Some Chinese folk music was played as above on the guzheng, a kind of horizontal harp. Other solo instruments included flute and a wind instrument like bagpipes. Performance Opera and Dancing was also demonstrated as below.    

Chinese dance and Opera in red dress.

The day ended about 4 pm. Irene Low Prentice gave a vote of thanks to BRLSI, Bob Draper for technology, Eric Franks for connections and Bairong Zhang-Marvill for tickets design & publicity.

After this the children returned to the YMCA. In the evening we all had a most enjoyable meal at the ‘Ocean Pearl’ restaurant in The Podium.

The Press attended the BRLSI and gave a write up and photo the next day. In September they did a 2 page interview with English mother Seppie Hope and her adopted Chinese daughter Talia. This included six photographs, one of Xinran.    (625 words)

Rex Valentine