The Hawkes Bay Orchestral Society’s 10-day cultural exchange to China (April 2016) was a great success. The exchange was funded by the New Zealand China Friendship Society’s Simon Deng Li Fund.
As a result of this tour, it is highly likely that a visit from a performance and arts group from Guilin Childrens’ Palace to Hawkes Bay will take place in 2017, and more school exchanges will follow.
The group before leaving Hawkes Bay
Bus from airport to hotel, with our guide Sally
High-rise living near Guilin airport
Guilin Bravo Hotel
Lake walk in Guilin
Our bus in Guilin
The 26 school children and 16 adults enjoyed a huge range of experiences, largely organised by the Guilin Foreign Affairs Office. Incidentally, Guilin’s Mayor Zhou Jiabin, told us that this was the biggest cultural exchange that Guilin had hosted.
The first event was a reception hosted by the Mayor of Guilin, attended by Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule, and included NZCFS President Dave Bromwich, NZCFS Secretary Heiko Lade, NZCFS Hawkes Bay Branch executive member Charlotte van Asch, and student representative Jessica Hope.
Mayor’s welcome in Guilin. Left to Right: Heiko Lade, Shannon Warren (Principal Iona College, Hawkes Bay), Jim Poppelwell, Dave Bromwich (NZCFS President), Lawrence Yule (Mayor of Hastings District Council, Zhou Jiabin (Mayor of Guilin), Zhong Ping (Director of Guilin Education Bureau), Chen Qianghua (Director of Guilin Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office), Ding Dongdi (Secretary General of Guilin Municipal People’s Government), Charlotte van Asch, Jessica Hope and Ning Song (Deputy Director of Guilin Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office).
HB Youth Orchestra group performing at Guilin Mayoral banquet
Everyone attending the welcoming banquet
One of the tables at the welcoming banquet
This was followed by a grand banquet with speeches and items from Chinese performing artists as well as from a small group of the Hawkes Bay musicians. This set the tone for the tour: a warm welcome at every event, and wonderful meals served up for lunches and dinner.
In Hastings’ sister-city, Guilin, the orchestra played at four different schools, where the local school children also played or danced, many in costume. 2016 is the 35th year of the Hastings-Guilin Sister City relationship, and this visit was the major activity between the two cities to commemorate the anniversary.
Rehearsal at the Children’s Palace, Guilin
The Orchestra also performed in Yangshuo at the Zhang Yimou Lijiang Performing Arts School and that night everyone enjoyed their amazing night-time outdoor performance: ‘Impressions of Liu Sanjie’ by Zhang Yimou.
[Editor’s notes: Liu Sanjie is a fairy singer in the myths and legends of the Zhuang ethnic minority, and Zhang Yimou directed the 2008 Beijing Olympics opening ceremony.]
Setting up at Zhang Yimou Lijiang Performing Arts School, Yangshuo
Drummers at Zhang Yimou Lijiang Performing Arts School, Yangshuo
Swirling dresses of Zhang Yimou Lijiang Performing Arts School Tibetan dancers
The group performing at Zhang Yimou Lijiang Performing Arts School, Yangshuo
Nesta Lade performing a solo at Zhang Yimou Lijiang Performing Arts School, Yangshuo
All the performers at Zhang Yimou Lijiang Performing Arts School, Yangshuo
‘Impressions of Liu Sanjie,’ the light show at Yangshuo
‘Impressions of Liu Sanjie,’ the light show at Yangshuo
Another school visited in the Guilin area was a Vocational School where many of the group had beauty make-overs, drank tea, tried Chinese calligraphy and other activities.
Welcome to Guilin Central School of Vocational Education, where we signed our names on the huge registration banner
Local minority’s food being served by three students in Miao national dress
Table of adults from Hawkes Bay watching the concert
Guilin dancers in Tang dynasty dresses at the Tourist Culture Festival concert
Fabulous dresses of the Fashion show at the Tourist Culture Festival concert
Full Hawkes Bay orchestra conducted by Mrs. Sue Melville at the Tourist Culture Festival concert
By way of a river cruise on the Lijiang [River Li], the group visited the neighbouring town of Yangshuo.
Lijiang river cruise karst landscape
Group of students on the Lijiang river cruise
In Yangshuo – Dave Bromwich pointing out the next day’s climb to the lookout over the town
Yangshuo town filling the valley between karst peaks
Yangshuo peak pavilion
Yangshuo street scene
Yangshuo market stall
Rehearsal at our Yangshuo restaurant
Fruit stall in Yangshuo
Other tourism outings included a prince’s palace, a large limestone cave complex (Reed Flute Cave), both in Guilin, and market shopping.
Notice projected on wall of Reed Flute Cave, Guillin – the cave has been visited by more than 300 world leaders.
Elephant Trunk Hill, Guilin
Entrance to Jingjiang Palace, Guilin
Dressing as a Tang dynasty graduate scholar at Jingjiang Palace
Four days in Shanghai completed the trip, with one more school visit (Qingpu Experimental School) where, after the performance, each student was paired with a Chinese student for a session of clay hand-work and interaction.
Arrival at the Qingpu Experimental School, Shanghai
Qingpu Experimental School Traditional Instrument Orchestra – erhu, pipa and guzheng
Exchange of gifts
Clay modelling class
Ivy Wu and her paired Chinese student modelling in clay
Julia Spurgeon and her paired Chinese student modelling clay
Stephanie Chang and Wesley Wu from the Hawkes Bay group performing for the clay modelling class
Leaving Qingpu Experimental School, Shanghai
Hawkes Bay group (white) with Chinese students (red)
There was a visit to a Museum and factory of traditional instruments, where a group of expert musicians of traditional instruments played both traditional and classical western music.
Qingpu Experimental School Traditional Instrument Orchestra – erhu, pipa and guzheng
Wesley Wu (Hawkes Bay) learning to play the erhu [two-stringed Chinese violin]
Sarah Widera playing the Chinese bass flute
Miniature Chinese instruments
As well, a night cruise viewing the downtown Shanghai lights, acrobats show (a favourite), Buddhist temple visit, markets and downtown shopping, and yet more amazing meals.
Subway ride in Shangai
Hannah Townsend in front of colourful M n Ms in Shanghai
Boarding Dragon boat for dinner cruise on River Huangpu, Shanghai
Sasha Liem, Nesta Lade and Sarah Widera with Pudong financial quarter city lights, including the Pearl of the Orient (left) and the World Financial Centre
Meat in Water Village market, Shanghai
Dried fish and beads in Water Village market, Shanghai
Golden Buddha in the Jade Buddha temple, Shanghai
Bonsai trees in Jade Buddha Temple, Shanghai
Contrast between modern Shanghai buildings and Jade Buddha temple
HB Orchestra group members at Jade Buddha temple, Shanghai