Chinese delight in Turkish Culture and Food Festival

Chinese and Turkish attendees of the Turquoise Turkish Culture and Food Festival in Shanghai watched whirling dervishes performed on stage. (Photo: Hüseyin Aydın, Cihan)
Chinese and Turkish attendees of the Turquoise Turkish Culture and Food Festival in Shanghai watched whirling dervishes performed on stage. (Photo: Hüseyin Aydın, Cihan)


Date posted: October 10, 2013

OSMAN EROL, EYÜP BOĞAZKESEN, SHANGHAI

The Turquoise Turkish Culture and Food Festival kicked off in Shanghai on Sunday as part of 2013 Year of Turkish Culture activities, providing Chinese people with the opportunity to find out more about Turkey.

The first day of the event, held at the Shanghai Mart, saw a large attendance comprising both locals and Turks living in China, despite the rainy weather.

The three-day-long event in Shanghai, the financial and commercial center of China with a population of 23 million, covers a 7,000-square-meter covered and 3,000-square-meter open area.

Various booths were set up to promote the provinces of Şanlıurfa, Bursa, Denizli, İzmir, Konya, İstanbul and Ankara.

The event kicked off with a concert by an Ottoman military band. This was followed by Turkish folk dances, an Ottoman fashion show and a performance by whirling dervishes.

Many elements of Turkish culture, including döner kebab, Urfa kebab, Maraş ice cream, marbling art, calligraphy, folk dances, historic heroes of the Aegean region known as Efeler and whirling dervishes from Konya, were displayed at the festival.

Meanwhile, Sultan Kösen from Turkey’s Mardin province, who is officially recognized by the Guinness World Records as the tallest man alive, also joined the Turkish delegation visiting Shanghai for the festival. Kösen, who is 2.51 meters tall, was the focus of great attention, with many Chinese people eager to take a photograph with him.

A Chinese visitor named Sun told the Turkish media that she really enjoyed Turkish ice cream, while Wang, another visitor, said he admired every aspect of the organization of the festival and found the döner kebab, which he tasted for the first time in his life, very delicious.

Shanghai Chamber of Manufacturers and Importers Chairman Feng Zheng Zhou, speaking at the opening ceremony of the festival, was applauded when he said: “Blue sky, blue sea and Blue Mosque… There is no country in the world more beautiful than Turkey.”

Murat Sungurlu, the chairman of the Turkish-Chinese Industrialists and Businessmen’s Association (TÜÇSİAD), was also in attendance. In his speech he said he wishes for the event to be held for several more years and hopes that it improves commercial and friendly ties between the two countries.

Ankara Chamber of Commerce (ATO) Chairman Salih Bezci and Society for Social and Economic Solidarity with Pacific Countries (PASIAD) representative Ferhan Merter also delivered speeches at the festival.

Turkish Consul General in Shanghai Deniz Eke, speaking at the event, said Chinese businessmen now have the opportunity to know Turkey a little better, helping to improve commercial relationships between the two countries.

Source: Today's Zaman , October 7, 2013


Related News

Internship opportunities at Rumi Forum

Rumi Forum is looking for interns who will gain a great experience in Washington DC. Undergraduate and masters level students and J.D. and Ph.D. candidates, as well as recent graduates, are eligible to apply.

Dialogue and Friendship Dinner in Portland, Oregon

On November 13th, 2013, Pacifica Institute’s Portland chapter held its 5th Annual Dialogue and Friendship Dinner having the author-journalist Mustafa Akyol as its keynote speaker. The dinner was attended by Turkish and American academics and businessmen. In his keynote speech centered on his book “Islam without Extremes,” Mustafa Akyol pointed out the fact that Islam is misrepresented.

Gülen’s letter to Gül

Koru told Gülen to express his feelings in a letter. The scholar wrote this letter on Dec. 22. Koru took the letter to its addressee, the president. He met with the prime minister the same day in Ankara and told him about his impressions from his contact with Gülen. I mean to say, there is not “bargaining” or “mediation.” There is only a “goodwill initiative” here.

Connecticut chapter of Peace Islands Institute promotes peace by bringing people together

Erdogdu is director of the Connecticut chapter of Peace Islands Institute, an organization founded “to facilitate a forum of mutual respect and collaboration, both welcoming and accepting varied viewpoints and voices,” according to its mission statement.

Local Look – The Turkish Cultural Center of New Hampshire

Turkish Cultural Center New Hampshire is a non-profit organization that aims to respond to social and cultural needs of Turkish Americans and to promote cross-cultural awareness that is based on mutual respect and understanding of the Turkish Culture within New Hampshire by bringing everyone together in an open dialog.

Turkish Schools in Afghanistan organized the eighth annual science competition

Turkish schools in Afghanistan organized a Science Project Competition with in cooperation with TIKA, Turkish Collaboration and Coordination Agency, a state organization. Afghan-Turkish Schools were opened in 1995 and the competition has been organized 8 times organized since 2004. The awards ceremony was held at the Afghan-Turkish School for Girls in Kabul. Yilmaz Aytan, the vice chairman […]

Latest News

Fethullah Gulen – man of education, peace and dialogue – passes away

Fethullah Gülen’s Condolence Message for South African Human Rights Defender Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Hizmet Movement Declares Core Values with Unified Voice

Ankara systematically tortures supporters of Gülen movement, Kurds, Turkey Tribunal rapporteurs say

Erdogan possessed by Pharaoh, Herod, Hitler spirits?

Devious Use of International Organizations to Persecute Dissidents Abroad: The Erdogan Case

A “Controlled Coup”: Erdogan’s Contribution to the Autocrats’ Playbook

Why is Turkey’s Erdogan persecuting the Gulen movement?

Purge-victim man sent back to prison over Gulen links despite stage 4 cancer diagnosis

In Case You Missed It

Fethullah Gülen’s response to the ‘clash of civilizations’ thesis

Likely case against Hizmet will bolster authoritarian character of Erdoğan gov’t

Government cuts off funds for disabled child over father’s Gülen links

Smear campaign against Gülen today harsher than in Feb. 28 era

Liberals silent as Turkey targets its own Khashoggi

Erdoğan draws ire from all segments of society over bid to close Turkish schools

Terrorism: Why Obama, Others Ignored Turkish President Erdogan

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News