French newspaper L’Humanité runs a feature on Shenzhen dance drama “Wing Chun” on Wednesday.

Zhang Yu

JeniZhang13@163.com

WHILE the intense competition of the 2024 Paris Olympics is well underway, the presence of “Made in China” products and Chinese cultural elements has emerged as a dazzling spectacle in Paris.

On Wednesday local time, the Shenzhen dance drama “Wing Chun” made an appearance on page eight of the esteemed French newspaper L’Humanité, once again capturing the world’s attention.

With its European tour set to begin at the end of this month, “Wing Chun” is poised to delight French audiences with four performances at the Palais des congrès de Paris from Oct. 4 to 6, offering a deep dive into the rich tapestry of Chinese culture.

The article described “Wing Chun” as an exceptional show created in Shenzhen, a global capital of innovation, which has been performed nearly 200 times across the globe. The dance drama skillfully merges the kung fu styles of Wing Chun, Mantis Fist, Baguazhang, Baji Fist, and tai chi with both classical and modern dance forms.

Xiangyunsha fabric (gambiered Canton gauze) is not only featured in the characters’ costumes, but its manufacturing process is also artfully woven into the narrative. The martial arts’ “hardness” and the fabric’s “softness” form a harmonious blend, according to the report.

“The show captivated all spectators, conveying the gentle Chinese temperament, deep sense of justice, and helping the weak,” it pointed out.

Notably, when the Paris Olympics opened, “Wing Chun” made an appearance at the Palais des congrès de Paris, the main press center (MPC) for the Paris Olympics, where its large poster on the MPC’s facade was impossible to miss.

Since its founding in Paris in 1904, L’Humanité has been an influential voice in France, particularly in Paris. It boasts a stable circulation of 200,000, with 50,000 subscribers. The Fête de l’Humanité, initiated in 1930 by the French newspaper, draws hundreds of thousands of French attendees each year for a variety of exhibitions, concerts, debates, shows, and film screenings. Chinese delegations from various provinces and cities have been invited to participate, fostering a tradition of friendly Sino-French cultural exchanges.

It is expected that the coverage of “Wing Chun” in L’Humanité will not only enrich the cultural ambiance of the Paris Olympics, but also foster a deeper appreciation and love for Chinese culture among the French public.