Information Office of the People's Government of Yunnan Province held a cultural exchange in Melbourne, Australia on October 22, where coffee aroma, embroidery art, Sodnam Dondrub's story and graceful dance from Yunnan impressed local audiences a lot.

Themed “Amazing Yunnan - Shangri-La”, the cultural event brought the beautiful Shangri-La area to the southern hemisphere, making Yunnan a phenomenon there.

First seen in a novel named The Lost Horizon by British author James Hilton in 1933, Shangri-La was depicted as a neverland in the secluded southwestern frontier of China.

At the promotional event, the audiences were attracted by Shangri-La's breathtaking sceneries, such as the Meili Snow Mountain, Tiger-Leaping Gorge, Baishui Terraces, and the Shangri-La Grand Canyon.

The attendees spoke highly of the Hogood Coffee and Arabica coffee from Yunnan, while a photo show on Tibetan lifestyles drew much attention.

The culture event was highlighted by a gala called "dreams beyond rosy clouds", where Yunnan artists performed several original pieces: Moon Night, Woman of the Highlands, My Home Is in Shambhala, and more. 

The Yi costume and handicraft shows also added glory to the event.

The Shangri-La singing group brought the gala to an end by singing the classic Auld Lang Syne in both Chinese and English. Hundreds attended the event, including local folks, Australian reporters, overseas Chinese and some dignitaries from both countries.   

Following the event, the Yunnan delegation will visit Sydney, New Zealand’s Auckland for further exchange.

Reporting Zhang Ruogu; trans-editing by Wang Shixue

Photos provided by Australian Yunnan Society