My name is Daniel Verheyden, vice-president of New Horizons International Culture. Our company has just signed an MOU with Wuxi, East China's Jiangsu province, recently regarding Wuxi-Brussels Cultural & Art Exhibition Exchange and Cooperation Project.
An MOU signing ceremony with Wuxi takes place on June 10 in Brussels. [Photo provided to wuxi.gov.cn]
But until now, I have never been to Wuxi, so my encounter with Wuxi may be a bit different from those of others.
It all started from an overcast afternoon in Tour & Taxis, Brussels on June 10, where the opening ceremony of "Jiangsu Week of Grand Canal Culture" took place. I had no idea what to expect, just a vague curiosity about Chinese culture and a love for waterway histories. What I found there, however, was far more than an exhibition, it was a doorway.
As I stepped inside the hall, I was immediately surrounded by a rich tapestry of visuals, aromas and sounds. Performances in elegant silk robes danced alongside installations showcasing ancient canal towns, lacquerware, delicate calligraphy, and vibrant scrolls depicting life along the Grand Canal. Amid the displays, one city kept coming up: Wuxi.
There was a photo wall with images of shimmering Taihu Lake, Wuxi's ancient Huishan clay figurines, Wuxi's Opera, the bustling Nanchan Temple market, and Yixing purple clay teapots. A volunteer at the booth noticed my interest and began telling me more about Wuxi- the "Pearl of Taihu Lake", with its unique position of the intersection of history, water culture, and modern innovation.
Jiangsu Week of Grand Canal Culture is held on June 10 in Brussels. [Photo provided to wuxi.gov.cn]
Something clicked. I had always been fascinated by the way certain places blend the old and the new, and Wuxi seemed to be embodiment of that harmony. And I love Yixing's pottery and tea culture, it's an artistry, a craftsmanship, and an aromatic key that opens the hearts of European tea lovers like me.
These sensory experiences made Wuxi's image more concrete, I had better idea of the city that I was going to sign a MOU with in a few hours’ time.
The author (right) attends a cultural promotional event in Brussels on June 10. [Photo provided to wuxi.gov.cn]
In fact, Brussels shares lots of similarities with Wuxi, particularly artisans craftmanship and artistry, and the culture of grand canal. There are a lot to work together between the two cities: "Tea and Clay" exhibitions in Brussels, workshops and Masterclasses on Yixing potters, cultural residency & artist exchange and joint exhibitions, joint festivals on shared themes, or thematic exhibitions: for example, the Grand Canal as a shared legacy and storyline.
I am very optimistic about the future collaborations between Brussels and Wuxi, and as one of the initial contributors of "Wuxi-Brussels Cultural Industry Bi-Directional Hub Collaborative Innovation Center" inaugurated in Brussels on June 10, New Horizons International Culture will build this cultural bridge and bring the best cultural products of both cities to each other.
The author takes a group photo with Wuxi delegation on June 10 in Brussels. [Photo provided to wuxi.gov.cn]
Wuxi is already added to my travel list as top destinations. I'm looking forward to discovering more about Wuxi in the very new future!
The author is the vice-president of Brussels-based cultural agency New Horizons International Culture.
If you would like to share your Wuxi stories, then send us your writings at wuxiexpatstories@outlook.com.
