Performance, opera and tea make Zhejiang Pavilion worth a visit

The Zhejiang Pavilion will showcase performances and arts reflecting local culture in the Expo Garden from June 18 to June 22.

Zhao Hongzhu, Party chief of Zhejiang province, bangs the gong to open Zhejiang Week.

"The performances will allow visitors to capture the essence of folk custom in Zhejiang," said Yang Jianxin, general director of the cultural department of Zhejiang province. "It will also show how people's lives are getting better during the urbanization process in Zhejiang province."

More than 400 performers from the rural area of Zhejiang province will participate in the performances.

"Most of them come to the stage for the first time," said Yang. "However, the performance and content are guaranteed to be brilliant."

As well as local folk performances, there will also be some shows that have already gained some recognition throughout the country.

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These include a lantern show that was performed at Tian'anmen Square when New China celebrated its 50th birthday and the Fenghua Dragon Dance, originally a primitive ritual for paying homage to the deities.

Visitors will also have the chance to enjoy Yueju Opera, the second most popular opera in China following Peking opera. The classical love story, the Butterfly Lovers, will be performed.

Locally produced handicrafts exhibition will also be on show. Visitors will be able to interact with the artists and learn how to make the handicrafts.

To present its tea culture and achievements in white-and-blue porcelain production, the pavilion organizers have prepared more than 470,000 teacups and over 500 kg tea, so that guests can drink a cup of tea and keep the cups as commemorative items.

A replica of the masterpiece, Along the River During the Qingming Festival, created by painter Zhang Zeduan between AD 1119 and 1125 will be on show.

The Zhejiang Pavilion itself is 600-sq m and known as the "Bamboo Cube". It has received over 150,000 visitors since it opened on May 1.

A visitor commented in the guestbook that: "The pavilion reflects the most exciting parts of Zhejiang province."

Visitors that miss the Zhejiang Pavilion during the Expo, can visit when it moves back to Zhejiang province.