European Culture Street 2026 opens in east China's Hangzhou

HANGZHOU, April 17 (Xinhua) -- The 2026 European Culture Street opened on Friday in the city of Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, showcasing the diverse cultures of European countries to Chinese and overseas tourists.

Co-hosted by the Delegation of the European Union to China, 27 EU Member States and the Hangzhou Foreign Affairs Office, the event will extend to Saturday, and features interactive booths, live stage performances, an EU Geographical Indications (GI) exhibition and hands-on activities.

The event will also serve as a platform for cultural dialogue and people-to-people exchanges between Europe and China, said the organizers.

"Since its launch in 2017, European Culture Street has become one of the signature initiatives of the European Union's cultural diplomacy in China," said Mattias Lentz, deputy head of the Delegation of the European Union to China.

Lentz added that the event has brought together audiences of all ages to appreciate the diversity, creativity and cultural heritage of Europe, facilitating dialogue and mutual understanding.

China plans to launch a wide range of international cultural exchange programs and optimize multi-level dialogues between civilizations during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030).

Hangzhou has established sister-city ties with eight cities in EU member states and formed friendly exchange relationships with 13 others in recent years. ■