The 2025 Chinese Crabapple Cultural Festival and the Crabapple Poetry Party opened at the Soong Ching Ling Former Residence in Beijing on April 7. The theme of the event, which was sponsored by the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation (CSCLF), supported by Xicheng District People's Government of Beijing, and co-undertaken by the Management Center of the Soong Ching Ling Former Residence and the Xicheng District Bureau of Culture and Tourism, is "Appreciating blossoming crabapple and promoting mutual learning between different civilizations".
Li Bin, Vice-Chairperson of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and Chairperson of the CSCLF, attended and addressed the opening ceremony.
The event brought together ambassadors and diplomats of over 40 countries and international organizations and the representatives of friendly figures worldwide. Vice-Chairpersons of the CSCLF Wang Ning, Zhang Jiming and Ding Jie, Party Chief of Xicheng District Liu Dongwei, and Deputy Party Chief and head of Xicheng District Zhi Haijie attended the event. Officials from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and other relevant authorities, council members of the CSCLF, and representatives of business partners also participated.
At the opening ceremony, Li engaged in friendly exchanges with foreign attendees. She said that the organization of the Chinese Crabapple Cultural Festival and the Crabapple Poetry Party aimed to bring together domestic and international friends to appreciate blossoming flowers, hold exchanges, grasp a deep understanding of the spiritual wealth and insight jointly created by Madame Soong and her global friends, enjoy the charm of Chinese culture, demonstrate diverse culture of different nations, implement the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, and promote cultural exchanges and mutual learning between different civilizations.
Li emphasized that the CSCLF is willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with people from all sides, further deepen the people-to-people exchanges, consolidate the friendship among people of different nations, and make contributions to the development of China's ties with other nations and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
Together with Swiss Ambassador to China Jürg Burri, Li added stamens to the traditional Chinese painting titled "Splendid Crabapple Blossoms" created by prominent Chinese painter Ding Jie, and announced the opening of the event.
Burri expressed thanks to the CSCLF for the organization of such a cultural exchange activity on behalf of foreign diplomats there. He said that the event has fully shown opening, inclusiveness, mutual respect and friendship forged by the international community and people of different nations. He said that the Swiss embassy in China has organized various cultural exchange programs in over 20 Chinese cities this year to mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries and that Switzerland has always adhered to the principles of opening-up, peaceful co-existence, international rules and free trade, striven to be China's key cooperation partner, and become a pivotal gateway for China to enter the European market.
Liu said that the crabapple-centered cultural exchange event should inject new vitality into traditional culture, write a new chapter for exchanges and mutual learning, make the stories of building Xicheng district into a happy place well known. He said he hoped the event can bring together people through poetry appreciation, enhance resonance, and promote mutual understanding, friendship, and integration of different countries and cultures.
Zhang said that the CSCLF has firmly followed the principles of peace, unity and future, and held a series of thematic activities to promote the people-to-people exchanges and cooperation, mutual understanding and friendship among people from different countries, and serve the growth of children and teenagers. He added that the CSCLF looks forward to the support of people from all social sectors and the participation of more youths in relevant cultural exchange activities.
The cultural exchange event featured various literary and artistic performances, which included Ode to Spring by a chorus of Minzu University of China and Zhicheng Primary School in Xicheng district, the presentation of Spring Rhyme and Flower Language in the linguistic contexts of Chinese, French, English and Japanese by artists from the four countries, interactive performances of Flower Poetry by students from Beijing Western Academy, a recitation of Chairman Mao Zedong's poem Ode to Plum Blossoms in both Chinese and English by Michael Crook, a CSCLF council member and friendly British figure, a classical dance of the Han and Tang dynasties Flower Riding by Beijing Dance Academy, a show of the classical piece Drunken Concubine by Hu Wenge, a third-generation inheritor of the Mei school in Peking Opera, and a brilliant performance of The Rainbow Skirt by the Central Conservatory of Music and the Colorful Chamber Music Ensemble with Chinese and Western instruments. The medley of songs like Jasmine Flower, Turandot, and Drinking Song presented a harmonious blend of Chinese and global civilizations with melodious tunes, bringing the performance to a climax.
The cultural exchange event also comprised calligraphy, intangible cultural heritage, tea art and other traditional Chinese cultural experience projects, which were complemented by a food exhibition booth set up by the Swiss Embassy in China. There were also specially-designed postcards for the branding event. Attendees can send them through a designated mailbox there.
In addition, the Soong Ching Ling Former Residence displayed a group of precious cultural relics in an exhibition titled "Soong Ching Ling and Her International Friends" to show her extensive connection with over 20 countries, tell historical stories and carry forward traditional friendship.
Originally known as the "Crabapple Cultural Festival," the "Chinese Crabapple Cultural Festival" has been held annually since 2010. It has taken flowers as a medium to bring people together, attracted numerous guests from both domestic and international locations, and become a leading cultural event brand at Soong Ching Ling Former Residence. In 2025, it was renamed the "Chinese Crabapple Cultural Festival."
Over the past 15 years, the festival has not only paid tribute to the "Crabapple King" but also carried forward Madame Soong's original aspiration for promoting friendship between China and foreign countries, undertaken profound cultural heritage and humanistic sentiments, and grown into an important platform for cultural exchanges between China and the world. The event will last for a month, with crabapple and various other flowers blooming in succession in the garden of the former residence, providing an ideal place for Chinese and international people in the capital city to appreciate flowers, enjoy the spring, and foster friendships.
