Chinese celebrations in Gardens of the World park surprise Berliners

One-year-old Sophie was happy when she found so many "giant pandas" in Gardens of the World park in eastern Berlin on Thursday, her mother said.

Accompanied by her family, the baby girl toddled through a group of colorful panda sculptures sitting on the grass, giggling and trying to touch noses of the Chinese mascots that were as tall as herself.

"We thought they were Berlin bears when we saw them from behind! It is a surprise to see these pandas here," said her father Thomas, laughing.

The sculptures came from Sichuan, China, where real pandas live. Instead of being black and white, each of them was painted with different colors and decorated into various concepts and themes.

"They were created by young artists from 11 leading Chinese art colleges and universities, and represent the thoughts that young Chinese people want to share with the world," said Mimi Chen, executive director of Heart Panda, the Chengdu-based company that organized the exhibition.

Forty-three sculptures are on display.

"The number represents the 43rd anniversary of China-Germany diplomatic relations this year," Chen said.

The panda exhibition will last until Saturday and is just one dish of the cultural feast that China brought to Berlin this week.

Also on Thursday, artists from Beijing and Chengdu showcased their handicrafts and performances to visitors at the Chinese garden of Gardens of the World Berlin.

Dances, acrobatic performance, puppetry, embroidery, papercutting, painting, bamboo weaving, lacquer carving...various artwork and performances to celebrate cultural heritage, as well as delicious Chinese food, attracted German visitors' attention.

"We come to Berlin to visit the garden, but now we find ourselves landed in China," said Karl Rubelt, from Frankfurt an der Oder, a city some 100 km to the east of Berlin, who was visiting the Chinese garden with his wife.

The couple had visited China for four times.

"It's a very good event, informative, helps German people to know more about China," Rubelt said.

For Klaus Poels, a Berliner, the event was a surprise. He came to the garden to celebrate his birthday with his wife. "It's definitely a great birthday gift," he said.

"Chinese culture is very welcome in Berlin and Germany," said Beate Reuber, chief of Gardens of the World. "For a lot of people, it's not possible to take a trip to China. Here they can experience a small piece out of the culture from China. It's very good for them."

Besides, in Gardens of the World, a series of cultural events named "Experience China" was launched in other places of the city. Highlights included a food festival, film week, and carnival parade. Endit