Feature: Chinese province of Hunan shines at Milan Expo

Hunan Week opened here on Saturday at the World Exposition with plenty of initiatives that made local guests eager to further explore the central Chinese province's potentials.

The Hunan Week has developed the theme of the Italian world exposition "Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life," dedicated to sustainable nutrition, by presenting to the Expo visitors its old-age agricultural civilization and scientific achievements under the title "Our Fertile Hometown."

Vice Governor of the People's Government of Hunan Province He Baoxiang said that looking back over the past, Hunan and Italy had a fruitful cooperation in culture, education, tourism, creative design and many other fields, and prospects for the future are bright.

Among its many other treasures, Hunan has the Yuchanyan Ancient Cultivated Rice Site, the world's earliest historical site of artificially cultivated rice (12,000 years ago), the world's earliest historical site of paddy fields with complete irrigation facilities (6,500 years ago) and the hybrid rice planting technology with the biggest area and highest yield in the world.

On Saturday the Hunan Cuisine Week was also launched at the China Pavilion, with the province's specialities offered to dozens of international guests. Many could taste for the first time "Zongzi," a glutinous rice dumpling wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves which marks the Dragon Boat Festival, celebrated to commemorate the death of the historical figure Qu Yuan, a patriotic poet and minister.

Another of the highlights of the Hunan Week will be the "China Hunan Night - Tan Dun Concert" on Sunday evening. Hunan native musician Tan Dun will co-perform with the Philharmonic Orchestra of Milan's la Scala theater at the Arcimboldi theater in Milan.

In an interview with Xinhua, Tan highlighted the role of culture in the exchange between different nations. "When languages had not been invented yet, people used to communicate through music, which really is a universal language," he told Xinhua. In his concert, Tan said, the broad Hunan culture will be blended with the European orchestra to produce a world-class music feast. Endit