On June 13 and 14 (GMT+10), an open-top tour bus named "BIG BUS" and adorned with images of a Chinese dragon, the Temple of Heaven, the Great Wall, the facial masks of Beijing Opera, the image of "Tu'er Ye" (clay rabbits), characters from "The Peony Pavilion" (a Kunqu Opera work), and Beijing Gifts, among other elements of Chinese culture, made the rounds among the famous cultural landmarks of downtown Sydney, Australia, to promote Chinese culture and showcase the vitality and charm of Beijing through flash mob performances. The shows successfully drew the attention of locals and tourists alike.

In just two days, the bus became an eye-catching sight at Sydney Opera House, the Circular Quay, Sydney Harbour Bridge, the streets near Sydney Tower Eye, the Australian National Maritime Museum, ICC Sydney, and the Chinese Garden of Friendship, among other landmarks, raising curiosity and inspiring goodwill toward Beijing and the entire China at every stop.

The flash mob reached Sydney Opera House at noon on June 13, and the enchanting Chinese folk music pieces "Boundless Land" (万疆) and "Butterfly Lovers" (梁祝) filled the air, captivating many passers-by who eagerly captured the beautiful moments with their mobile phones. Mesmerized in the front row at that moment was a local television producer named Ellen who was out for a walk during her lunch break. "I just love it. The music and the performers' presentation are just perfect," she said. "I've never been to China, but I will visit someday. I have to do it." William and his wife were tourists from the United States and managed to record the performance on their mobile phones. The show brought back fond memories for the couple. "We have been to Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, but we have never expected to be treated to such a performance in Sydney." Andrea and Maureen, two tourists from the United Kingdom, also observed the performers closely. "So you're saying the guzheng dates back to 2,000 years ago? My goodness, that's unbelievable!" Maureen exclaimed "very beautiful" three times as she was moved by the performance. "I would never have imagined such an ancient instrument could be used for playing such a modern song like 'Havana'. I adore it, and would like to watch more performances of the guzheng." Maureen and Andrea, now retired, recently embarked on a trip around the world. The couple has decided to include China in their itinerary.

During the musical performances, Zhao Nan, an inheritor of the techniques of making masks for Beijing Opera, painted many masks for the audience on site. In just 20 minutes, a striking mask of profound cultural significance was ready, drawing gasps and exclamations of "Amazing!" from those around.

(Source: Beijing Daily)