On May 10, the "Blossoming Encounter of East and West: Diplomats' Cultural Exchange Salon" will take place at Jingxi Yueji Park (京西月季洲). The event is hosted by the Mentougou District People's Government of Beijing Municipality and organized by CRI Online. Diplomats stationed in China, representatives from floral cities, cultural scholars and industrial leaders will gather to engage in thematic discussions and immersive experiences centered around flowers.

The "East Meets West - A Blooming Market of Unique Finds", a temporary market featuring goods from around the world, will open at Jingxi Yueji Park at the same time. Visitors will find unique goods from 20 countries, including rose soaps from Bulgaria, black tea from Sri Lanka, Petra-themed souvenirs from Jordan, amber from Latvia, wines from Moldova, saffron from Afghanistan, and durian cakes from Vietnam...

A rose soap from Bulgaria

Black tea from Sri Lanka

Traditional soaps from Aleppo, Syria

The market will become a paradise for those who love roses. The Bulgarian booth will overflow with romantic rose-themed elements, including tipsy rose wines, mildly sweet rose beverages, rose-infused skincare products and more. At the Syrian booth, products like essential oils, floral teas, and Aleppo's traditional soaps will fill the air with the rich fragrance of roses. The Syrian booth will also become a haven for those who want to get tipsy. The Moldova booth will offer ruby-hued, aromatic wines steeped in 5,000 years of winemaking history, while the Hungarian booth will present silky-smooth Tokaji Aszú with a lingering finish.

An amber accessory from Latvia

An amber accessory from Latvia

Rugs from Uzbekistan

This market will also serve as a gathering venue for artisans. At the exhibition area of Afghanistan, visitors will see dazzling accessories made of lapis lazuli excavated from ancient mineral veins. At the Ghanaian area, visitors can dance to African drum rhythms and buy wooden carved masks. Hand-painted ceramics, Persian-style carpets, gradient handwoven shawls and more will await visitors at the Uzbek area, offering a vibrant palette of Central Asian craftsmanship. There will also be countless interactive surprises. For example, the Latvian booth will showcase "flowers" made of amber, which are hailed as "eternally blooming blossoms", as well as handmade customized badges and limited-edition fridge magnets available on a first-come basis.

This international market will remain open until May 15. Come to the market with friends and family members to immerse yourselves in an ocean of flowers, explore intangible cultural heritage, and take home some unique treasures!

(Source: CRI Online)