An artist performs Sichuan Opera face-changing during a press conference of Chengdu Food Culture Festival in Ankara, Turkey, Sept. 12, 2019. A press conference of China's Chengdu Food Culture Festival was held here on Thursday. The festival is held from Sept. 13 to 18. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua)
ANKARA, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- Turkey's capital city Ankara is hosting events marking the Chinese Mid-Autumn festival with celebrations in several venues under a welcoming atmosphere and with delicious traditional food.
The celebrations are taking place since Saturday in the Hilton Hotel and Atakule, a tower which is one of the landmarks of the city, until next Tuesday, organizers said.
Falling on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, Mid-Autumn Festival, or Moon Festival, is when Chinese families gather to celebrate autumn harvests, light lanterns and enjoy what's believed to be the fullest moon of the year.
And the festival came this year to the Turks who are interested in everything Chinese, especially food, culture and traditions, values that resonate strongly in their country too, connecting the two peoples.
The festival is also ahead of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Master chefs and officials of Chengdu city, famous for its gastronomic features, are also attending the colorful events.
Attendants of the festival had the pleasure of seeing traditional Chinese folk art related to food, such as dough modeling, sugar painting and music.
A face mask changing dance was also presented and very much appreciated by the crowd.
"This is real art. I am marveled by what I'm seeing. I called my staff to see how this gentleman is presenting this centuries-old craft," said a Turkish chef, Erhan Kahraman, to Xinhua in front of the stand where a Chengdu master was meticulously exhibiting his sugar painting craftsmanship.
"The Chinese cuisine is not very well known in Turkey unfortunately, but these events present this part of the world very well for the ordinary people. People here know that the Chinese cuisine is very healthy and we also have most of the ingredients that are used in Chinese dishes," he noted.
While impeccably-dressed chefs were cooking and inviting guests to taste the spicy flavors of Chengdu cuisine, Kahraman added that the festival "presents an ideal opportunity for Turks to understand and immerse into the vast Chinese culture by means of food, a notion that brings everyone on the same page."
Speaking to reporters, Cultural Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Turkey Shi Ruilin stressed that cultural bonds between China and Turkey were growing stronger each year, and underscored that the festival will contribute to the strengthening of bilateral cultural relations.
The Chinese diplomat also indicated that the festival advocates cultural diversity under the framework of the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative, in which Turkey is also keen to participate.
"We have planned a prestigious event for our visitors in Atakule, a landmark of our city, and the festivities are free and open to the public," said Tugce Ozbek, marketing manager of the 125-meter tower and surrounding complex, located in the capital's residential Cankaya district.
For Ankara residents, Atakule will also be lighted one day during the festival in the colors of the Chinese national flag to commemorate the anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China," indicated Ozbek.
"It will a day to remember for the residents of our city because Atakule is a distinct feature that can be seen from most of the city," she added.
