Chinese cultural heritage celebrated at UN

A celebration of ancient Chinese solar terms was launched on the first floor of United Nations Headquarters in New York on Thursday.

"I remain admiring of this fantastic culture, which has made such a great contribution to humanism," said Tamamian Kegham, a UN staff member at the festival event, titled The Exhibition of Outstanding Traditional Chinese Cultural Designs & the 24 Solar Terms Logo Designs.

The exhibition will move to Brooklyn Borough Hall on Friday. A cultural exchange program between American and Chinese students will be held on the same day.

Solar Terms is a calendar of 24 periods and climate to govern agricultural arrangements in ancient China.

The 24 solar terms include the Vernal Equinox, Bright and Clear, Corn Rain, Summer Commences, Corn Forms, Corn on Ear, Summer Solstice, Moderate Heat, Great Heat, Autumn Commences, End of Heat, White Dew, Autumnal Equinox, Cold Dew, Frost, Winter Commences, Light Snow, Heavy Snow, Winter Solstice, Moderate Cold, Severe Cold, Spring Commences, Spring Showers, and Insects Waken.

As one of the traditional cultural heritages that has been selected as the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the Chinese government urges to converse and foster it.

Organized by Beijing Design Week, China Millennium Monument Art Museum, United Nations Tai Chi Club and Asian American Cultural & Economic Development Society, the exhibition is the first major exhibition and exchanges activities which show in the international arena after the "24 Solar Terms" was added onto the Representative List of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2016.

Thirty-five sets of artworks from professional group and 50 sets of artworks from youth groups are on display after rounds of selection by a judging panel of representatives from fields of design and folklore in China.

"The exhibited artworks are not only a demonstration of the unique charm of fine traditional Chinese culture and the innovative spirit of Chinese people, but also a representation of inheritance and innovation of traditional culture Chinese youths," said Cui Qiao, representative of Beijing Design Week in New York.

"And they also embody the latest developments of inheritance and innovation of traditional culture by all social circles in China," she said.

Beijing Design Week is Asia's largest and most influential platform for displaying, promoting, exchanging and trading creative design.