Korean teenagers visit Shanxi province

A South Korean youth delegation made their way to the old city of Pingyao, Shanxi province, on Sept 15, to begin a Chinese cultural heritage journey, led by Kim Chong-yong, the president of Yucheng business group of youth development from the city of Suwon.

Kim Chong-yong, the Korean youth delegation leader, is appreciating the making of polished lacquer ware of Pingyao in the cultural industrial park, Sept 15 [Photo/pingyao.gov.cn]

The Korean teenagers are watching the artistry of Pingyao polished lacquer ware in the cultural industrial park, Sept 15 [Photo/pingyao.gov.cn]

The first item on the group's agenda was the city's culture industrial park where they got a look at polished lacquer ware production, a renowned symbol of the city. Then they took part in a forum with Chinese children, sponsored by the city government, to discuss Korean and Chinese culture and express their thoughts on cultural preservation and how to maintain cultural relations.

The team visits the old county hall of Pingyao, Sept 15 [Photo/pingyao.gov.cn]

In addition, representatives of research institute in Suwon, which joined the world cultural heritage list, in October 1997, along with Pingyao, held a discussion with Pingyao counterparts on the future of the two cities and signed a cooperation agreement for mutual development.

The two cities signs an agreement of mutual development of cultures, Sept 15 [Photo/pingyao.gov.cn]

Then the team went on to get a look at Pingyao relics, such as the city wall, old county hall, and the Biao Ju-an courier service, and got lessons on the history of Shanxi merchants, and showed their amazement at the Ming and Qing architecture.

A Korean guest writes a calligraphic work in both Chinese and Korean, Sept 15 [Photo/pingyao.gov.cn]

Xiao Xu, a artist in Pingyao teaches the Korean guests to paint the facial masks, Sept 15 [Photo/pingyao.gov.cn]

Zhang Rong, a clay sculptor makes a half-length portrait for the Korean guests, Sept 15 [Photo/pingyao.gov.cn]

There was also an evening party, where Pingyao artists showed their skills, such as painting face masks, making clay figurines, and calligraphy, to give the young visitors a first-hand experience of Chinese culture. Kim, who explained that he has a passion for youth work, said he wants to increase cultural and economic interaction between the two cities and invited the Chinese youth there to Korea, adding that he believes such activities can encourage people to learn from each other about relic preservation.