The city of Suzhou is renowned for its impressive historical sites, including the city’s numerous temples and its Classical Gardens, which have been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. However, you might also need to know that the city is known for its traditional handicrafts as well. Calligraphy, carving and embroidery... These heritages are of particularly importance to the people of Suzhou.
9月10-11日，由江苏省人民政府新闻办公室主办，苏州市人民政府新闻办公室承办的2020“发现江苏 趣访手工艺与民间艺术之都苏州”活动在苏州举行。本次活动以“姑苏灵动，江南精工”为主题，邀请青年外籍友人赴苏州寻访非遗印迹、邂逅传统曲艺、体验民间技艺。
现场展示苏扇
After being held in the City of Literature and the City of Gastronomy, “Discover Jiangsu”, the major branding activity of the Information Office of Jiangsu Provincial People's Government, invites expats to Suzhou from Sept. 10 toSept. 11 to experience the city’s crafts and folk art.
江苏省委宣传部副部长、省人民政府新闻办公室主任杨力群，苏州市委常委、宣传部部长金洁，江苏省广播电视总台党委委员、副台长、集团副总经理任桐，苏州市委宣传部副部长、市政府新闻办主任杨芳，中国江苏网副总编辑戴军农，苏州大学艺术研究院副院长、苏州大学工艺美术研究所所长、苏州大学艺术学院教授袁牧等苏州文化学者以及外籍青年友人代表出席启动仪式。参会领导共同拓制印有“一团和气”和“福”图案的桃花坞年画作品，宣布2020“发现江苏 趣访手工艺与民间艺术之都苏州”正式启动。
启动仪式被安排在宝带桥边、具有丰富“吴文化”馆藏的吴中博物馆。坐在颇具苏州园林元素的活动现场，到场宾朋欣赏了融合昆曲《长生殿》与歌剧《图兰朵》的中西艺术对话创意昆曲作品《小宴·今夜无人入睡》。
Suzhou’s culture is regarded as part of the Wu Culture since it is deeply influenced by the Wu Kingdom (222-280). The opening ceremony was held at Wuzhong Museum with rich collection about “Wu Culture”. Foreigners had a quick visit before the opening ceremony.
现场表演《小宴·今夜无人入睡》
A creative performance mixing Kunqu Opera and western classic operas was presented at the opening ceremony, wowing all the guests home and abroad. The two actors’ performance truly depicts a vivid conversation between the east and the west.
袁牧教授发表了“姑苏灵动，江南精工”的主题演讲，介绍了时尚而古老的苏州，如何凭借精湛的工艺制作技艺，荣膺 “手工艺与民间艺术之都”的称号。
Suzhou became UNESCO’s Creative City of Crafts and Folk Artsince 2014. Yuan Mu, Deputy Dean of School of Art of Soochow University, delivered a speech and introduced the reasons why Suzhou could become UNESCO’s “City of Crafts and Folk Art”.
袁牧教授介绍苏州如何荣膺“手工艺与民间艺术之都”的称号
在演讲中，袁牧教授说：“400年来，由苏作所引领的‘苏作造物时尚‘与精湛造物技艺，不仅影响着中国人的生活方式和手工造物，还随着大航海时代的海上贸易，漂洋过海在欧洲大地上与绚烂的巴洛克艺术以及后来纤巧的洛可可艺术相交融，形成了设计领域里的‘中国风’。”
评弹青年演员周梦白现场教学苏州话
评弹青年演员周梦白，现场教学苏州方言，让外国朋友体验了纯正的苏州腔。周梦白告诉记者：“现在很多小孩子也不会说苏州话，但是苏州话是很多艺术的基础，像是评弹，昆曲。如果都不会的话，这些艺术就更没有人传承了。”
荷言品牌创始人周立言的改良款旗袍
荷言品牌创始人周立言，将传统旗袍工艺发扬光大，改良款的旗袍作品让宾客目不暇接。周立言告诉记者：“改良旗袍不止是传承，这也是一种创新，我们会在传统旗袍的基础上加入一些新的元素。在国际化方面，我们参加过米兰的展览，爱丁堡展览等等，我们也希望以后可以把店开到伦敦。”
Zhou Liyan, the founder of cheongsam brand Heyan, showcased its improved Qipao or cheongsam to the foreign friends. “Improved Qipao is not only about inheritance, but also about innovation,” she said. “We have many new styles, new elements based on traditional styles.”
“Our Qipao have been exhibited in Milan Expo, Edinburgh Expo, and etc. We also want to open a store in London,” she added.
外籍友人试穿旗袍
来自摩洛哥的Msaad告诉记者，今天她终于穿上了梦寐以求的旗袍。“这真是太漂亮了，我拍了很多照片留作纪念。”
同时，吴中博物馆对于吴文化的丰富馆藏也让她大饱眼福。“博物馆里的讲解非常细致，我学习到了很多。这是一个非常具有苏州文化气息的地方。应该有更多的游客来这里了解吴文化。”
外籍友人参观吴中博物馆
“I got to dress up in the traditional Chinese clothes,” said Msaad Hajar from Morocco. “It was very good. I also took pictures to keep that as memories.”
“Today we learned a lot fromthe guide in the museum and she explained very well. It was very cultural here for Suzhou and it's also good for the tourists that will comein the future,” she added.
10日晚，前来的外国朋友参观了平江历史文化街区，体验了沉浸式感官体验剧《声入姑苏》。在传统与现代中，丰富了对“姑苏灵动，江南精工”的认知，实地感受苏州“手工艺与民间艺术之都”的魅力。在接下来的文化之旅中，外国朋友还将参观苏州丝绸博物馆、双塔集市、凌云工艺扇厂和苏州御窑金砖博物馆。
The Foreign friends went to Pingjiang Historical Block Thursday nightdespite a heavy rain and listened to Gusu-Pingjiang, an immersive opera built by the city this year.
体验《声入姑苏》
On Friday, they will further enrich their understanding ofSuzhou as the City of Crafts and Folk Artby visiting Shuangta Market, Shengfeng Suzhou Fan Art Museum, Suzhou Museum of Imperial Kiln Brick.
“发现江苏”是江苏省人民政府新闻办公室着力打造的采风采访体验活动品牌，旨在通过生活在江苏的外籍人士的独特视角来发现江苏的美丽、魅力，并借助这些“平民大使”向世界宣传、推介江苏。
"Discover Jiangsu" is a major brand built by the Information Office of Jiangsu Provincial People's Government. Each year, the organizers will invite the foreigners living in Jiangsu to explore various sides of the province and introduce Jiangsu to the world.
