The Fujian Media Group recently released a series of short videos themed “Fu Culture to the World.” These videos aim to showcase the unique landscapes, local customs, and traditional culture of Pingtan through the distinct perspectives of international students living in Fujian and media reporters. While promoting Pingtan’s cultural and tourism brand, the series also seeks to introduce the world to Pingtan’s unique “Fu” culture, building a bridge for cultural dissemination and exchange between China and other countries.
Pingtan Island, located in China’s Fujian Province, is known for its picturesque scenery and rich tourism resources. It boasts not only enchanting island views but also a wealth of traditional culture. To better showcase Pingtan’s “Fu” culture to the world and further the development of Pingtan as an international tourism island, Media Center of Technology Culture & Sports of Fujian Media Group and the Tourism,culture and sports bureau of Pingtan comprehensive pilot zone organized the “Fu Culture to the World—Fu Culture Short Video Exploration Series.” International students and media reporters were invited to explore Pingtan and experience the island’s romantic vitality and cultural charm. This short video series is a genuine record of their visit to Pingtan.
Benjelloul Younes, a student from Essaouira, the Wind City of Morocco, was one of the international students invited. During this cultural exploration trip, he encountered another Wind City, Pingtan, more than 13,000 kilometers away from his hometown. With Bermuda and the Cape of Good Hope,Pingtan is known as the world’s three major tuyere sea cities. To his surprise, Younes discovered that these two cities, touched by the wind, share many similarities.
As a fan of kitesurfing, Younes found Pingtan to be the best spot in China for this sport. The stone houses by the sea made him feel at home. What left the deepest impression on Younes was his experience with Pingtan’sShell Carving.
Shell Carving, a traditional handicraft unique to Pingtan, is known for its artistic charm. It involves using the natural colors, textures, and shapes of shells, which are then artistically conceived, ground, carved, and pasted to create arts and crafts. In 2019, “Pingtan’s Shell Carving” was officially recognized as a national geographical indication trademark and was also listed as a provincial intangible cultural heritage representative project that same year.
At the Pingtan Strait Folk Art Museum, Younes encountered an old friend among the thousands of shell carvings and specimens worldwide—African shells, which are processed into incomparable artworks. One of the large conchs displayed in the exhibit was almost identical to the traditional Moroccan musical instrument, the Moroccan conch shell, which Younes has at home, even down to the method of playing it.
Under the guidance and assistance of Mr. Zhan Sheng, a national first-class master of craft carving and a Pingtan shell carving inheritor of intangible cultural heritage,Younes completed his first shell carving work titled “Fu” (meaning “the happiness”). He wrote down his thoughts, “One Ocean, One Home,” and plans to bring this piece back to his home in Essaouira, Morocco, as a souvenir.
Through Younes’ experience, this journey to Pingtan highlights the connection between two cities separated by great distances, as well as the shared and inclusive nature of culture and art. As the ancient Chinese poem goes, “Hai Nei Cun Zhi Ji, Tian Ya Ruo Bi Lin” (meaning “Although miles apart, we are close at heart”), the “Fu Culture to the World” short video series of international students exploring Pingtan is a true record of “telling China’s story well, spreading China’s voice well, and showcasing an authentic, multidimensional, and comprehensive China.” It is a practical effort to promote Fujian’s “Fu” culture brand, letting the world see the “Fu” culture to better facilitate cultural exchange and dissemination at home and abroad.
Click the following links to watch other short videos of this series:
Ordering challenge in Pingtan Dialect:
https://www.facebook.com/LoveFujian/videos/1725568154936506/
Happiness reflected by Lights on both sides of the Taiwan Strait:
https://twitter.com/HolaFujian/status/1802620786370617563
This is Pingtan:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=7987416967992948
Chinese Romance:
https://twitter.com/HolaFujian/status/1805844326079144333
