(Photo courtesy of Incheon Development and Tourism Cooperation)

China, a close neighbor of Korea, gets even closer this weekend, as the Incheon China Day Festival kicks off its four-day journey on April 28.

Commemorating the 20th anniversary of Korea-China diplomatic ties, the festival is hosted under the slogan “Good neighbors, Incheon welcomes you” (善邻仁川欢迎您). Through May 1, the showcase of the modern and traditional cultures of both nations takes place at multiple venues around Incheon, including Jayu Park, Incheon Art Platform (www.inartplatform.kr), and the Chinatown area.

On April 28, the streets of Chinatown transform into a ground for China’s traditional lion-dragon dance parade and other festive performances, inviting visitors to catch a glimpse of authentic Chinese culture. At 6 p.m., a reenactment of Joseon Kingdom’s diplomatic corps reception ceremony will be unveiled on a special stage inside Jayu Park.


Following the ritual, adapted with a modern touch as to welcome overseas tourists, a concert will be held with participation of K-pop groups including U-Kiss and Girl’s Day, alongside MBC Star Audition Winner Baek Chung-gang, originally from Yanbian, China. The concert wraps up the full day of events with a fireworks show celebrating Korea-China friendship.

A traditional Chinese performance is slated for April 29 at 1 p.m., succeeded by a K-pop cover dance contest at Incheon Art Platform beginning at 2 p.m. 

During the festival, Incheon, a city bursting with a selection of authentic local food and Chinese gourmandize, becomes tastier. On April 29 and 30, a food exhibition introduces 50 representative rich flavors and delights from Korea and China at Incheon Art Platform. Visitors may also enjoy a variety of hands-on activities on site to experience Korean and Chinese traditions, such as wearing Hanbok, the traditional Korean costume.

A number of contemporary cultural events also await visitors, including a preview on April 30 of the upcoming 2012 Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival and an art exhibition featuring artwork of both countries running until May 28 at Incheon Art Platform.

For those keen on experiencing the history of the port city, the festival will also run a storytelling field tour throughout the festival in Korean, Chinese, Japanese, and English.

The festival is hosted by Incheon Development and Tourism Cooperation under the auspices of Incheon Metropolitan City in a bid to foster cordial relationship and bilateral human and cultural exchanges. For more information on the festival and travel tips, visit: www.inchinafestival.com or http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=1265642&nearBy=site

By Hwang Dana
Korea.net Staff Writer