Colombo (TDI): A cultural exchange series highlighting the legacy of Chinese navigator Zheng He and centuries-old ties between China and countries along the Maritime Silk Road was held at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall in Colombo.
Titled “Zheng He Odyssey: Global Friendship Envoy,” the event was jointly organized by the Information Office and Foreign Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Yunnan Province.
The program featured an offline exhibition of creative posters from the “AI World Heritage & Zheng He Legacy” design competition as well as a cultural bazaar showcasing Yunnan’s traditions and heritage.
Nearly 100 guests from the political, publishing and cultural circles of China, Sri Lanka, Nepal, India, Pakistan and other countries gathered to celebrate friendship and the joy of reunion.
More than 600 years ago, Zheng He, the renowned navigator from the shores of Dianchi Lake in Yunnan, China, led a fleet of over 200 ships on seven epic voyages to the Western Oceans.
He visited Sri Lanka several times and erected the Galle Trilingual Inscription, also known as the Zheng He Stele, bearing inscriptions in three languages to pay homage to believers of three different faiths. Housed today in the National Museum of Sri Lanka, the stone remains a tangible testament to civilizational exchange and friendship along the ancient Maritime Silk Road.
Shdw Kumara, a Sri Lankan tour guide with 12 years of experience, regularly leads international groups to view the Zheng He Stele. “When I learned of this Zheng He‑themed exhibition, I came here on purpose. I hope to deepen my understanding of him so I can better tell the story of this great Chinese navigator’s journey of civilization,” he said.
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“Zheng He’s fleet also reached India,” Arjun Goyal, general manager of GBD Books India, said in front of the 30 posters of “AI‑Powered World Heritage: Traces of Zheng He”. Goyal has spent over a decade translating and publishing Chinese titles in Hindi and English. He brought the Hindi edition of “Secrets of Zheng He’s Voyages to the Western Oceans” to the event.
“The illustrations show Zheng He’s treasure ships, together with tea, porcelain and other goods his fleet carried abroad. The book has been well received among Indian readers,” he noted.
At the cultural bazaar, Yunnan’s cultural heritage drew steady crowds: Bai ethnic tie‑dye fabrics, Yi embroidered sling bags, Naxi Dongba‑script calligraphy, Jiama woodblock rubbings and Wamao talisman figurines.
Guests tried Hanfu dress‑up for photos and joined Zheng He‑themed Jiama rubbing sessions. Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Wei Huaxiang told attendees that these cultural heritages from different Chinese ethnic groups coexist harmoniously and are being well preserved and vibrantly developed.
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The scent of Yunnan Pu’er tea lingered across exhibition zones. Guests sat together sipping tea and tasting Yunnan‑style mooncakes with fresh‑flower fillings, immersing themselves in the festive ambience of traditional Chinese celebrations.
