Some 100 young people from Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions (SARs) crossed the Pearl River to Guangzhou to stage a performance at the Archaeological Site of the Palace of Nanyue Kingdom on June 17.

Sponsored by the Guangzhou municipal bureau of culture, radio, TV, film, press and publication and the Guangzhou Broadcasting Network, the exchange event created a platform for young people from the three cities to display their talent and local culture via art performance, face-to-face discussion. 

Guangzhou has a long history of about 2,200 years, and is a political, commercial and cultural center in South China. The three cities share many similarities in geography, history and culture.

Girls from Hong Kong and Macao perform in Guangzhou, promoting cultural exchanges with their counterparts in Gunagdong province capital on June 17. [Photo by Xia Shiyan/ep.ycwb.com]

The Archaeological Site of the Palace of Nanyue Kingdom is renowned for its rare assemblage of funerary artifacts representing the diffusion of cultures throughout the Lingnan region. It is a vast repository of Lingnan and Cantonese culture.

Guangzhou has always promoted exchanges and development with Hong Kong and Macao, said Lu Zhiqiang, director of Guangzhou municipal bureau of culture, radio, TV, film, press.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong's return from British rule and the establishment of the Hong Kong SAR, as well as the 18th anniversary of Macao's return from Portuguese rule. The cultural activities will help enhance mutual understanding and exchanges, Lu added.

After their performances, the young people visited Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, Huangpu Old Port and Huangpu Military Academy – also known as Whampoa Military Academy.

Young people stage dance performances at a cultural exchange event held in Guangzhou on June 17. [Photo/Guangzhou Daily]