A cultural delegation from South China's Guangdong Province departed on July 29 for a multi-day tour of Papua New Guinea (PNG) and the Independent State of Samoa, kicking off the "2026 Charming China (Guangdong): Lingnan Culture Travels to the South Pacific" series of exchange events.
The exchange events are organized by the Information Office of the People's Government of Guangdong Province, with the Guangdong Federation of Literary and Art Circles, Nanfang Media Group (Nanfang Daily), Guangdong Radio and Television Station and several provincial cultural institutions as co-organizers.
The delegation brings a program of stage performances, intangible cultural heritage demonstrations, Guangdong goods exhibitions, a Guangdong photo showcase and friendship exchanges to the South Pacific countries.
The trip comes as 2026 marks the APEC "China Year," the 50th anniversary of China-PNG diplomatic relations and the start of a second half-century of China-Samoa friendship. It also coincides with the 10th anniversary of the sister-city relationship between Shenzhen and Port Moresby, the capital of PNG.
Against this backdrop, the delegation is using Butuka Academy, a landmark project of China-PNG friendship, as its main platform. They are rolling out a series of events that blend campus outreach, intangible cultural heritage interactions, goods exhibitions and diplomatic engagement to present Lingnan culture to South Pacific audiences.
The delegation hosted an intangible cultural heritage session for local students at Butuka Academy on July 29. This session features hands-on intangible cultural heritage workshops such as Guangzhou painted porcelain, Wing Chun martial arts, Cantonese embroidery, and paper-cutting, along with a screening of a bilingual Chinese animation.
Students take part in intangible cultural heritage activities at Butuka Academy.
Local students were fully engaged: some carefully painted porcelain blanks with brushes, others followed instructors to practice basic Wing Chun stances. Laughter and excitement filled the room as the young participants expressed their eagerness to take home their handmade Chinese crafts.
The Chinese Embassy in Papua New Guinea will open its doors for a cultural showcase on July 30. The centerpiece event, the launch ceremony of "2026 Charming China (Guangdong): Lingnan Culture Travels to the South Pacific," will take place at Butuka Academy on July 31. It will feature stage performances, the "See You in Guangdong" friendship exchange, the "Guangdong Goods, Global Reach" products exhibition and the IP Guangdong photo exhibition.
More than 60 pieces of Lingnan folk art are traveling with the delegation, including Guangzhou painted porcelain, Cantonese embroidery, Shiwan ceramics, Duan inkstone and Chaozhou woodcarving. Master artisans specializing in Guangzhou painted porcelain, Cantonese embroidery and paper-cutting will also guide local participants through hands-on crafting sessions.
The delegation has also prepared a selection of cultural gifts for partner institutions in PNG during the exchanges, including traditional Chinese medicine-themed toys, smart readers, award-winning Guangdong-produced animations and Lingnan-style souvenirs.
Also, Guangdong’s flagship international communication media the South will partner with relevant institutions in Papua New Guinea to launch a Guangdong goods showcase window. This initiative will create a direct channel for Guangdong's premium products to reach local consumers.
Besides public cultural events, the delegation will hold talks with PNG's leading media outlets, including the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) and the Post-Courier, as well as with local Chinese community organizations. A number of cooperation agreements are expected to be signed during these meetings.
Guangdong Radio and Television Station's documentary program "Canton Today" will officially launch on NBC, and a Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area– APEC Economies documentary screening will make its debut in the South Pacific.
The delegation will travel on to the Independent State of Samoa on August 3 for engagements with local media partners, including Talamua Media and TV9 (Samoa). The award-winning Teochew-dialect film Dear You will be screened for the first time in the Independent State of Samoa for a select group of invitees during the delegation's visit
Reporter | Huang Xinyi
Photo | Guangdong Federation of Literary and Art Circles, Guangdong Radio and Television Station
