On August 12, the 2024 Qiaopi History and Culture Exhibition opened in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, attracting over a thousand visitors, including representatives from the Cambodian Chinese associations and chambers of commerce, prominent overseas Chinese leaders, and teachers and students from Chinese schools. On the exhibition day, Shantou and Phnom Penh held a signing ceremony for a friendship city partnership.
Shantou and Phnom Penh sign a friendship city partnership agreement.
This year marks the "China-Cambodia Year of People-to-People Exchange." Through the Qiaopi archives, which are part of the "Memory of the World Register", the event showcased nearly a hundred pieces of Qiaopi along with related images and materials, narrating the stories of Qiaopi from Cambodia and other Southeast Asian countries.
The exhibition showcases nearly 100 Qiaopi letters and related pictures that are arranged in a thematic display spanning nearly 100 meters long.
The entrance of the exhibition was uniquely designed to resemble a "Chaoshan Ancestral Hall," incorporating intangible cultural heritage techniques such as inlaid porcelain, gold lacquer painting, stone carving, and wood carving, drawing numerous visitors to take photos.
The facade of the Qiaopi Exhibition was designed in the style of traditional Chaoshan residences
Theme wall of the 2024 Qiaopi History and Culture Exhibition
"When I was young, I helped my family send Qiaopi. I remember that my parents did business, and around 30% of their income went to supporting the economy of our ancestral homeland," said Fang Qiaosheng, President of the Federation of Khmer Chinese in Cambodia. In his view, Qiaopi embodies the affection of overseas Chinese for their hometowns and their families, as well as their contributions to their ancestral homeland, supporting China's development at that time.
Fang Qiaosheng, President of the Federation of Khmer Chinese in Cambodia, is writing a letter at the Qiaopi Exhibition
"In the 1960s, my grandfather returned to China once. I heard him say that families in the village with overseas Chinese relatives would be very delighted upon receiving Qiaopi from their loved ones," said Chen Zengyang, Executive President of Teochew Overseas Friendship Association in Cambodia and Honorary Advisor of Chaoshan Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia. He believes that this exhibition not only evokes the historical memories of older overseas Chinese about sending Qiaopi in the past but also enables Cambodian young Chinese to understand and learn about the Qiaopi culture of "honesty, hard work, courage in exploration, and deep attachment to one's hometown."
Lee Morokot, a high school student at Tuan Hoa School, Cambodia, experienced writing a letter in Chinese at the exhibition and carefully selected a postcard featuring the scenery of Shantou to stamp with the red head junk seal. "My understanding of Qiaopi is that they are for covering family expenses. A long time ago, Chinese people came to Southeast Asia to work and sent the money they earned back home to support their families," she told reporters. She added that through this exhibition, she learned about the history she had never known before, and the live experience made her feel even more deeply the hardships suffered by her ancestors while striving in a foreign country.
Students at Tuan Hoa School, Cambodia are writing Qiaopi in Chinese.
Cambodian entrepreneur Sem Sreytouch told reporters that through cultural exchange activities such as the Qiaopo exhibition, she has gained a more comprehensive and profound understanding of Chinese culture. "Mutual understanding between the peoples of Cambodia and China is of great importance. Especially for entrepreneurs like us, understanding a country's culture can help us better grasp cooperation opportunities and understand the prospects for collaboration," she said.
Guided by the Information Office of the People's Government of Guangdong Province, this exhibition was jointly hosted by the Information Office of the People's Government of Shantou City and the Shantou Foreign Affairs & Overseas Chinese Affairs Bureau, and undertaken by GDToday of the Southern Media Group and other organizers. It marks the second stop of the 2024 Shantou Qiaopi Exhibition Tour. Previously, Shantou has successfully held a Qiaopi History and Culture Exhibition in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, attracting over 500 visitors, including local politicians, overseas Chinese leaders, and young people.
Shantou plans to host the 22nd Teochew International Convention and the 10th World Chaoshan Entrepreneurs Convention in November this year, aiming to invite compatriots from home and overseas to "come home" and participate in a splendid gathering themed on economy, culture, youth, and unity.
Writing: GDToday reporters Lydia Liu and Wu Caiqian
Video Editing: GDToday reporter Guo Hongda and Pan Jiajun
Video Shooting: GDToday reporters Guo Hongda and Qin Shaolong
Video Script: GDToday reporter Lydia Liu
Editor: He Zhen, Ge Yuting, Monica, James
Intern Yang Lin also contributed to this article.
