China celebrated in 'Charming Beijing' exhibition

A 'Charming Beijing' photo exhibition and public open event opened at the Wolfe Tone Square of Jervis Street in Dublin, as Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism introduced a Global Distribution Partnership Programme in Ireland to boost outbound tourism.

Ma Wen, Deputy Inspector of Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism; Huang He and Oujia Wang from Chinese Embassy in Ireland, representatives from Dublin City Council, Failte Ireland and UCD Confucius Institute cut the ribbon at the event hosted by Zatino travel, a Chinese executive travel agency company in Navan.
The event kicked off with lion dancing, Yangqin and Guzheng performances, Beijing Opera costume show and other entertainments featuring the traditional cultures of both Ireland and China. 
More than 50 pictures were on display, which were divided into five themes: Beijing ancient capital, fashionable Beijing, modern Beijing, cultural Beijing and Beijing Forbidden City. This exhibition fully displayed the profound cultural and historical inside of Beijing, and demonstrated the enormous vitality and rapid development of the ancient city.
To enhance the communication with local residents and bring them closer to Beijing’s unique folk culture, many interactive activities were arranged, such as VR experiencing, Beijing Opera costume fitting, Beijing scenery photographing, painting on lanterns and learning to write Chinese characters. 
During the event, the Dublin office of Hainan Airlines was invited by Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, to promote the publicity of the Dublin-Beijing and Dublin-Shenzhen air route. These two direct air routes are benefiting Irish people travelling to China, and will help the increase economic and cultural exchanges between both countries.
The Global Distribution Partnership Programme was introduced to Irish travel agencies. The programme aims to recruit 20 partner agencies from the 12 key markets including UK and Ireland by 2020. The partnership will last three years and can be renewed. A reward of up to €130,000 incentive reward will be given the selected travel agencies.
UK and Ireland are key members of the 12 key overseas markets for Beijing. Each year, about 180,000 to 200,000 market traders go to Beijing, accounting for about four to fiv per cent of Beijing’s inbound visitors.
In addition to this public day event, the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, together with Beijing Capital Airport,also held a month-long 'Charming Beijing' photo exhibition at Edinburgh Airport in June, to promote Beijing culture and its tourism to airport travellers.