‘Between Two Cultures’ Festival Celebrates Chinese Culture

Riyadh, January 07, 2026, SPA -- The Ministry of Culture today concluded the third annual “Between Two Cultures” Festival, held from December 24 to January 6 at Al Malfa Hall in the Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofit City (Misk City) in Riyadh. China was the guest of honor this year, coinciding with activities of the Saudi–Chinese Cultural Year 2025. The festival highlighted areas of convergence between Saudi and Chinese cultures to reinforce civilizational dialogue and enhance cultural exchange between the two countries.
In collaboration with the Music Commission, the ministry developed the festival’s musical identity to reflect the spirit of convergence between the Saudi and Chinese cultures. The festival offered a rich cultural journey showcasing Chinese culture and its points of connection and similarity with Saudi culture through diverse sections, including an art exhibition titled “When the Winds Turns East,” featuring 84 artworks by Saudi and Chinese artists.
It included a Chinese Street area that presented live performances and cultural activations, highlighting deep-rooted heritage shared by both countries despite geographical distance, such as nature, rock inscriptions, trade routes, hospitality, traditional attire, and intangible cultural heritage.
The festival featured participation by the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Global Center for Arabic Calligraphy, with a dedicated space offering content and activities that merged Arabic and Chinese calligraphy. In addition, several art and cultural exhibitions presented a visual experience through works by artists from both countries, embodying elements of their visual heritage and ancient histories. Performing arts and music stages brought together Saudi and Chinese performances, where rhythm and movement translated the depth of values and aesthetics that have shaped both civilizations over the ages.
The festival offered a virtual-reality (VR) experience that took visitors on an interactive journey to the Chinese capital, Beijing, to explore its historical landmarks, guided by a virtual tour leader throughout the experience. It included a photography experience blending Saudi and Chinese styles, as well as traditional hair adornment experiences inspired by both cultures, such as decorating hair with jasmine flowers in Jazan Region and the use of Chinese floral hair ornaments. Visitors were also introduced to traditional Chinese tea rituals, sampling different tea types and learning about the Chinese philosophy behind tea preparation.
An outdoor area provided a visual experience through lighting elements linking Chinese forms with their counterparts in Saudi architecture and environment, such as the traditional lantern. The space served as a visual bridge, guiding visitors from artistic settings to relaxation and tasting areas, with Saudi and Chinese chefs presenting live cooking demonstrations of traditional dishes. Visitors enjoyed watching the preparation process and sampling the cuisine, alongside a selection of restaurants and cafés blending Saudi and Chinese culinary traditions.
The “Between Two Cultures” Festival builds on its previous editions, which hosted Yemen in the first edition and Iraq in the second. The festival reflects the Ministry of Culture’s efforts to explore global cultures, highlight points of similarity with Saudi culture, and offer a rich interactive experience that enables creative collaboration between Saudi artists and their counterparts worldwide. It also underscores the ministry’s commitment to enhancing international cultural exchange as a key objective of the National Culture Strategy under the Saudi Vision 2030.
-- SPA