Peonies, Culture Bloom In Sofia At China-Bulgaria Spring Festival

KUALA LUMPUR, May 26 (Bernama) – A vibrant celebration of spring and cultural exchange unfolded in Sofia’s South Park as the “Peony Blossom Celebration: A Springtime Cultural Gathering” attracted hundreds of visitors from across Bulgaria.

Set amid blooming peonies, the event was co-hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Bulgaria and the Publicity Department of the CPC Heze Municipal Committee.

Sofia Deputy Mayor Nikola Barbutov praised the gathering for fostering cross-cultural understanding, calling it a “celebration of shared beauty and lasting friendship”.

The event transformed into a vivid tapestry of Chinese culture, featuring immersive peony-themed photo exhibitions and interactive cultural experiences, according to a statement.

Guests enjoyed hands-on activities such as painting workshops and cultural trivia, in addition to savouring peony-infused tea and delicacies, donning intricately embroidered Hanfu adorned with peony motifs, and exploring artisanal creations.

A charitable aspect, supported by the "For Our Children" Foundation, saw a strong public response to embassy-donated books and peony-themed cultural and creative products from Heze.

Marking 75 years of diplomatic relations between China and Bulgaria, the festival also highlighted the symbolic planting of 700 Heze-grown peonies in public gardens, which include South Park, Plovdiv Cultural Park, and the Botanical Garden of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences—living tributes to the growing friendship between the two nations.

-- BERNAMA