The “Zheng He Odyssey: Global Friendship Envoy” series of cultural exchange activities were held on Friday at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo, an iconic venue symbolizing China‑Sri Lanka friendship.
(Photo: Local residents view the AI Creative Poster exhibition)
Co‑organized by the Information Office of the People’s Government of Yunnan Province and the Foreign Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Yunnan Province, the series featured two main parts: the Offline Exhibition of “AI World Heritage & Zheng He Legacy” Creative Poster Design Competition and the “Zheng He Odyssey: Global Friendship Envoy” cultural bazaar. Nearly 100 guests from the political, publishing and cultural circles of China, Sri Lanka, Nepal, India, Pakistan and other countries gathered to celebrate friendship and the joy of reunion.
(Photo: Local residents view the AI Creative Poster exhibition)
More than 600 years ago, Zheng He, the renowned navigator from the shores of Dianchi Lake in Yunnan, China, led a fleet of over 200 ships on seven epic voyages to the Western Oceans. He visited Sri Lanka several times and erected the Galle Trilingual Inscription, also known as the Zheng He Stele, bearing inscriptions in three languages to pay homage to believers of three different faiths. Housed today in the National Museum of Sri Lanka, the stone remains a tangible testament to civilizational exchange and friendship along the ancient Maritime Silk Road.
(Photo: Guests learn about cultural and creative products from Dehong, Yunnan at the event)
Shdw Kumara, a Sri Lankan tour guide with 12 years of experience, regularly leads international groups to view the Zheng He Stele. “When I learned of this Zheng He‑themed exhibition, I came here on purpose. I hope to deepen my understanding of him so I can better tell the story of this great Chinese navigator’s journey of civilization,” he said.
(Photo: Guests try writing the Dongba script of the Naxi ethnic group from Yunnan at the event)
“Zheng He’s fleet also reached India,” Arjun Goyal, general manager of GBD Books India, said in front of the 30 posters of “AI‑Powered World Heritage: Traces of Zheng He”. Goyal has spent over a decade translating and publishing Chinese titles in Hindi and English. He brought the Hindi edition of “Secrets of Zheng He’s Voyages to the Western Oceans” to the event. “The illustrations show Zheng He’s treasure ships, together with tea, porcelain and other goods his fleet carried abroad. The book has been well received among Indian readers,” he noted.
(Photo: Indian booksellers display their translated books about Zheng He）
At the cultural bazaar, Yunnan’s cultural heritage drew steady crowds: Bai ethnic tie‑dye fabrics, Yi embroidered sling bags, Naxi Dongba‑script calligraphy, Jiama woodblock rubbings and Wamao talisman figurines. Guests tried Hanfu dress‑up for photos and joined Zheng He‑themed Jiama rubbing sessions. Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Wei Huaxiang told attendees that these cultural heritages from different Chinese ethnic groups coexist harmoniously and are being well preserved and vibrantly developed.
(Photo: A guest tries on Chinese-style costumes at the event）
The scent of Yunnan Pu’er tea lingered across exhibition zones. Guests sat together sipping tea and tasting Yunnan‑style mooncakes with fresh‑flower fillings, immersing themselves in the festive ambience of traditional Chinese celebrations.
(Photo: Guests from across the world display Chinese sachets at the event）