The Journey Through Civilizations: An Encounter with Liangzhu 2024 World Tour exhibition drew thousands of visitors in Manchester in the United Kingdom on Saturday and Sunday.

The event, held with the aim of promoting cultural exchanges and fostering mutual understanding, coincided with the celebration of the Dragon Boat Festival, which falls on Monday this year.
Organized by the China Media Group(CMG) and the Liangzhu Relic Site, the exhibition welcomed representatives from the Consulate General of China in Manchester, local government officials, and local residents.
The archeological ruins of Liangzhu (circa 3,300-2,300 BCE), located in the Yangtze River Basin in East China's Zhejiang province, reveal an early regional state with a unified belief system based on rice cultivation in Late Neolithic China. It has been listed as one of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO) World Heritage sites since 2019.
The exhibition featured interactive displays that engaged visitors with immersive experiences such as jade carving, painting, and stamping traditional Liangzhu motifs.
Paul Dennett, deputy mayor of Greater Manchester told CMG that Manchester is known for its cultural diversity and has long had Chinese expatriates living in the region.
"It's been amazing to hear about, you know, your history or heritage and how you're using that to communicate today about Chinese culture and traditions, but doing that in a way that brings people together and also shares understanding of different cultures," he said.
Mike Haslam, founder and honorary president at International Dragon Boat Federation hoped such event could promote mutual understanding among civilizations.
"I've been following Chinese culture for many years, and it's good to see the exhibition here. It's important that people understand more about China and Chinese culture and traditions, because it's sadly lacking in the West," he said.
The 10th All England Chinese Dragon Boat Festival was also held in Greater Manchester over the weekend, with tens of thousands of people watching the competition. Residents and visitors cheered on the competitors and enjoyed cultural performances such as the Ansai Waist Drums and Dragon and Lion Dances.