The English county of Essex celebrates an unusual but elaborate cultural exchange with the Chinese province of Jiangsu with the launch of Essex Jiangsu Festival at the House of Commons on Monday, 23 June.
The Essex County Council's spokesperson, Emily Banfield, said it was going to be a "unique cultural exchange – the like of which has never before been seen in Essex. " Links between Essex and Jiangsu were apparently begun some 20 years ago.
The festival launch event also marks the opening of a photography exhibition focused on Jiangsu, which will feature photographs taken by Essex photographer Anthony Channer.
Jiangsu, an eastern Chinese province with a population of about 80 million. has over 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) of coastline along the Yellow Sea. Two great rivers flow through the province: the Yangzi River from west to east and Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal from north to south. Nanjing, the capital, is one of the most attractive and culturally rich of Chinese cities.
Essex County Council telephone: 01245 430096.
