From May 26 to 27, 2025, the Chinese Embassy in the UAE, the China Cultural Center in the UAE, the Palace Museum, the China International Culture Association, and the “Chinese in 100 Schools” program in the UAE jointly held the workshop “Encounter Across the Seas: Stories of Civilizational Exchange in the Forbidden City.” The event brought a cross-cultural journey to over 100 students at Hamdan bin Zayed School and Yas School in Abu Dhabi. Through hands-on exploration of porcelain and timepieces, students discovered the deep-rooted exchanges between Chinese and foreign cultures within the Forbidden City.
Exported Blue and White Porcelain
In the session titled “Exported Blue and White Porcelain,” students learned about the history and craftsmanship of Chinese ceramics and designed their own export-style porcelain. Some painted classic blue-and-white motifs, while others chose adorable pandas. Mariam, an 11th-grade student from Hamdan School, inscribed “I love China” in Chinese, Arabic, and English within her floral design. Another student, Bashayer Omar, painted a blooming blue lotus at the center of a plate, where a majestic dragon suddenly leapt from the lotus leaves—its whiskers like lightning, its shimmering scales glowing cobalt blue. The lifelike painting looked ready to burst from the plate into the air, trailing a fragrance of lotus.
Cultural Exchange on Timepieces
The “Cultural Exchange on Timepieces” workshop was even livelier. Students decorated dials, embedded ornaments, and assembled their own watches—experiencing a hands-on blend of history and modern craftsmanship. Omar Ahmed from Yas School was the first to finish. On his watch face, the Chinese and Emirati flags stood side by side, and each second ticked like a symbolic high-five. “This is a friendship watch!” he proudly declared. “Look! My crane tells time!” exclaimed Diyab Ghalib, showing off his work. His painted blue-and-white crane had layered wings, a graceful neck, and eyes so vivid they seemed to blink with every hand movement—like a tiny spirit living in the watch. Others painted dragons, football fields, or floral patterns, each claiming theirs was the best. At the end, Minister Zhao Liang from the Chinese Embassy and Fatima Bastaki, head of the “100 Schools” program, awarded certificates and shared their heartfelt congratulations.
Led by Deputy Researcher Kan Hongmin and Researcher Lin Deqi from the Palace Museum, the courses combined Chinese-English bilingual instruction with engaging hands-on activities. Though thousands of miles from China, the Forbidden City’s cultural legacy came alive through these inspiring lessons, igniting Emirati students’ passion for Chinese history and heritage.
