Armenian Traditional Attire Captivates at the National Costume Festival in China
During the National Costume Festival at East China Normal University, two Armenian garments garnered widespread admiration from attendees. Both pieces are part of the ChinArmArt collection, which is China’s only repository of Armenian traditional dress.The first garment was the Artsakh or Karabakh taraz, easily recognizable by its vivid red and green hues—a symbolic representation of Armenian heritage and strength. The second garment was worn by Mariam Sahakyan, an Armenian student from East China Normal University, and featured Ourfa-inspired embroidery that reinterprets centuries-old motifs with contemporary elegance.The festival took place on May 7 at the university’s Xiayu Island, where the highlight
Armenian Academics Foster Cross-Cultural Dialogue at Shandong University International Conference on South Caucasus-China Relations
The academic conference “From the South Caucasus to China: Historical Heritage and Modern Economic and Cultural Convergence” (April 26, Shandong University of Aeronautics) opened new pathways for scholarly collaboration. Armenian diplomatic representation was prominent, featuring Mr. Koryun Ghazaryan (Economic and Trade Attaché) and Mr. Harutyun Hayrapetyan (First Secretary) from the Armenian Embassy to China, alongside former Ambassador Mr. Manassarian, highlighting Armenia’s dedication to academic diplomacy. H.E. Mr. Paata Kalandadze, Ambassador of Georgia to China, as well as the representatives of the Embassy of Georgia, also participated, reflecting regional cooperation.Chinese perspectives were represented by Yu Hongjun, former Vice Minister of the
Redefining Design and Aesthetics: Scholars Explore New Paradigms at Sichuan Fine Arts Institute Forum, China
On April 19, the third Academic Forum on Design Aesthetics, co-organized by the Design Aesthetics Professional Committee of the Chinese Society of Aesthetics and the School of Design at Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, gathered over 100 experts from leading institutions including Beijing University, Nanjing University, Soochow University and the Central Academy of Fine Arts to examine post-visuality's transformative effects on contemporary creative fields. Under the theme "Design Aesthetics and a Better Life," participants showcased how cutting-edge design principles are being developed and implemented in China, particularly in addressing the shift from purely functional objects to multisensory, culturally embedded experiences. The
Across Continents, One Heritage: Armenian Diasporic Communities Unite for Cultural Legacy Preservation Discussions
On April 6th, Armenian Diaspora Young Ambassadors from Russia and China made history by hosting the first collaborative online meeting on cultural preservation. Organized by Syuzanna Minasaryan ("Nor Hayq" Youth Organization, Anapa), Anahit Khudanyan ("Ararat" Youth Organization, Tambov), Gayane Karapetyan ("Urartu" Youth Organization, Tver), Ani Meloyan (Union of Armenians of Tyumen Region), Anahit Grigoryan ("New Generation" Youth Organization, St. Petersburg), Lyudmila Amirjanyan (Sochi Armenian Women's Organization), and Ani Margaryan (ChinArmArt platform, China), the event united 130 participants from 13 countries and 35 cities on Telegram, with about 60 attendees actively engaged throughout.The meeting created a vital platform to discuss preserving
Mickey Mouse in Shanghai: A Forgotten Chapter of Disney’s Chinese Legacy (1947)
Francesco Tattini shares an intriguing discovery from his time in China: a rare adaptation of the 1935 Mickey Mouse comic Editor-in-Grief, reimagined for Chinese audiences. Originally published in 1947 in the Shanghainese newspaper 正氣日報 (Zhengqi Daily) under the title 米老鼠开报馆 (Mickey Mouse Opens a Newspaper Office), the comic was adapted and re-drawn by artist 凌山 (Ling Shan). Later that same year, it was re-released as an illustrated novel. In 1950, Beijing’s Sanlian Bookstore (三聯書店) compiled the entire series of newspaper strips into a one-shot comic book, now a highly sought-after collector’s item. The book, written in traditional Chinese, reads from right