The inaugural "Meet Taicang" Sino-German Cultural and Art Festival, coupled with the Vienna New Year's Concert, took place at Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU)'s Taicang campus on Jan 7.

The event aimed to bolster cultural exchanges and mutual appreciation between China and Germany.

The highlight of the event, a performance by the Vienna Festival Symphony Orchestra, enchanted the audience with classics like the Carnival Overture and the Overture to Indigo and the Forty Thieves.

Hailing from Vienna, Austria, the orchestra stands among the select few that regularly tour internationally. Their repertoire spans iconic works by renowned artists such as Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, and Strauss, offering audiences an authentic taste of Viennese opera and light classical music.

During the event, a platform aimed at facilitating Sino-German cultural exchanges, artistic collaborations, and academic dialogues was unveiled.

In recent years, Taicang High-Tech Zone, where NPU's Taicang campus is located, has emphasized cultural exchanges with Germany. Activities include the inauguration of the Sino-German Cooperation Exhibition Hall, operation of the FC Bayern Football School in Taicang, and the opening of Rothenburg-style streets. Signature events like the German-Taicang Day, Taicang Beer Festival, and the "China-Germany Friendship Cup" table tennis international invitational tournament have further solidified this cultural partnership.

Looking ahead, the zone plans to roll out a series of targeted initiatives aimed at fostering and enhancing Sino-German cultural exchanges.

Performers of Vienna Festival Symphony Orchestra. [Photo/WeChat account: gh_5d51cb296177]