A cultural exchange event honoring the 620th anniversary of Zheng He's legendary voyages to the West and celebrating Mazu culture kicked off at Tianfei Palace in Liuhe town, Taicang, on June 18.

A cultural exchange event celebrating Zheng He's legacy and Mazu culture is held in Taicang on June 18. [Photo/WeChat account: tcfbgw]

In 2009, the worship practices of Macu culture were inscribed on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of UNESCO. Tainfei Palace, an important temple in coastal and riverine Mazu traditions, stands as a shared spiritual legacy for countries along the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

620 years ago, Chinese navigator Zheng He set off on his exploratory journeys from Liujia Port in Liuhe town with his fleets, promoting Chinese civilization and sowing the seeds of friendship along the Maritime Silk Road. 

This enduring spirit of cultural exchange was preserved through the twin-town partnership between Liuhe town and Jonker Walk, a renowned Chinatown street in Malacca, Malaysia, that emerged during the cultural event hosted in Taicang on June 18.

Tianfei Palace in Taicang. [Photo/VCG]