Mohammed Bin Rashid Library Hosts Peking Opera in the UAE

Dubai, UAE, 22 September 2026: The Mohammed Bin Rashid Library welcomed Her Excellency Ou Boqian, Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, and her accompanying delegation during the Mid-Autumn Festival. The festival took place in the Library’s auditorium, featuring China National Peking Opera Company. Her Excellency was welcomed by Ali Al Tamimi, Director of the Libraries Department at the Mohammed bin Rashid Library.

On the sidelines of the visit, Her Excellency held a bilateral meeting with Al Tamimi, in the presence of Wang Yong, President of China National Peking Opera Company. They discussed prospects for cultural and artistic cooperation, as well as a proposed joint artistic project narrating the story of the UAE Union, aimed at presenting key milestones of the nation's history and national heritage through an innovative cultural and artistic framework.

Her Excellency highlighted that UAE-China relations are witnessing growing development across various fields, noting that this momentum opens broader horizons for launching qualitative cultural and artistic initiatives that strengthen connections between the two peoples and support cultural and knowledge exchange.

The ceremony commenced with a welcome speech by His Excellency Ou Boqian, in which she noted that the Mid-Autumn Festival is a deeply rooted tradition in Chinese culture, where families have gathered under the moonlight for thousands of years. The festival symbolises serenity, beauty, and hope. She also described relations between China and the UAE as a deep friendship that has transcended distances and language barriers, building strong bridges of communication and understanding.

Her Excellency highlighted Peking Opera as one of the most prominent jewels of Chinese heritage. She explained that it is an art form combining singing, acting, music, dance, and martial arts into a comprehensive performance experience passed down through generations for centuries.

Simultaneously, Yong offered an overview of this art as one of China’s national treasures, highlighting its artistic elements blending vocals, theatrical dialogue, dance, acting, and martial arts, before introducing the audience to the key scenes featured in the evening's program.

The performance included a selection of traditional Peking Opera masterpieces, featuring shows that combined movement, music, theatrical performance, and martial arts. It delivered a live experience that reflected the rich heritage, history, and unique aesthetic elements of this art form.

By the end of the visit, both sides exchanged gifts. The Chinese delegation presented a collection of Chinese books covering various topics, while the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library gifted Her Excellency a copy of the book Treasures of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library, which documents a selection of its collection and cultural treasures.

Hosting this event supports the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library’s commitment to enhancing its role as a platform for intercultural communication and exchange, attracting international events that allow the public to explore world cultures and arts, and fostering dialogue and understanding between the UAE and nations worldwide.