The 9th Anniversary Gala of the Malaysia (Maoming) Xinyi Gaozhou Association was held at Thean Hou Temple in Kuala Lumpur on September 20, featuring lively lion dances, drums and music. The Maoming Madam Xian Cultural Exchange Group joined more than 600 Malaysian Chinese to celebrate cultural ties and people-to-people exchanges, with "Kind-hearted Culture" and Maoming products serving as bridges of friendship.
Songs, puppet shows and martial arts performances were staged at the event, showcasing the legend of Madam Xian, hailed as "China's first heroine," as well as traditional arts and Maoming's spirit of openness and inclusiveness. Maoming is the hometown of Madam Xian, whose spirit of kindness has been passed down for more than 1,000 years.
"Watching authentic Gaozhou puppet shows and tasting dried longans here in Malaysia make me feel like coming home," said Wu Zongfu of the Kampar Gaozhou Association of Malaysia. Many attendees filmed and photographed the performances, while Cantonese filled the venue.
The "Guangdong Goods, Global Reach · Fine Products of Maoming" booth featured nearly 50 local specialties, including Gaozhou dried litchis and longans, Huazhou huajuhong (pummelo peel), Xinyi preserved plums, Dianbai agarwood, Maoming mooncakes, Madam Xian research books and Guangdong Provincial Games mascot dolls.
Maoming is a major agricultural city in Guangdong, with its "Five Trees, One Fish and One Table of Dishes" industries generating more than 60 billion yuan in output value. It is also a major producer of litchi and longan, with litchi output accounting for about one-quarter of China's total and one-fifth of the global supply.
With the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, Maoming mooncakes drew strong interest. Tuoluo cakes feature a savoury shredded coconut filling, while litchi mooncakes offer a fresh, fruity flavour. Liang Mei of the Subang Gaozhou Association said she planned to buy several boxes for the festival.
The delegation brought cultural and local product gift packs and hoped to use the Malaysia (Maoming) Xinyi Gaozhou Association as a bridge to expand the presence of Maoming products in Malaysia and to promote two-way trade and exchanges.
Authors & Photos: Liu Jun, Yan Zhixiong, Feng Jieyun
