FUZHOU, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- A group of foreign athletes participating in the ongoing KELME 2019 FISU University World Cup-Football in Jinjiang, eastern China's Fujian Province experienced the Chinese Minnan culture on Tuesday.
The organizing committee of the competition held a cultural exchange activity on Tuesday and invited foreign football players and coaches to experience the Minnan culture.
Photo: Foreigners follow local performers on stage to learn Gaojia Opera with Minnan characteristics in Jinjiang, east China's Fujian Province, Nov. 26.
On a street in Jinjiang, the foreigners were attracted by the Gaojia Opera with the Minnan characteristics. Two football players from the Paulista University of Brazil got on stage and followed the performers to show the audience what they just learned.
When visiting an ancient building complex, the Brazilians beat and sang "I love you, Jinjiang! I love you, Jinjiang!" They also encountered the Ethiopian players and danced with them.
During the day, the Jinjiang Nanyin Art Troupe presented a wonderful performance for these foreigners.
Before the performance, the guide of the art troupe introduced the traditional music instruments to them. A football player from the Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg (JMU) of Germany said he wanted to listen to it again after the music performance.
Photo: Group photo of the foreigners with the local performers in Jinjiang, east China's Fujian Province, Nov. 26.
In a traditional house, the foreign players watched a puppet show and learned how to perform it. "Swing left and right, up and down ..." The originally quiet "little lions" became alive in their hands.
"It's very interesting. It's all new to us. It's a nice experience to see the real China," said Stefan Wasser, captain of JMU football team.
"China is a land of different faces. I saw you have the modern face ... and then there's this face of China, which is quite ancient and interesting. But overall I'd say the Chinese people are very friendly and very humble," he added.
The football competition is held from November 21 to December 1, 2019. (Edited by Hu Pingchao, hupingchao@xinhua.org)
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