A group photo of the event [Photo by Li Nuo]
The year 2024 marks the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland. On this occasion, Loulan Platform Operation Center of CRI Online and Culture Programming Department, English Language Programming Center of CGTN co-hosted "The 2nd Silk Road Expo — The Journey of a Tea Leaf: From Macao to Morocco," at Chunzao Yard in Beijing International Sculpture Park. The event brought together friends from around the globe to celebrate their shared love of tea, using this timeless beverage as a bridge to highlight the exchange and mutual learning between Eastern and Western civilizations. Attendees included representative from the Office of the Macao SAR in Beijing, China Merchants Cruises Ltd., the Intelligent All Media Committee of the China Federation of Radio and Television Associations, and the Chinese Culture Promotion Society Short Video & Live Culture Committee.
Abdelkader El Ansari, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to China, delivered a video message [Screenshot]
Abdelkader El Ansari, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco, and Leong Kit Chi, Chief of the Office of the Macao SAR in Beijing, delivered video messages for the event. Abdelkader El Ansari underscored Morocco's importance as a key destination for Chinese tea exports, noting that Moroccan mint tea—crafted from Chinese green tea, sugar, and mint leaves—is both the country's national drink and a "daily necessity" for its people. Leong Kit Chi highlighted Macao's historical role as a pivotal port on the Maritime Silk Road, facilitating the export of Chinese tea to the world. Additionally, as a hub where Chinese and Western cultures converge, Macao serves as a gateway for promoting Chinese tea culture worldwide. Marcelo Suárez Salvia, Ambassador of Argentina to China, İsmail Hakkı Musa, Ambassador of Türkiye to China, and Tinatin Shishinashvili, Senior Counsellor of the Embassy of Georgia in China, also extended their best wishes for the event through video messages.
Leong Kit Chi, Chief of the Office of the Macao SAR in Beijing, delivered a video message [Screenshot]
How does a small tea leaf journey from China to markets overseas? The short video The Journey of a Tea Leaf shed light on the connection between Chinese tea and Morocco, one of the world's major tea consumers. Like Chinese culture, Morocco also cherishes the tradition of welcoming guests and building friendships through tea. In Moroccan households, it is customary to serve visitors three cups of fragrant mint tea, symbolizing hospitality and warmth. The event also featured a vlog showcasing a Macao restaurant, demonstrating how Macao reimagines traditional Chinese tea culture with new flavors and innovative interpretations.
Human tea professional VS AI Tea Machine [Photo by Zhang Yang]
The event also featured tea-making demonstrations, flower arranging, and guqin performances (a traditional Chinese instrument), among other activities. A standout highlight was the performance contest between a human tea master and an AI-powered tea machine, which captivated the guests' curiosity. After sampling the results of this unique competition, many attendees expressed excitement about the potential benefits AI could bring to tea culture and other aspects of life as technology continues to evolve.
Flower arrangement performance [Photo by Li Nuo]
At the end of the event, CRI Online micro-series channel "PANDA SHORTS" unveiled its lineup of new films set for release in 2025. Among the highlights is DinoRealm, CRI Online's first micro-series. By incorporating AI production techniques, DinoRealm introduces fresh creative perspectives and will be released globally in both Chinese and English. This series aims to become a flagship project, showcasing the potential of Chinese micro-series on the international stage.
Shooting frame of micro-series DinoRealm [Screenshot]
As an exhibition that gathers the specialities, brands, industries, cultures and landscapes along the Belt and Road, the Silk Road Expo leverages CRI Online's "Loulan Global Intelligent Digital Marketing Service Provider." It aims to create an international, Silk Road-themed metaverse space that integrates brand displays, communication, cultural appreciation and product sales. By combining this virtual space with the online Silk Road Expo community, it seeks to build a vibrant, ongoing Silk Road experience.
