Speakers:

Chen Zhaowen – Art director of a Guangzhou-based cultural communication company. Having graduated from the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Art, he has designed many Canton-themed gifts and has been promoting Cantonese culture for years.

He regards, "A culture should be kept alive through passing and understood by the masses, not contained in a jar."

"Guangzhou is a tolerant city, for common people and practicality, not for aristocracy. It has even been known to change some elites to common people."

Nicolas Perocheau - Attaché de Presse et de communication of the French Consulate General in Guangzhou.

He thinks,"The core of any culture is developing and changing with time, being alive. Cantonese people cherish long-standing culture and revolution, tolerance, and innovation. "

Representations and ingredients

Anchor: What are foreigners' impressions about Ling-nan (Guangdong) Culture?

Nicolas Perocheau: A long time ago the western world communicated and did business with Guangdongers and has left a substantial impression. The Chinese culture found in many other countries is actually Ling-nan Culture.

An ancient painting of a trading dock in Shisanhang in western Guangzhou during China's Qing Dynasty

Anchor: Guangdong dialects were spoken in most China towns overseas before the western world knew about China through Guangdongers.

Nicolas Perocheau: Guangdong cuisine also prevails in most China towns now.

I think Canton's culture is made up of three parts – derivation from overseas, local heritage, and modern culture through reform.

Chen Zhaowen: For thousands of years, Ling-nan culture has been absorbing the elements from North China as well as foreign ingredients, thanks to its coastal openness. Before mid 17th century, Ling-nan culture still imitated its developed Central China counterparts. Afterwards it consciously integrated the latter with its own, and developed into its maturity.

Chen Zhaowen: Guangdong Culture is well-connected with business. The province was the starting point of China's marine Silk Road and hot land and the only port for foreign trade, especially from the 17th century. In the 1980s Guangdong was also designated as the upfront 'testing field' of the country's reform and opening practice.

Some icons were set up, such as the revolutions of Dr. Sun Yat-sen and Mr. Kang Youwei, and the famous Ling-nan Painting School.

Anchor: What do you think are the representations of Ling-nan culture?

Nicolas Perocheau: To me, it should be the nice and various food. Guangdongers not only eat their fill, but also crave quite a few interesting culinary ways, such as the diversified cuisine of chicken. You can't find this in many other places.

Seasoned chicken

Locals' Personality and Language

Anchor: Can we say Guangdongers are more practical, with a lack of emphasis on the romance.

Nicolas Perocheau: Generally speaking, Guangdongers' character is more subtle and their practice is more exquisite.

Chen Zhaowen: Guangdong culture is well connected with locals' personalities and is secular and ocean-bound open, thanks to its long coast line. The culture also reaches beyond Guangdong to neighboring Guangxi and Hainan provinces and even to the north of Vietnam.

As the five ridges in northern Guangdong prevented the connection between Guangdong and northern provinces, little of central China's culture has spread its influence here. Guangdong culture has developed on its own. For instance, Cantonese is of a different system than mandarin, with the dialect still having its strong hold in Guangzhou despite the painstaking promotion of mandarin.

There are many fascinating things in Cantonese language.

Anchor: There are many ancient tones in Cantonese. The language situation might be helped by local media strength, including the impact from Hong Kong media. The Beijing-based CCTV's shows attract much smaller audience here than in the north provinces on Guangdong.

Chen Zhaowen: Languages should be kept, as cultural diversity is needed. Now Cantonese is not allowed at classes in many schools in Guangzhou, I don't think that is good.

Nicolas Perocheau: To protect a certain culture, there needs to be an atmosphere that will not exist if there isn't this language. (The End)