Friday, November 8, 2024 In Guanajuato City, Mexico, vibrant marigold blooms covered the streets as locals and visitors, dressed as skeletons, joined in the traditional festivities for Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). This celebration took on an even more international dimension this year with the unveiling of a majestic phoenix sculpture from Fengdu County in Chongqing, China, symbolizing friendship and shared heritage. On October 31, the Day of the Dead celebration commenced with a special opening ceremony, introducing the golden phoenix sculpture, a gift from Fengdu County.
This powerful symbol was formally donated to Guanajuato by Tang Shouyuan, head of Fengdu County, who expressed his hope that the friendship between the two cities would “endure like a phoenix,” representing resilience, unity, and an auspicious future. Guanajuato and Fengdu have enjoyed a close bond since becoming sister cities, enhancing their connections through joint cultural initiatives. They previously marked the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Mexico and China with a memorable lighting ceremony and have integrated each other’s cultural traditions into significant events.
According to Tang, this mutual exchange transcends geographical boundaries, highlighting the strength of their collaboration. The golden phoenix sculpture, holding a pearl and crowned with a circular sun-like emblem, is inspired by the ancient Ba-Yu bird—a symbol of peace and prosperity in Fengdu. Th.