At the Wulingyuan scenic area in Zhangjiajie the diplomats, like all visitors to the site, were moved by the striking beauty of the mountains.[Photo by Hu Zhe/Chinaculture.org]

From the world of art the tour moved to the world of nature. At the Wulingyuan scenic area in Zhangjiajie the diplomats, like all visitors to the site, were moved by the striking beauty of the mountains, carved by a long-vanished ocean, and their flora; perhaps they felt the ghosts of Chinese people said to haunt the terrain. Many of the tour members also remarked on the cleanliness of the scenic spot and the crystal-clear water of its streams. Mr. Jairo Latan, cultural counselor of Venezuela, said as he walked along the winding paths, "this location is more than a break from my work in Beijing; it’s a connection to nature”; a view shared by everyone on the tour.

The diplomats next visited the Junsheng Art Gallery, also located in Zhangjiajie. The gallery was founded in 2002. It celebrates the work of Tu artist Li Junsheng, who captured natural scenes using mineral powders collected from local terrain. The sandstone minerals are carefully sprinkled onto glued boards to depict the actual colors of the subject area: the works have a direct honesty as they are made from what they show. They are also a unique style of work combining elements of western and Chinese painting. The diplomatic visitors jumped at the chance to try their hands at this kind of art: they glued, and selected sandstone colors, which they carefully applied to create nuance and effect.

On the last evening of the tour the visitors were special guests at the Xiangxi Theater in Zhangjiajie. No other event on the tour demonstrated a friendly Chinese welcome as openly as this. The audience applauded, it seemed, as much to welcome the diplomats as to reward the performers. The show itself was about the trials of romantic love – another area we share, no matter our country.