Founded in Paris in 1883, the Alliance Française is the world’s largest French language and culture broadcasting network. Established by the organization and Zhejiang Gongshang University in 2008, the Alliance Française de Hangzhou is the only accredited center in Zhejiang. The center holds monthly events throughout the year, like music events, the French Film Days, lectures and seminars, workshops for children, and many more…all designed bilingually for people who love the French language and culture.

Cultural Dialogues

Cultural travelers brought Hangzhou people the cultural immersion they have never experienced before, as was fully shown by the stories of the lovely family of Eric Latil and Dora Caicedo. Arranged by the Alliance Française de Hangzhou, the couple and their two daughters brought a show to an audience of 165 parents and children at the city’s Children’s Library, inspiring everyone to believe that every child has infinite possibilities and potentials and the last thing they need is a standard that gets in the way of their imagination. The show was enriched by lots of interesting cultural tips such as crepe tasting.

Christophe Loviny’s Photography Workshop

Working for the prestigious photo agency Gamma, Christophe built his reputation through decades of partnership with some of the world’s most renowned magazines such as GEO, Paris Match, Sunday Times Magazine as well as Life, a monthly magazine in China. The photographer’s 3.5-day workshop specially designed for Hangzhou was attended by 14 students. His 4-hour lecture drew 300 students from Zhejiang University of Media and Communication. As the artistic director of the Yangon Photo Festival, Christophe’s professional instruction, based also on his deep understanding of Asia and China, opened the minds of students facing uncertainties and challenges along their career path.

“With more and more Chinese students studying abroad, the ability to express oneself is becoming as important as language proficiency. What I am trying to convey to the students through the workshop is the importance of high efficiency at work and a new perspective in broadcasting Chinese culture to a global audience,” he said.

Getting to Know the Real China

Audrey Margaggi is an expert in pediatric psychomotor rehabilitation, currently working in Hangzhou. “When I was a little girl, my father read a lot to me and sowed the seeds in me of my passion in Chinese culture. My imagination about China became reality in 2015, when I set my foot in China. Everything here in Hangzhou has redefined‘China’in me. The beautiful city of tradition and modernity opens my eyes and inspires me every day.”

“I love drawing because it enhances mutual understanding and helps build connection. Drawing is also storytelling. I draw to remember what I see and feel wherever I go: from South Africa to Comorin, from India to Nepal and all the way to Japan…I put what I see in China into my travelogue and share with other people on my blog. I had two exhibitions in France and have written two books waiting to be published.”

   Audrey’s works were shared with people in Hangzhou in an exhibition “Letter from China”in 2018, organized by the Alliance Française de Hangzhou. The vivid portrayal, full of sincerity and curiosity, summarizes what she calls the joy of getting to know the real China and Chinese people.