The year 2023 marked Hangzhou's success in hosting the 19th Asian Games and revitalizing the economy. Hangzhou's number of "Top 500 Chinese Private Enterprises" has maintained the top among Chinese cities for 21 consecutive years, and the city has won the title of "China's Happiest City" for 17 years in a row. Recognized as China's 10th megacity with a total urban population exceeding 10 million, Hangzhou's GDP has set a record high surpassing 2 trillion yuan, with a year-on-year growth of 5.6 percent.
As we bear witness to the milestones of the city we live in advancing towards a more liveable, business-friendly and international place with good working conditions and ecological environment, what would be your wishes as to being a better version of yourself, embracing all the burgeoning opportunities, and achieving the impossible with a brand-new start, say, the Chinese New Year of the Dragon?
Sabine El Ajam, a Lebanese artist, created this picture titled "Exhaling Peony" for Hangzhoufeel readers, seeking to capture the essence of the spirit of this special time of the Chinese New Year, when people celebrate tradition, hope, and new beginnings.
"In my art piece, I delved into the significance of the Dragon's year in Chinese culture, channeling its symbolic essence of beauty and good fortune. The dragon, a revered creature in Chinese mythology, becomes a conduit for positive energy as it breathes forth peony flowers," Sabine says, "For me flowers are very special and I've seen them a lot during my last 10 years in China. These blossoms symbolize rebirth, reminding us that life is cyclical. Just as winter yields to spring, so do our challenges transform into opportunities. The vibrant hues of red and gold dominate the canvas. Red, representing luck, joy, and prosperity, is omnipresent during the New Year festivities. Gold, with its association to wealth and abundance, mirrors the sun's warmth and illumination. When these two colors are used together it shows positive energy."
Sabine also used the Yin and Yang intersect which is the delicate petals to harmonize with bold strokes. This balance mirrors the dualities of life: light and shadow, beginnings and endings.
The new year will be a launch pad for Hangzhoufeel, too. Being upgraded and incorporated as a signature brand after the Hangzhou Asian Games into Hangzhou International Communication Center (HZICC), the official hub for the world to gain insight into Hangzhou, Hangzhoufeel is planned to see its increasing involvement in the cross-national exchanges on behalf of the city, and its innovation as a carrier of communication and events organization to promote the city's cooperation and integration with the world in a multi-dimensional way. These missions can be only made achievable with the invaluable aid and support from you, our dear readers.
The Chinese New Year of the Dragon falls on Feb 10, the day after tomorrow. May fortune dance in your favor and joy be your faithful companion in this marvelous year, as Sabine's creation signifies.
About the artist
Sabine El Ajam (Chinese name: 萨滨) is a 21-year-old Lebanese self-taught artist and designer. She moved to China in 2013 and has been living in Hangzhou since 2020. With her passion in art and design, she's currently about to graduate from Zhejiang University of Technology majoring in international law.
Sabine believes that Chinese art has inspired her a lot throughout the years, and she hopes to always get the opportunity to share her works with the world.