History whispered through willow trees at Chengdu’s Wangjiang Tower Park this week as Eastern and Western literary traditions collided ✨. On Tuesday, November 11, the park’s Xue Tao Memorial Hall hosted a vibrant celebration marking 150 years since Spanish poet Antonio Machado’s birth—a event made royal by Queen Letizia of Spain, currently touring China with King Felipe VI until November 13.
🌍 The gathering transformed ancient Tang Dynasty architecture into a cross-cultural stage. Local artists recited Machado’s works in Mandarin alongside Xue Tao’s verses, creating a lyrical dialogue across centuries and continents. 'Poetry is the Wi-Fi of souls,' joked one attendee, capturing the event’s blend of tradition and modern connectivity.
👑 Queen Letizia praised the initiative as 'a bridge between Seville and Sichuan,' highlighting growing cultural ties. With Spain’s royal visit aligning with Machado’s milestone, the event signals warmer Spain-China relations through art—a soft power play that’s trending globally among Gen-Z diplomacy watchers.
