Los Angeles: Inaugural Ceremony of Guan Yu Temple of Chaozhou Association being made solemn and heated
From World Guangong Culture Website: Chinatown in Los Angeles was in a holiday mood on February 6, the inaugural ceremony of Guan Yu Temple of Chaozhou Association was held there.
People attending the ceremony were Overseas Chinese Association leaders including Liu Jian, consul general of Chinese Consulate in Los Angeles, Zhao Meixin, a member of US Congress, Zhou Liben, a California representative, Fang Jiezhou, a parliament representative of Los Angeles and president of Luosheng Chinese Hall, Huang Jinquan, the honorary president and Zhuang Peiyuan, president of Luosheng Chinese General Chamber of Commerce. Chaozhou Association’s president Ou Jialin, supervisor Zhang Chaohai, vice president Guo Xiaoqing, forever honorary president Cao Yongguang and all directors and supervisors attended the ceremony.
Wang Guoxin, a member of CPPCC National Committee and a famous painter, who had traveled a great distance to here, Zhu Zhengming, director of Hubei United Front Work Department Overseas Center and a scholar of Guangong Culture, Zheng Guilan, chairman of Beijing Yanshanhong Culture Group and Fan Sibin, executive vice-president of Guangdong Chaozhou Chamber of Commerce attended the Inaugural Ceremony.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony of Guan Yu Temple of Chaozhou Association in Los Angeles (photographed by Zhu Zhengming)
Guests present at the ceremony: from the right: Chaozhou Association’s president Ou Jialin, consul general of Chinese Consulate in Los Angeles Liu Jian, Chaozhou Association’s vice president Guo Xiaoqing, Chaozhou Association’s forever honorary president Cao Yongguang (photographed by Zhu Zhengming)
Guests present at the ribbon-cutting ceremony of Guan Yu Temple of Chaozhou Association in Los Angeles (photographed by Zhu Zhengming)
The great hall of Guan Yu Temple of Chaozhou Association in Los Angeles (photographed by Zhu Zhengming)
Consul general Liu Jian was adding eyes to the lion in the Chaozhou Guan Yu Temple Ceremony (photographed by Zhu Zhengming)
The ceremony began at 9 o’clock in the morning with the solemn and sweet national songs of America and China. Chaozhou Association’s forever honorary president Cao Yongguang announced the beginning of the ceremony. Supervisor Zhang Chaohai made a speech of welcome.
Liu Jian, consul general of Chinese Consulate in Los Angeles addressed: “the association has been erected today after years of work. The association will become a platform for the spread of Chinese culture, and at the same time strengthen the cohesiveness of overseas Chinese, strengthen cultural communication between China and America, strengthen unity of overseas Chinese in Los Angeles and make new contributions to Sino-American friendship.
American Congressperson, Zhao Meixin said “I’m very happy to be here to attend the inauguration ceremony of Chaozhou New Hall. This classic and beautiful building will become the Chinese cultural center of Los Angeles”
Chaozhou Hall Vice President of Southern California Guo Xiaoqing said “I hope that the new council will continue to carry forward the traditions of the past, to carry forward the spirit of our Guangong’s culture and the spirit of Chaozhou people and help them to upgrade a higher level.”
In the waves of warm applause, Ou Jialin (President of Chaozhou Hall, Southern California), Zhang Chaohai (Supervisor), Guo Xiaoqing (Vice President), Cao Yongguang (forever honorary president) and all chairmen and supervisors opened the new hall. Finally, all the guests co-ignited more than 20 strings of firecrackers, and formed a happy atmosphere before the Guan Yu Temple.
It is said that the new Hall of the Chaozhou Hall was built more than three years from the beginning to the completion of the project, the total funds are more than $ 2 million which came from the Chaozhou folks, the brothers and the township government enterprises donations.
Cultural scholar Zhu Zhengming addressed the overseas Chinese of Los Angeles Chaozhou Hall Guangong cultural customs on both sides of the ocean (photographed by Wang Ting)
At night, at the grand banquet attended by more than 600 leaders of overseas Chinese and entrepreneurs, the U.S. congressman Zhao Meixin (in the middle) delivered the awards to Wang Guoxin (on the right) and Zhu Zhengming (on the left), speaking highly of their contributions made to promoting cultural communications between America and China. (Photographed by Wang Ting)
In the afternoon, Zhu Zhengming, Wang Guoxin and Zheng Guilan delivered a speech titled Cultural Conditions and Customs of Guandi on both sides of the Pacific Ocean, in which they told of their feelings and experiences when wrote the works.
In the evening, at the great banquet held at the Hilton Los Angeles with attendance of more than 600 leaders of overseas Chinese and entrepreneurs, the U.S. congressman Zhao Meixin delivered awards to Wang Guoxin, Zhu Zhengming and other prize-winners, speaking highly of their contributions made to carrying forward the Chinese culture as well as promoting cultural communications between America and China. (From: World Guangong Culture Website)