The Ligongdi Cultural and Creative Block in SIP and the Montmartre in Paris formally established a friendship in 2011 and, since 2022, have jointly organized the Suzhou Jinji Lake China-France Culture and Art Week in both Suzhou and Paris on a yearly basis. These events have fostered deep cultural exchanges between China and France.
As the first Suzhou Jinji Lake China-France Culture and Art Week was held in 2022, the Sino-French Wall of Love, a replica of Le mur des je t'aime in Montmartre, was set up at Ligongdi, becoming a new landmark of Suzhou. Later, a marriage registration office was opened beside it, witnessing countless beautiful love stories for both Chinese and foreign couples.
In 2023, the second edition of the Suzhou Jinji Lake China-France Culture and Art Week brought together 11 French museums, including the Palace of Versailles, the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay, the Musée Picasso, the Musée de l'Orangerie and the Musée de l'Armée, infusing the cultural heritage of Paris into the heart of Suzhou, establishing a new bridge for exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and French museums, while fostering deeper sharing of cultural resources between China and France.
During the 2024 edition, the SIP delegation showed Suzhou’s culture and intangible cultural heritage in Paris and became the first Chinese delegation to participate in the Fête des Vendanges de Montmartre (Grape Harvest Festival in Montmartre).
Over the past four years, the Jinji Lake China-France Culture and Art Week has become a shinning symbol of bilateral friendship, consistently deepening cooperation between the two countries in culture, tourism and art. This enduring exchange continues to strengthen the bond between Suzhou and Paris.
