First Chinese Royal Arch in Ottawa to mark China-Canada friendship
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A glistening new Chinese arch that now spans the main street of Ottawa's Chinatown as a symbol of the links between Beijing and Ottawa was inaugurated by the Chinese ambassador and Canadian leaders Thursday afternoon.
Ottawa's mayor Larry O'Brien marveled at the new arch and declared to a crowd of Ottawa community leaders, "What a sight this makes in the city of Ottawa!"
Known as a "Paifang" in Mandarin, these wood or stone arches were originally used during the Tang dynasty (618 AD to 907 AD) to designate the main subdivisions of Chinese cities, but later came to be used as a type of memorial architecture.
Built entirely of reinforced concrete and stone, the arch is designed to look like a gigantic wooden gate.
In recent times these gates have usually been given to cities by China as a token of esteem, or else set up by local business or community organizations.
In Ottawa, the Chinese business community spent 20 years raising money and organizing political support from Canada and China for the new arch, which marks the entrance to Ottawa's nine-block Chinatown.
The twin-city project of Ottawa and Beijing celebrates the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Canada.
Beijing contributed the design and most of the artistic materials while Canada's national government, the administration of the province of Ontario and Ottawa's city council provided 225,000 Canadian dollars (about 221,392 U.S. dollars) in cash and several hundred thousand dollars in infrastructure improvements.
Another 500,000 Canadian dollars (about 491,994 U.S. dollars) were raised from private donations, mainly from the city's Chinese-Canadian community leaders and businesses.
"Some might say that it was destined to be the masterpiece of royal proportions because it was crafted with only the highest standards befitting the structure of this regal scale," O'Brien said.
"The Beijing municipal government did not spare any effort to provide us with the highest quality materials and the most skilled workers and the most solid and elaborate design for its sister city," he added.
The arch is adorned with dragons and symbols of prosperity, health and good fortune. Five symbolic coins of five precious metals (gold, silver, iron, copper and tin) and five threads (red, yellow, blue, white and black) are considered to bring blessings to the land.
Similar arches have been built in San Francisco, Philadelphia, London and Yokohama, but only those in capital cities are entitled to nine roofs. The nine roofs of the Paifang make it a royal arch.
The Chinese characters in the center panel say "Ottawa Chinatown." Four mythical beasts, two at the base of each column, guard the arch. They are combinations of lions, tigers and other ferocious animals.
Many of the elements of the arch are fashioned out of real gold foil that was applied by Beijing craftsmen.
"The gateway is a milestone in the friendly exchanges and cooperation between Beijing and Ottawa," Ambassador Lan Lijun said. "It is also a symbol of China-Canada friendship. It shows when we join our hands we can do something of great significance."
Lan, who chose the design from three submitted by Beijing, thanked the construction team from China for their master craftsmanship. The Chinese artists and architects spent six months in Canada and finished the project ahead of time and on budget.
"The China gateway has already attracted much attention in Ottawa. It will be an architecture and cultural landmark in Canada's capital and compliment to the urban city' s urban development. The gateway is also a precious gift as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our two countries," Lan said.
John Baird, the senior federal cabinet minister for Ottawa, said the arch is a permanent reminder of the contribution that Chinese immigrants have made to Canada.
"Over a century ago, Chinese immigrants began to identify this section of this beautiful town as their own, offering a window on their traditional culture and offering residents and visitors alike to experience a Chinese influence right here in the heart of Ottawa," he said.
"Today this community plays an important role in defining the multicultural fabric of our capital," he added.
"Ottawa's Chinatown is a prime example of the many cultures and communities that have settled and thrived right here in the nation' s capital. Through a variety of shops, businesses, festivals, and events, the Chinatown showcases Chinese culture and provides a hub for Asian cultures to attract and come to life," Baird said.
The minister said he believes the new decorative gateway will enhance visitors' experience in Ottawa. "And it symbolizes the sister relationship that Ottawa has with China's capital, Beijing," he said.
The completion of the gateway is especially meaningful in light of the important milestone that Canada and China are celebrating this year, the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, he said.
"I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Beijing municipal government, the people of Beijing, and the wonderful Chinese craftsmen and workers," he added.
Liang Wei, senior advisor to the Beijing Municipal Government and Chairman of the Beijing Municipal Federation of Trade Unions, said the gateway is a symbol of ancient Beijing and a good example of Chinese culture.
"This gateway, constructed by Beijing and the City of Ottawa, is the most magnificent of its kind in Chinese royal gateways," he said.
"The Beijing municipal government sent the best architects and artists we have to travel more than 10,000 miles to Canada to work with excellent engineers and workers in Canada and Chinese living abroad in Canada, for six months," he added.
"This is a fruit of the friendship between Beijing and Ottawa and China and Canada at large," Liang said.
