by Fu Rao, January 13, 2011
Belgium is the crossroad of Europe, not only because of its location, but also the cultures.
In the capital city of Belgium, half of the citizens speak French, and the rest speak Dutch. The two languages are used in two separate districts respectively. It is unusual in the whole world that two languages are spoken in one city. The contrast of Brussels is one of its charms.
The old city consists of the uptown and the downtown, the uptown is situated on the higher part of the city, while the downtown is on the lower part.
The architectures in the uptown were old-fashioned and grand, for this is where the government organs are located; while those in the downtown are much more modernized, because here is the commercial district.
Only in Brussels could the Gothic Church be in harmony with the atom-like post-modernism museum. Here locates the Belgium Royal Palace, where lives King Albert II, the Head of the State and Chief of the Army.
The headquarters of EU and NATO are also here, where thousands of people work here to keep the heart of Europe beating. The secret of the harmony in Brussels is that Belgium is a country of great cultural tolerance.
Many great men were attracted to Belgium. Karl Marx had lived here, so had Victor Hugo, George Gordon Byron, and Mozart. The wisest minds of world met and mixed with each other, just like the old architectures being in harmony with the modern buildings.
The author delivers a speech at a conference during the opening week of 2011 EU-China Year of Youth, Brussels.
Fu Rao performs Chinese shadow boxing at a celebration gala for the launch of 2011 EU-China Year of Youth, Brussels.
(Fu Rao, student from Peking University, is one of China's visiting youth representatives in Brussels to attend a series of launch events of the 2011 EU-China Year of Youth, which opens in the capital city of Belgium on January 11, 2011.)
