Wei Jie, Tao Dandan

claudiamente@hotmail.com

LOCAL residents and expats flocked to Shekou on Saturday for the “Hello APEC Cultural Market — Encounter South American Partners” event.

Hosted by the Shekou Management and Service Center for Expats (Shekou MSCE), the market spotlighted Peru and Chile, offering South American food and beverages, alpaca-themed cultural products, traditional music performances, cultural workshops and interactive activities featuring Maodou, an internet-famous alpaca.

Jesús Ponce, Peru’s consul general in Guangzhou, said the market gave visitors an opportunity to experience Peruvian cuisine, handicrafts and Andean music. He also thanked Peruvians living and working in Shenzhen for their continued efforts to help Chinese residents better understand Peru.

Gonzalo Rubilar, Chile’s commercial consul in Guangzhou, said the market served as a bridge between cultures, allowing people to experience the richness, diversity and vitality of Peruvian and Chilean traditions in a relaxed and lively setting.

A variety of signature dishes and drinks from Peru and Chile were available at the event.

The Peruvian booth drew visitors with Pisco cocktails, Pisco Sours, pork sandwiches and traditional desserts. The Chilean booth offered local wines, dried cranberries and fresh grape juice.

Alejandro Garrido Roja, a Chilean wine merchant, said the market was crowded with people eager to sample and buy Chilean wines.

The market also showcased a wide selection of South American handicrafts. The Peruvian booth featured alpaca plush toys, handmade jewelry and wheel-thrown ceramics created by Peruvian artists.

Peruvian vendor Sheyla Segovia said it was her first time participating in a cultural market.

“Everyone was curious about my handmade Peruvian jewelry, and they were warm, friendly and genuinely engaged,” she said. “Sharing Peruvian culture and connecting with local residents made me feel completely at home.”

At the Chilean booth, visitors could play original board games created by Chilean designers. Photo frames decorated with images of Machu Picchu  also proved popular.

Maodou was one of the market’s biggest attractions. Children gathered to pet and feed the alpaca.

Nora Carstens attended the event with her two children and took several photos with Maodou.

“This event is fantastic,” she said. “I’m from Mexico, so we share the same Latin American culture. I feel right at home. The venue was packed, and the event was a huge success.”

Inca Tribe, a professional band known for performing and promoting South American music and for its large following on Douyin, performed classic pieces from the region and introduced audiences to its distinctive sounds and traditions.

Marcel, a visitor from Colombia, described the market as “great fun” and said he was already looking forward to future editions.