Cultural dialogue between China and France continues to flourish through innovative garden projects and artistic exchanges. Moreover, a recent collaboration brought a Chinese legend to life in France, highlighting shared creativity and reinforcing cultural dialogue.
Along the Loire River, at Chaumont Castle, a 25-meter-long white serpent sculpture stirs amid French lavender and Hangzhou chrysanthemums. Designed by French artist Clementine Bory, the garden interprets China’s classic “Legend of the White Snake,” merging Eastern mythology with Western herbal traditions and fostering cross-cultural exchange.
Bory first discovered the tale at Hangzhou’s West Lake, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Motivated by the legend and regional traditions, she imagined a garden representing love, transformation, and healing. Additionally, her Shanghai-based studio has traveled extensively across China, continuously drawing inspiration from local culture and history, strengthening international cultural exchange.
From April to November, Chaumont Castle hosts its International Garden Festival, now in its 33rd year. This year’s festival invited fairy-tale-inspired gardens. Consequently, Bory’s White Serpent Garden won the Prize for Design and Innovative Ideas for its creativity and cultural fusion, furthering cultural dialogue between the two countries.
The garden features a sinuous white serpent sculpture, winding paths, and gridded beds of medicinal herbs. In addition, the design reflects Xu Xian’s role as a traditional medicine herbalist, blending Chinese and French botanical practices. Visitors therefore experience the story’s progression through sculpture, foliage, and interactive landscaping, experiencing cultural dialogue firsthand.
Moreover, the garden incorporates 3,500 biodegradable mycelium scales that slowly transform over time. This sustainable feature mirrors the white snake’s fate while also reflecting modern ecological awareness. Experts note that such innovation strengthens cultural dialogue while advancing environmentally conscious design.
Chantal Colleu-Dumond, director of Chaumont Castle and the festival, emphasized the long-standing exchange between Chinese and French designers. Previously, collaborations included the Hualu Garden and exhibitions at Versailles, which showcased Jiangnan landscapes. Consequently, these initiatives have deepened artistic understanding and fostered cross-cultural learning, reinforcing cultural dialogue.
Bory and her team plan to bring the White Serpent Garden to Hangzhou, pending approval. If implemented, the project will unite French healing philosophy with Chinese mythology, thereby creating a physical link between West Lake and the Loire Valley, continuing cultural dialogue.
Analysts say cultural dialogue through gardens promotes heritage preservation, tourism, and international collaboration. Furthermore, as both nations continue to share artistic talent, these exchanges strengthen diplomatic and cultural bonds while inspiring future collaborative projects.
Ultimately, the White Serpent Garden exemplifies how cultural dialogue can bridge continents, traditions, and creative disciplines, creating spaces where heritage and innovation coexist.
