In recent years, the Office of the West Lake International Expo Organizing Committee Hangzhou has been busy in exploring the rich Buddhism cultural connotation of Hangzhou City, e.g., staging the 1st World Buddhism Forum, the Oriental International Buddhist Music Ceremony, the Southeastern Buddhist Kingdom (Hangzhou) Vegetarian Cultural Festival, etc. These annual West Lake Expo events have been the driving force to establish Hangzhou as the Southeastern Buddhist Kingdom.
The Office of the West Lake International Expo Organizing Committee Hangzhou will further the connection and cooperation with the Hangzhou Municipal Ethnic and Religious Affairs Management Bureau and the Buddhism Association of Hangzhou, to do researches on the rich Wu-Yue Buddhism culture of Hangzhou, for instance, “Indian Incense Fair” and pilgrimage culture. Besides, the Office of the West Lake International Expo Organizing Committee Hangzhou and the Hangzhou Municipal Ethnic and Religious Affairs Management Bureau have made pre-event communication and coordination on staging this year’s Buddhist events and celebrations. The purpose is to step into the Southeastern Buddhist Kingdom Phase, continue Hangzhou’s history and tradition as a Buddhist Kingdom, and develop social economy, cultural tourism and external exchange. |
