Brussels's "first citizen" dressed up in Chinese fur clothing

Musicians play as Brusells' famous

statue Manneken Pis is dressed in traditional Chinese costume made in

leather in Brussels, capital of Belgium, Mar. 2, 2009. The costume was

presented by Haining municipality, which is famous for its leather

industry in China. (Chinese media/Wu Wei)
Photo

Gallery

BRUSSELS, March 2 (Chinese media) -- A vermilion tailor-made fur garment of

traditional Chinese style has been put on the "first citizen" of the Belgian

capital of Brussels -- the bronze fountain sculpture of "little pee boy Julien"

on Monday.

Julien's newest clothes of vermillion color, also known as China Red, was

donated by China's "fur capital" Haining city of Zhejiang province. It is the

819th in his wardrobe since the tradition to "dress the city hero up" started

over 300 years ago.

The vermilion coat with traditional Chinese patterns symbolizing fortune,

vigor and passion on it, is the boy's third Chinese costume after a mandarin

jacket presented by the Beijing municipal government in 1979 when Brussels

celebrated its millennium, and a Chinese space suit in welcome of the visit by

Chinese astronaut Fei Junlong in 2006.

The statue of urinating Julien, now commonly known as the landmark fountain

of Manneken-Pis in Brussels, was built in memory of a boy who saved the city by

urinating on the fuse of gunpowder lit by enemy troops hundreds of years ago and

later honored by the city as the "first citizen."

Brusells' famous statue Manneken Pis is

dressed in traditional Chinese costume made in leather in Brussels,

capital of Belgium, Mar. 2, 2009. The costume was presented by Haining

municipality, which is famous for its leather industry in China.

(Chinese media/Wu Wei)
Photo Gallery

During the donating ceremony, Shi Zhendong, vice mayor of Haining, said

this piece of traditional Chinese clothing includes the latest international

fashion elements.

It is also an embodiment of China's innovative fur industry and exhibits

the new image of China's manufacturing sector, he added.

Edmond Vandenhaute, president of the non-profit association the Friends of

Manneken-Pis, who attended the ceremony on behalf of the Brussels municipal

government, spoke highly of the new apparel, saying that "it is one of the most

beautiful costumes Julien has received" and the best symbol of Belgium-China

friendship.

Stefano Missir di Lusignano, vice consul of Belgium in Shanghai also came

all the way to attend the ceremony in Brussels.

This piece of Chinese fur clothing is of special significance, as

cooperation between Europe and China continues to broaden and deepen, he said.