The table is classic. Wednesday morning at the Louvre. Under the glass pyramid, the groups intersect, conducted at no charge by the guides to banners various. In the middle of the crowd, Yuexin and Yumen look a little lost. This retired couple chinese is accompanied by their little son of 6 years, Zhenhao. They have decided to take a visit to the individual.
«For the past three years, the situation has evolved, the chinese visitors come more in the family. They want to visit in more detail, in-depth, especially in a small group,» says Li Hua, a guide lecturer in the national museums of Paris for twenty years. He organized this visit with the French agency Artoo Travel, specializing in the promotion of the art of French living and culture, notably with the chinese customers. For a customized tour, Li Hua offers several themes depending on the level of knowledge of its customers. Today on the program: «Route masterpieces». The most requested. A course general 1: 15 a.m. around the key works of the museum. The icing on the cake, the companion agency offers a set of track for the grandson.
«With great groups over the things, it is very sloppy, everything is going too fast and it is stressful»
six years ago, Yuexin and Yumen had already come to France with a tour operator. A group visit accelerated. «We went to the Louvre, but without the guided tour. We had not learned a lot of things,» said the grandmother. From Tsingtao, a coastal city in Shandong province, east of China, they have decided this time to return to the individual. And take their time: a holiday a month in France with their grandson. For the cultural component, not a question of replicating the experience of the first trip. «With big groups you fly over things, it is very sloppy, everything is going too fast and it is stressful,» said Yumen.
«It is in the process of him eating the breast!», Zhenhao, 6 years old, is intrigued by the imposing relief of the roman Charity, ateliers Jean Goujon. The sculpture depicts Pero, breastfeeding her father prisoner. «This is a little embarrassing for them. In China, it does not show the chest, the beauty is dressed, so it intrigues many visitors from china,» says Li Hua. The same astonishment in the room of the Caryatides. The imposing sculptures of nudes fascinate Yuexin: «In Europe, there are many more statues than we are, and they are more beautiful!», pleasant-t-it.
«a Lot of Chinese think that the Venus de Milo is a deity without arms. It is the cliche more widespread and it is very difficult to make them change their opinion !»
a Few steps away, the crowd thickens. At the end of the corridor, the Venus de Milo appears. One of the ambassadors of the Louvre in China. And yet, stereotypes are tenacious. «It is nicknamed the «Venus without arms» because many Chinese believe that it is a deity without arms. It is the cliche more widespread and it is very difficult to make them change their opinion!», kidding, Li Hua. After a passage by the Victory of Samothrace , up to the Italian paintings. Here also, the guide takes the time to explain the religious representations. «For example, it is difficult for the Chinese to understand that Jesus, son of God, cannot die.»
Place of inescapable mona lisa . The small Zhenhao recognizes it immediately. Her grandmother Yuexin is less enthusiastic, «Nothing amazing, I find it hard to understand all the hype around this work!» Her husband agrees, «I am really impressed by the level of technique, the quality of the representation of the paintings, but it is difficult for me to understand the subtleties between the different tables.»
Zhenhao, to him, is captivated by the portraits, plants of Arcimboldo. His grand parents are delighted: «It is beginning to address itself to the art, it is important for us.» The Musée d’orsay and Versailles are included in the program of the next few days for the family. She will have spent 250 euros for the guided tour and the day together. The return is made by metro to «live in paris». For the restaurant provided for in the offer, they have the choice between French cuisine or chinese. It will be chinese.