Chinese Monkey King out and about in Mandalay

Chinese Monkey King out and about in Mandalay

By Than Naing Soe   |   Friday, 30 May 2014

Chinese actor Zhang Jinlai, who is best known for his role as Monkey King in the 1986 television series Journey to the West, met fans in Mandalay last week as part of a state-sponsored tour of Myanmar.

Journey to the West was originally a classical Chinese novel written in the 16^th century that tells the story of a Chinese Buddhist monk who went on a pilgrimage to India during the Tang dynasty.

"Because the Monkey King actor came here, the Myanmar China Friendship Association will carry out more work in Mandalay," said U Po Myint who works for the Mandalay division of the China Myanmar Peace Association, one of the tour's sponsors.

One attendee, who asked not to be named, said they believed the tour is part of Chinese efforts to present a softer image at a time of heightened tension with ASEAN states – particularly Vietnam – over territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

"There's something in the background of this China Myanmar Peace Association and the Monkey King actor coming to Myanmar. Because there is opposition to the Chinese in Vietnam and they are trying to prevent Chinese opposition here," said the attendee. 

Zhang Jinlai's tour is also sponsored by the ASEAN-Center and the Chinese embassy in Myanmar. – Translation by Khant Lin Oo

Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2014/05/30/chinese-monkey-king-out-and-about-in-mandalay/