Nice, bay of lights, an event that reflects the growing connection between China and the French Riviera

A truly eye-catching show will illuminate the city of Nice for the end of the year celebrations. Starting November 29th, Nice's inhabitants and tourists will be able to participate in the event, a bay of lights designed to immerse visitors in Chinese traditions and know-how.
 
At nightfall, more than 550 lanterns will bring to life fifty-so luminous paintings depicting life and magical landscapes that will amaze children and adults alike. Through this voyage at the heart of Chinese tradition, visitors will also be able to admire an 18-metre high Chinese wall and two 50-meter long dragons!
 
Creating bright lanterns is a true tradition for Christmas and New Year celebrations in China. Still today, the Sichuan province continues producing these lanterns. While candles have now been replaced by LEDs, the beauty of the lanterns continues to amaze spectators over the years.
 
The famous Phoenix Park, a botanical and wildlife park ideally located in the heart of the city and close to Nice Côte d'Azur Airport, will host this exceptional event until February 23rd 2020.

The Nice, bay of lights (Baie des Lumières in French) event is above all a Franco-Chinese collaboration aimed at promoting cultural traditions in China for end-of-year celebrations. The lanterns are entirely handmade, in respect of past traditions. The smallest of them were manufactured in a workshop located in Sichuan province, while the larger ones will have been assembled directly on site by a Chinese team.
 
This event is part of efforts to bring the country closer to China that has been underway for some time. Last March, President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to France on the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between France and China. They met on the French Riviera, in Beaulieu-sur-Mer, for a state dinner at the Kerylos Villa.
 
In August, Nice Airport inaugurated a direct Nice - Beijing flight, which has been expected for many years. It has now become the second airport in France, after Paris, to offer a direct route to China.
This new link represents a significant opportunity for the French Riviera to promote trade with China. It also increases the number of tourists and travelers in order to develop the attractiveness and access to the French Riviera from abroad. The number of Chinese visitors to this region should actually increase from 115,000 to 250,000 per year in 2025. According to the Chinese president, this direct line will increase the number of travelers by 30% in the coming years.

From a real estate point of view, the expansion of the Nice - Beijing connection is a real asset that should boost the local real estate market. Foreign buyers, and in particular the Chinese, are an integral part of this market and invest predominantly in second homes.
 
The French Riviera, with its climate and landscapes, is attracting more and more foreigners and real estate experts are seeing an increase in the interest of Chinese buyers. According to the Regional Tourism Committee, the French Riviera is one of the leading destinations for Chinese people, whose visits tripled between 2007 and 2015.
A direct link with Beijing will encourage trade between France and China, and facilitate real estate investment on the French Riviera by Chinese buyers.