On the eve of the Dragon Boat Festival, the Chinese Embassy in Rwanda hosted a vibrant reception at Canal Olympia in Kigali, marking the African debut of the blockbuster film Detective Chinatown 1900.
The event, held on Friday, May 30, 2025, brought together members of the Chinese community in Rwanda, Rwandan government representatives, and friends of China to celebrate both the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations and the traditional Chinese holiday.
Rwanda was chosen as the first African country to screen this film with a runtime of 2 hours 16 minutes, underscoring the growing cultural ties between China and Rwanda.
Detective Chinatown 1900, the fourth installment in the popular Chinese comedy-mystery franchise, directed by Chen Sicheng and Dai Mo, premiered globally on January 29, 2025, during the Chinese New Year.
The film, set in San Francisco’s Chinatown in 1900, follows Qin Fu (Liu Haoran), a Chinese medicine practitioner, and Ah Gui (Wang Baoqiang), a Chinese man raised by a Native American tribe, as they investigate the murders of a white woman, Alice, and an elderly Native American man.
The prime suspect is Bai Zhenbang, son of Chinatown leader Bai Xuanling (Chow Yun-Fat). The narrative unfolds against the backdrop of anti-Chinese xenophobia fueled by the Chinese Exclusion Act, blending humor, action, and poignant social commentary on racism and cultural identity.
Who killed Alice?
The investigation reveals a complex conspiracy: Alice’s murder was orchestrated by a corrupt businessman in collusion with a xenophobic congressman (John Cusack) to frame Bai Zhenbang and stoke anti-Chinese sentiment for political and economic gain.
The elderly Native American’s death was a related cover-up. There is no indication that Bai Xuanling, the influential Chinatown leader, was involved in Alice’s death; rather, he plays a pivotal role in protecting the community.
Qin Fu and Ah Gui’s clever deductions expose the true culprits, resolving the case while highlighting ongoing racial tensions, leaving a bittersweet reflection on cultural harmony.
Speaking at the event, Lin Hang, Chargé d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Kigali, highlighted the film’s global success and symbolic importance for Africa and Rwanda.
“Detective Chinatown 1900 is a blockbuster, which was officially launched on January 29 and so far has made a revenue of 1.3 billion US$ globally. It’s the first screening of the movie in Africa, choosing Rwanda as the first and unique country. It’s a special and joyful occasion, the eve of the Dragon Boat Festival,” she noted.
She also reflected on the reasons behind the film’s widespread popularity.
“More importantly, it may be attributed to the focus on the respect and equality, tolerance and inclusiveness, mutual learning and appreciation, and harmonious coexistence of civilizations. This is particularly meaningful for today’s world, which is plagued by frequent conflicts and turmoils.”
The essence of Dragon Boat Festival
Dragons in Chinese culture symbolize, among others, good luck, protection and intelligence. The festival, celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month (May 31, 2025), commemorates the patriotic poet Qu Yuan, who drowned himself in the Miluo River in despair over political betrayal.
Locals raced boats to save him and dropped sticky rice dumplings (zongzi) to protect his body, origins of the festival’s dragon boat races and zongzi traditions.
The Kigali screening also underscored the shared cultural values between China and Rwanda as highlighted by Hang who praised Rwanda’s support for China’s Global Civilization Initiative.
“Rwanda’s cosponsoring of [the UN resolution for the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations] is highly appreciated,” she stated.
“Like Rwanda, we oppose others imposing their own governance and development models on us. We are firmly against the interference of our internal affairs in the name of so-called democracy and human rights,” Hang added as she underscored shared values.
Hang also celebrated cultural exchanges, such as the upcoming participation of Rwanda’s Agaseke Culture Center in the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo in June 2025, which will showcase Rwandan culture alongside Chinese traditions.
She concluded with a call to action: “Let’s work together for a better world with peace, stability and prosperity, for future and our next generations.”
