Count de La Panouse and the Chinese diplomats

On 30 June, Thoiry Castle opened its doors to a delegation of Chinese diplomats led by Ms Zhang Hua, Ambassador of the Chinese Embassy in France.

Located a few kilometres from Paris, the Thoiry estate brings together, within a single landscape, a Renaissance château, historic gardens and a zoo renowned for its commitment to biodiversity conservation.

Throughout the day, the diplomats discovered a family heritage which, for several generations, has combined the protection of historic monuments, the preservation of nature and openness to the public.

A long-standing passion for China

The visit took on a very special significance thanks to the warm welcome extended by Count Paul de La Panouse, who personally guided the delegation through the château’s state rooms.

As the tour progressed, he revealed a little-known aspect of Thoiry’s history: the long-standing ties his family has maintained with Chinese civilisation. For several centuries, Chinese art and culture have held a special place in the château’s heritage.

In particular, the state rooms house remarkable Chinese silk wall hangings, whose delicate embroidery, elegant motifs and rich colours bear witness to the fascination that the Middle Kingdom already held for grand European residences in the 18th and 19th centuries.

This influence is also evident in the decorative arts. An antique harpsichord, adorned with motifs inspired by Chinese gardens, elegantly illustrates this convergence of European aesthetics and Oriental art. Long before the era of globalisation, these works were already telling a story of mutual admiration, curiosity and dialogue between cultures.

More than half a century of relations with China

The links between Thoiry and China originated in the early 1970’s. While Paris hosted the peace negotiations ending the Vietnam War, a Vietnamese delegation visited the Thoiry Zoological Park, accompanied by Chinese representatives. This meeting marked the beginning of a relationship that has continued to develop.

Over the decades, the family of La Panouse has maintained regular exchanges with the Chinese delegation to UNESCO and then with the Chinese Embassy in France.

Many initiatives have emerged to raise awareness of Chinese culture among the French public, through shows, artistic events and the arrival of the famous Beijing Circus.

This cooperation has also extended to the zoological field. Invited several times in China, Paul de La Panouse accompanied the transfer of several animals born in Thoiry to Chinese zoological parks.

He mentions in particular the departure of two ligrons intended for the Beijing Zoo, an event widely relayed by the media of the time, symbol of a cooperation based on trust, animal conservation and scientific exchanges.

When Chinese culture illuminates Thoiry

This special relationship finds its most visible expression today in the Chinese Lantern Festival, which has become one of the major cultural events of the winter in the Paris region.

Every year, from the end of October until the beginning of March, the castle gardens are transformed into a magical journey made up of hundreds of monumental lanterns created by artisans from China.

Beyond its artistic dimension, this event also plays a vital role in the life of the estate. Following the Covid-19 pandemic, it contributed to the resurgence of winter visitor numbers and now helps fund the restoration of the castle, the preservation of the zoological park, and the development of new cultural projects.

A heritage geared towards the future

During discussions with the delegation, Paul de La Panouse shared his vision of heritage, based on a simple conviction: preserving a castle, protecting animals and passing on a history are all part of the same responsibility.

This philosophy is also reflected in recent developments in the field. Lodges located in the heart of the safari now allow visitors to enjoy an immersive experience up close to wildlife, while the new generation continues this dynamic by developing projects related to sustainable tourism, organic farming and environmental innovation.

At Thoiry, the heritage is not frozen in the past; it continues to evolve in step with contemporary challenges.

A French-style tea

To conclude this day of discovery, Mrs. Zhang Hua, Ambassador of China to France, was accompanied by the embassy’s ministers-counselors, Guo Xiaolin, An Yan, Ji Rong and Dai Junpeng, to share a French-style tea with Count Paul de La Panouse in the castle’s salons.

Around a table set according to French tradition, the guests enjoyed a selection of iconic pastries — macarons with delicate flavors, chocolate fondant, madeleines, financiers and other sweets accompanied by tea and coffee.

Heritage as a universal language

This visit also had symbolic significance.

Composed exclusively of Chinese diplomats, the delegation reflected the evolution of Chinese diplomacy, where women now occupy an increasing place in representations abroad and in the development of international relations.

For several generations, the women of the La Panouse family have played an essential role in preserving the castle, transmitting its history and developing the estate.

This family dimension resonated naturally with this female delegation, who came to discover another way of keeping heritage alive.

In a world where international relations increasingly rely on mutual understanding, heritage emerges as a universal language. Monuments, landscapes, works of art, and traditions allow us to transcend borders and create bonds based on respect, curiosity, and sharing.

For one day, history, culture and diplomacy met in the same space, writing a new page in Franco-Chinese friendship and reminding us that culture remains one of the most powerful vectors of rapprochement between peoples.