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Africa is seen by many Chinese as a land of immense natural beauty and exotic animals, but awareness about its rich and varied culture is little known outside art circles.

In Beijing, cultural aficionados and those who have lived in or visited Africa are trying to deepen cultural links to the continent by introducing its unique arts and crafts to residents.

Their dedication to promoting Africa is also adding vibrancy to the Chinese capital through venues that allow visitors to experience Africa's cultural offerings firsthand.

Feng Xinxin, who is in her 30s, lived in Namibia for 11 years from 2008. Her African paintings, sculptures, and images and artworks of rare animals are on display at an Africa-themed coffee shop in a cultural park outside Beijing's northeastern Fifth Ring Road.

"When I came back (from Namibia), and chatted with people around me, their first question about Africa was whether it was a war-torn place and if going there was unsafe," said Feng. "People wondered why a woman would go to Africa at such a young age, and they had a particularly skeptical attitude.

"I was asked too many questions and this became a motivation for me to build such a place in Beijing, to let more people truly understand Africa."

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