Almeida unveils Madrid’s first Chinese arch, a symbol of “mutual understanding between the Chinese community and the city”

From today, Plaza del Hidrógeno in Usera is home to the city’s first Chinese arch. The Mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, unveiled it this morning alongside district councillor Sonia Cea; the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Spain, Yao Jing; the artist behind the work, Okuda San Miguel; and the President of the Unión de Asociaciones Chinas de Usera, Enguan Chen.

The hybrid arch features a sculpture of two dragons and a bear atop a traditional Chinese arch, transforming the whole structure into a work of art. It stands 11 metres tall at its highest point and is 12 metres wide, with an eight-metre-wide passage beneath it.

Almeida highlighted how the new arch symbolises “mutual understanding between the Chinese community and the city” and praised a community that is “fully integrated and has been established in the capital for decades.” He also thanked Okuda for his commitment to Usera and for creating a work that “will remain forever” in the district and “in this city’s memory,” becoming “an icon for Madrid.” The artist, the mayor explained, developed the project “through dialogue and collaboration with the Chinese community” so that it “faithfully reflects the values” that underpin coexistence in the district.

For her part, the councillor for Usera, where the Chinese community accounts for 10% of the population, described the arch as “an expression of the embrace between cultures” and “the icing on the cake of the extensive regeneration work we have carried out in Usera.”

An embrace between two cultures

Entitled Two Cultures in Love, the work reinterprets the paifang, the traditional Chinese arch that marks a place and honours its history, transforming it into a meeting point for the neighbourhood. Its three figures coexist on a single gateway rather than confronting one another. The bear represents Madrid and the two dragons symbolize Chinese culture, in an embrace between the two communities that share everyday life in Usera. Each side of the arch features messages in Chinese calligraphy about coexistence, respect and harmony, such as “The world belongs to everyone” and “Harmony is the most precious thing.”

The district’s Chinese community contributed to the design, including shapes and colour palette. The arch is intended to become an artistic icon of Madrid and a symbol of coexistence between cultures. It will strengthen Usera’s identity and help enhance its appeal as a destination for culture, shopping, food and tourism, attracting visitors, generating economic activity and creating opportunities for local shops and hospitality businesses.

Developed by Usera District Council with an investment of €490,000, the arch completes the pedestrian route linking Madrid Río Park to the heart of the district. Completed earlier this year, the route includes references to Chinese culture, such as carp engraved in the paving and the dragon-shaped playground in Plaza de las Tizas. Together, these projects represent an investment of over 10 million euros and are financed by European NextGenerationEU funds under the Tourism Sustainability Plans for Destinations.

Three days to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival

The unveiling of the arch marks the start of the Mid-Autumn Festival, which will take place in Usera from Friday 2 to Sunday 4 October. On Friday and Saturday, throughout the day, Plaza del Hidrógeno will host Chinese dance parades and displays of the qipao—a traditional Chinese dress. On Sunday, there will also be musical performances and dragon dances held on Plaza de José Luis Hoys, next to Usera metro station.

Throughout the three-day festival, the pedestrian route will feature tea stalls, tai chi activities, a food area and a market, with craft workshops also taking place over the weekend. On Friday evening, Pradolongo Park will offer two events: a DJ set at the bandstand and Música y magia bajo la luna (Music and magic under the moon), a Chinese shadow theatre and magic show, at the Mirador de Pradolongo amphitheatre.

Factory of Dreams, Okuda San Miguel’s space in Usera for creating, managing and promoting contemporary art, will also join the celebrations. On Friday 2 October, it will run children’s workshops where youngsters can experiment with colour and contribute to a collaborative artwork inspired by the arch. On Saturday the 3rd, the studio will open its doors for guided tours introducing visitors to the space and the artist’s creative process, as well as organising walks to admire the arch.

The full programme is available at diario.madrid.es.