The urban landscape of Verona in Italy. [Photo/VCG]

From the legend of The Butterfly Lovers in Hangzhou to Romeo and Juliet in Verona, two cities separated by continents are linked by timeless stories of love.

At the West Lake's Wansong Academy, the birthplace of the Chinese romantic classic, a newly opened Hangzhou-Verona Exchange Exhibition Hall now echoes with Shakespeare's tragedy, symbolizing a cultural dialogue between East and West.

The bond runs deep. In 1954, China introduced The Butterfly Lovers to the world as "China's Romeo and Juliet", and in 2016, Hangzhou was described as China's "city of love" at the G20 Summit. In 2019, Hangzhou and Verona formally established friendly ties, turning shared symbolism into city-to-city cooperation.

Since then, exchanges have expanded from music and opera to poetry, heritage protection, exhibitions, and food culture. From Italian opera performed by the West Lake to Pompeii relics exhibited in Hangzhou, both cities are exploring how to keep cultural heritage "alive" amid the frenetic pace of modern urban life.

Linked by love stories, poetry, and living heritage, Hangzhou and Verona show how ancient civilizations can find fresh resonance — and lasting friendship —across time and oceans.

A stage scene from the Yueju Opera of The Butterfly Lovers. [Photo/Zhejiang Xiaobaihua Opera Troupe]