[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
From June 28 to 30, the "2024 Discover China Cultural Tour of Beijing for Diplomats in China" was successfully held in Beijing. The event featured an immersive sitcom performance, promoting Beijing's culture and tourism offerings, visits to three themed routes showcasing the unique cultural charm of Beijing, and the stylish intangible cultural heritage experiences. A total of 72 diplomats and representatives from cultural and tourism organizations hailing from 29 countries had the opportunity to closely observe Beijing's cultural and scenic beauty and experience in depth what Beijing has to offer.
The event was hosted by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and organized by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, China Tourism Group Travel Services Co., Ltd., and China Digital Culture Group Co Ltd. It was executed by the Beijing Overseas Cultural Exchange Center, GD Power Beijing Thermal Power Company, and China Digital Enterprise Operation Management (Beijing) Co Ltd.
The Event
The event designed three cultural routes exploring Tongzhou district, Mentougou district, and Shijingshan district. Through visits to cultural landmarks, such as the Grand Canal, three major cultural buildings in Beijing's subcenter Tongzhou, Tanzhe Temple, Jinyu Colored Glaze Cultural and Creative Industrial Park, Shougang Park, and Moshikou Historical and Cultural District, the diplomats experienced the rich and diverse charm of Beijing, where history and modernity meet.
Immersive Sitcom: Showcasing Beijing's Vibrant Culture
On the afternoon of June 28, the launching ceremony of the "2024 Discover China Cultural Tour of Beijing for Diplomats in China" event was held at No. 75 Jianguo Road Digital Art Industrial Park. Zhang Zheng, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Yang Shuo, Director-General of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, and Mr Abdelkader El Ansari, Ambassador of Morocco to China, delivered speeches at the event. Ambassadors, diplomats, and representatives from cultural and tourism organizations from countries including Morocco, Argentina, Jordan, South Africa, El Salvador, Seychelles and North Macedonia gained insights into the development achievements of China's culture and tourism sector through a multi-sensory immersive experience. They also experienced the cultural heritage of old Beijing and the trendy expressions of modern Beijing.
During the launching ceremony, the "Hello, Beijing" promotional program innovatively presented the city's cultural and tourism offerings in the form of an "immersive sitcom performance". A tour guide led foreign visitors on a cycling tour of Beijing, sharing the city's latest and most convenient inbound tourism policies, new cultural and tourism hotspots, and new scenes and routes. The presentation introduced premium cultural and tourism offerings along the "vertical" (north-south central axis) and "horizontal" (Chang'an Avenue and its extension) lines, underscoring trendy urban walking destinations and the most recent facilitation policies and services designed for inbound tourists. The performance also featured Peking Opera and acrobatics, making it both visually captivating and informative.
Launching Ceremony of "2024 Discover China Cultural Tour of Beijing for Diplomats in China".[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Promoting Beijing's Culture and Tourism Offerings Through the "Hello, Beijing" Immersive Sitcom. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Promoting Beijing's Culture and Tourism Offerings Through the "Hello, Beijing" Immersive Sitcom. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Promoting Beijing's Culture and Tourism Offerings Through the "Hello, Beijing" Immersive Sitcom. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Promoting Beijing's Culture and Tourism Offerings Through the "Hello, Beijing" Immersive Sitcom. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Promoting Beijing's Culture and Tourism Offerings Through the "Hello, Beijing" Immersive Sitcom. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Three Cultural Routes: Experiencing the Diverse Charm of Beijing
The event, themed "Hello, Beijing," welcomed diplomats and cultural and tourism representatives on a three-day excursion through the unique settings of Tongzhou, Shijingshan, and Mentougou districts. They engaged with the rich heritage and vibrant lifestyle of Beijing as a world cultural city, all while experiencing the diverse range of convenient services tailored for international visitors.
On June 28, the guests visited Tongzhou district, where they boated on the Grand Canal and visited the Beijing Grand Canal Museum to appreciate the age-old canal culture. At the Beijing Library, a multifaceted cultural complex that combines knowledge dissemination, urban intellectual resources, and shared learning experiences, they learned about the historical and cultural heritage of Beijing through woodblock prints. On June 29, the guests visited Mentougou district, where they ascended the Tanzhe Temple to listen to the pines' whispers and visited Ziyang Villa, a famous homestay, to learn about the new development trends of suburban homestays in Beijing. The following day, they went to Shijingshan district, discovering Shougang Park where industry meets technology and marveled at the grandeur of industrial heritage. Their journey continued through the Moshikou Historical and Cultural district, tracing the footsteps of history along the Camel Bell Ancient Road in Beijing's west, comparing old photographs with current scenes, and experiencing the magic of this land.
Guests at the Tongzhou Section of the Grand Canal. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Guests at the Tongzhou Section of the Grand Canal. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Guests at Beijing Library. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Beijing Library presenting reader cards to foreign guests. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Guests at Beijing Grand Canal Museum. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Guests Visiting Tanzhe Temple in Mentougou district. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Guests Visiting Tanzhe Temple in Mentougou district. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Guests Visiting Tanzhe Temple in Mentougou District. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Guests visited the Ziyang Villa group in Mentougou District. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Guests Visiting Jinyu Colored Glaze Cultural and Creative Industrial Park. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Guests Visiting Shougang Park in Shijingshan district. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Guests Visiting Moshikou Historical and Cultural District. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Mr Hussam Al Husseini, Ambassador of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to China, said, "The historical stories of Beijing fully reveal its charm and the richness of its culture and heritage." Minister Povaliaev Andei of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in China commented, "The tour allowed me to discover two 'new worlds' in Beijing: Mentougou district and Shijingshan district. These districts are rich in tourism offerings, with many new discoveries awaiting us." Stanley Banda, Minister-Counselor of the Embassy of Zimbabwe in China, remarked, "This event was an eye-opener, showing me a different side of Beijing that I didn't know." Minister Gassim A.G. Gishlan of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in China said, "This tour allowed us to experience China's rich history, art, and design culture, and enhanced our understanding of the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties."
Embracing Cultural Heritage: Hands-On Experience with Beijing's Intangible Cultural Heritage Techniques
In addition to the rich tour routes linking Beijing's past and present, the event's diverse cultural experiences attracted diplomats from various countries. Prior to the opening ceremony, the diplomats found themselves captivated by traditional intangible cultural heritage crafts such as handcrafted sachets, cloisonné, and traditional rubbing techniques at different booths. At the Jinyu Colored Glaze Cultural and Creative Industrial Park, diplomats delved into the art of glaze-making. At the Fahai Temple Mural Art Museum in Moshikou, they created replicas of murals on-site, deeply appreciating the charm of Oriental aesthetics and immersing themselves in the vibrant light and shadow interplay that showcases the mural culture. In the silos at Shougang Park, the guests explored metaverse digital products and indulged in an immersive blend of technological innovation and cultural heritage.
Guests Experiencing Glaze-Making Techniques. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Guests Experiencing Glaze-Making Techniques. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Guests Experiencing Embossed Painting and Gilding at the Mural Art Museum. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Guests Visiting the Mural Art Museum. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Guests Experiencing Metaverse Digital Products at Shougang Park. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Mr Sashko Nasev, Ambassador of North Macedonia to China, expressed his love for Beijing's history and culture. Tatjana Soldat, Director of the Serbian Cultural Center in Beijing, praised the cultural experiences during the event, saying, "Through the event, I learned about China and Beijing from different angles." Liviu Taranu, Director of the Romanian Cultural Center in Beijing, participated in the three-day tour and said, "Hello, Beijing! The entire tour was perfectly planned, and everything was flawless."
The harmonious fusion of tradition and modernity in Beijing radiates a unique allure, attracting visitors from near and far through vibrant cultural exchanges. The three-day event has given diplomats a special chance to delve into the many facets of Beijing. The atmosphere throughout the event was one of warmth and harmony, with diplomats acclaiming Beijing's deep historical roots and its vibrant culture. They expressed their enthusiasm for future cultural and tourism engagement and collaboration with Beijing, aspiring to enable individuals from their home countries to experience firsthand the depth of Beijing's history, its stunning natural landscapes, and its cultural legacy. The goal is to further promote Beijing as a global cultural city and a destination for tourists worldwide.
