"Fantastic and thoroughly enjoyable!" On July 14, Ms. Yang, a Chengdu resident, shared her feelings after watching the movie "Àma Gloria" with her child. As this French film concluded its screening in Sichuan, the three-month-long "2024 Chengdu·Europe Cultural Season" neared its end, having attracted nearly 100,000 citizens.
Since the beginning of this year, a series of cultural events have fostered a "two-way engagement" between Sichuan and the world: the 2024 Chengdu International Horticultural Expo has welcomed visitors from all corners of the globe; the 2024 Golden Panda Awards global promotion event was featured at the 35th Sunny Side of the Doc in France; and 30 social media influencers from 25 countries delved deeply into Sichuan, among other activities.
General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that Chinese civilization is inclusive, which fundamentally determines the historical orientation of the Chinese nation featuring exchanges and integration, the harmonious coexistence of diverse religious beliefs in China, and the openness of Chinese culture to world civilizations. The ever-thriving city reception halls within Sichuan, celebrated as the Land of Abundance, along with its diverse and captivating cultural activities, stand as a testament to the province's strengthened connections, deeper mutual understanding, and fostering of friendships with the global community.
The Growing International Charm of the "Land of Abundance"
Since 2017, the "Chengdu·Europe Cultural Season" has been successfully held for eight consecutive years, featuring over 90 high-quality and engaging cultural and artistic exchange events. These activities, offered free of charge and designed for easy participation, have been deeply embedded in the urban community and the daily lives of the public.
The "2024 Chengdu·Europe Cultural Season" hosted 16 public cultural exchange events (23 sessions), including art exhibitions, concerts, and film weeks. This edition stood out as the most eventful and diverse in the history of the cultural seasons, boasting the highest number of live performances and the widest service coverage. It ignited a wave of cultural exchange and mutual learning between Chengdu and Europe in Sichuan.
According to a relevant leading official from the Chengdu Municipal Cultural Center, Sichuan's hosting of events like the "Chengdu·Europe Cultural Season" not only facilitates the exchange and learning from outstanding foreign cultures, as well as the acquisition of development experience in the cultural tourism industry but also enables the global community to gain a comprehensive understanding of Sichuan, presenting the province's open and inclusive image to the world and steadily augmenting its international influence.
A representative from the Consulate General of Poland in Chengdu, a longstanding partner of the cultural season, stated, "Although geographically distant, bridging the cultural distance between Sichuan and Europe is achievable. This encapsulates the essence of initiatives such as the 'Chengdu·Europe Cultural Season.'" The representative further noted that during this year's edition, the Consulate General took part in several sub-events, all of which were warmly received by the Chengdu residents. Their enthusiasm reflects the public's fondness for international cultural activities and their anticipation for future exchanges.
The increasing frequency of international cultural events in Sichuan offers locals expanded opportunities and perspectives to observe the world. The surge in activities has significantly enhanced Sichuan's international profile, with the Golden Panda Awards serving as a notable annotation of the province's growing global presence. Last September, Chengdu hosted the inaugural Golden Panda Awards. This national top international communication award, using film and television as its medium, featuring the giant panda as its cultural symbol, and building a community with a shared future for mankind as its main objective, has now permanently established its base in Sichuan. Spanning mountains and rivers, the "Golden Panda" connects Sichuan and the world, bridging hearts and minds, and will continually foster the deepening of cultural exchange and mutual learning.
The Growing Appealing of Sichuan Elements
"It is evident that Sichuan's appeal to foreign artists is growing stronger," stated Yang Li, founder of Nongyuan International Art Village. She informed the reporter that, within the past two years, Nongyuan's "NY20+" international Artist Residency Program has witnessed a multiplied increase in the participation of international resident artists. In the previous year alone, over 200 artists visited Sichuan for residency and creation purposes, and this year's figure is anticipated to surpass 300.
Polish artist Marcin Ryczek, who resided in Sichuan last year for artistic creation, exhibited a number of works inspired by the province at the Polish special event of the "2024 Chengdu·Europe Cultural Season" in June. The exhibition, titled "Harmony: Marcin Ryczek's Photography", featured photos such as "Land of Pandas", "Temple", and "Woman with a Red Fan". He expressed his desire to spend an additional year traveling in Chengdu, taking more photographs, and exhibiting these works in different cities across China.
In recent years, Sichuan's transportation development and rising international profile have attracted a growing number of foreign visitors to the province. Related data indicates that in the first half of this year, Chengdu's air ports of entry saw over 230,000 foreign arrivals, marking a 432 percent increase compared to the same period last year. Of these, over 95,000 arrived through visa-free entry, constituting 41 percent of the total. Moreover, the ports handled over 85,000 passenger arrivals under the 24-hour and 144-hour visa-free transit policies, extending the benefits to more than 110 countries and regions.
In early July, Sichuan attracted a group of special guests – a delegation of 30 foreign social media influencers from 25 countries. Over five days, the foreign influencers not only followed the "standard itinerary", which included visiting giant pandas, savoring hot pot, and touring the Sanxingdui site, but also savored local delicacies at Leshan's Zhanggongqiao specialty dining area, acquired traditional painting rubbing skills in the Mianzhu New Year Painting Village, and relished evening beers in Dujiangyan.
Moris Adrian Dieck Kattas, from Mexico, elaborated on the convenience of using QR codes at food stalls in Sichuan's night market on his channel. Prior to departing Sichuan, Kerry-Ann Collins, a Jamaican host, revealed to the reporter that within a mere few days, her account had amassed over 2,000 fresh followers, and one of her videos had exceeded 150,000 views.
Undoubtedly, Sichuan, the Land of Abundance, has become a source of inspiration and a proven formula to enhance online traffic for social media influencers. Through their sharing, the authentic, vibrant, relaxing, and thrilling aspects of Sichuan are being exhibited on the phone screens of numerous foreign friends.
