2023 Yangtze River Culture and Art Festival Opens in Zhangjiagang to Promote Deep Integration and Development of Yangtze River Culture and Tourism

Guided by the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles and organized by the Publicity Department of the Jiangsu Provincial Party Committee, the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, and the Suzhou Municipal People's Government, the 2023 Yangtze River Culture and Art Festival opened recently in Zhangjiagang.

At the opening ceremony, 20 tour routes that cover sightseeing, leisure and vacation, exploration and food tasting, parent-child study and other various "Charm of Jiangsu" Yangtze River culture were officially launched; and 100 attractions on the list of "Charm of Jiangsu - Yangtze River Hundred Scenes" that reflect the characteristic cultural resources, geography, and landscape along the Jiangsu section of the Yangtze River were announced; the 125m-long and 1.2m-tall scroll "Yangtze Spring Scenery", the collective creation of Jiangsu Traditional Chinese Painting Institute, was debuted on video; the collection of Yangtze River-themed poems and songs in cursive script -- "Great Beauty of the Yangtze River - Sun Xiaoyun’s Yangtze River-themed Calligraphy Manuscripts" was also released. The opening ceremony’s "Singing for a New Era" themed performance was divided into three chapters: "Remembering the Moon of the Yangtze River", "Immortal at the River" and "The River Runs Red", which showcased a number of literary and artistic masterpieces reflecting the history and contemporary art of the Yangtze River Basin.

The year 2023 is the 20th anniversary of the Yangtze River Culture and Art Festival. This year's Festival is themed on "Integration, Promotion, Sharing", linking 13 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) in the Yangtze River Basin and 8 cities along the Yangtze River in Jiangsu Province, and focusing on the 5 major sections that cover "Cultural Relics of the Yangtze River", "Intangible Cultural Heritages of the Yangtze River", "Arts of the Yangtze River", "Traveling the Yangtze River" and "Open Yangtze River". The Festival has planned and organized over 20 activities, including immersive experience, intangible cultural heritage exhibitions, Chinese art bazaar, opera performances, literary awards, forums and seminars, etc., to further enhance the influence of the new Yangtze River culture, which is a fusion of river, culture and tourism. The series of activities will last until November.