Yichang, a city in central China’s Hubei Province, famed for historic figures, largest hydro-power station in the world, pianos and poetry, is now thriving on its rich traditional culture.
From the city proper to countryside, squares to factory workshops, campuses to communities, fine traditional culture is radiating vitality, improving its people’s lives.
On the morning of June 8, 150 kindergarten children in traditional Han clothing gathered in front of the city’s museum, chanting aloud The Songs of Chu, an ancient Chinese classic.
A poetry party was held the next day in the city’s China Three Gorges University, featuring poetry chanting and stage performance, according to the Publicity Department of CPC Yichang Municipal Committee.
Besides, folk singing is also an art form popular among local residents. Modern lyrics advocating the Party’s policies and social morals make traditional melodies catchy among youngsters.
The state council, China’s cabinet, proposed in the 2018 government work report in February to advocate excellent traditional culture of Chinese nation and build a prosperous cultural society with Chinese characteristics.
Over 150 distinctive activities at grass-root level have since been held in Yichang.
Moreover, the city government has invested more than 10 billion yuan (1.6 billion U.S. dollars) in major cultural infrastructure, including the new city museum, urban planning exhibition hall, Olympic sports center, science and technology museum and activity center for women and children. About 95 percent of villages and communities are equipped with standard entertainment square.
An average of over 80 large-scale poetry activities are held every year, with 100,000 participants from local communities. The city is also home to 15 poetry research and creation teams, 39 poetry societies and all kinds of poetry activities.
In the running-up to the Dragon Boat Festival, the county government of Zigui on June 3 brought a folk melodrama to Beijing and presented citizens in the Chinese capital an original cultural feast. The melodrama was based on the ancient Chinese poet Qu Yuan, who lived during 340-278 BC.
Incomplete statistics show that the city has been crowned with more than 400 artistic awards.
The Zigui Quyuan art troupe once flew to Canada to perform. The city also presented various programs on provincial and state level channels.
With its cultural name cards welcomed across the country and even the world, Yichang is more confident than ever about its cultural identity.
Source: The Publicity Department of CPC Yichang Municipal Committee
