The 42nd Kaifeng Chrysanthemum Cultural Festival attracted a large number of journalists from nearly a hundred media outlets across the country. On October 17th, they gathered in Kaifeng to provide extensive coverage of the event domestically and internationally. By leveraging their respective platforms, they employed comprehensive media reporting, platform-driven strategies, and matrixed dissemination to further promote Kaifeng's festival culture.
At 6 pm on October 17, all the journalists visited the 960 Project of Kaifeng Investment Group located to the east of the Meridian Gate Square and watched the fire pot performance. The fire pot, a national intangible cultural heritage, traces back to ancient folk festivals and requires the skill of manipulating flames to create a stunning display. Performers put the burning charcoal into the iron mesh and shake out sparks. With each shake and lift, sparks burst forth and quickly illuminate sky like a dazzling array of stars. The prosperous night, bright as day, elicited rounds of applause from the audience.
Subsequently, they entered the 960 Cultural and Creative Park which has undergone improvement in the style of "classical exterior and fashionable interior" through lighting, greening, and restoration. In addition to various live performances, the organic combination of traditional culture and fashionable elements can be seen everywhere. Beverages during the Northern Song Dynasty a thousand years ago have transformed into the everyday drinks with romantic names such as "Seeking Osmanthus in Mountains" and "Frost in Maple Forests", allowing visitors to savor the essence of history. The 960 Cultural and Creative Park reflects the close integration of ornament, interaction, participation, experience, and entertainment, vividly presenting the festival theme of "an immersive journey into the Song Dynasty" in a diversified way.
The interactive drama Looking Forward to Spring in the Park has attracted a large number of journalists with its unique form. The story plot is based on the Art of Burning Incense, which was one of the four spiritual and aesthetic activities during the Northern Song Dynasty. It uses "incense" as a medium to traverse through time. The actors' professional performances drew many journalists to participate in the interactive part, significantly sparking their interest in sharing pictures via social media.
At the Suzhen Theatre, the classic Yu Opera play Bi Zheng and Miaochang left the journalists spellbound. The play narrates the story of Pan Bizheng and Chen Miaochang breaking through feudal barriers in pursuit of love, a tale that is both emotional and rational. Wang Sujun, the founder of the Wang school art of Yu Opera, has successively starred in this play alongside renowned Yu Opera performers Wang Jingxian, Zhu Qiaoyun, and others. The play has also been adapted into an opera TV drama and was broadcast on CCTV, as well as provincial and municipal stations. The on-site performance was articulate and emotionally rich, leaving the journalists with a lingering impression.
At the east side of the 960 Cultural and Creative Park, the journalists made a "travel" to the Northern Song Dynasty. They followed the well-known mechanic Zhao Yi and experienced the technology charm of that time. Immersed in the intricate structures, they observed up close the exquisite craftsmanship of the iron pillar for suppressing river floods and the auspicious sea horse while listening to the touching stories from the history of the Northern Song Dynasty.
It is reported that Technology of the Song Dynasty is an immersive experience project jointly created by Kaifeng Investment Group and Rumeng Cultural Media Group. Through the deep integration of technology and cultural tourism, the project interprets the story of how Emperor Zhao Kuangyin gathered skilled medics and craftsmen from all over the country for the strategic goal of "subduing enemies without fighting" and ensuring the eternal stability and long-term peace of the Song Dynasty. The project meticulously restores historical cultural heritage by utilizing mainstream 3D development engines, including Unreal Engine, and laser scanning modeling technology. It also employs Location-Based Entertainment, AI-based virtual tour systems, motion capture systems, and real-time synchronization of virtual spaces. These technologies provide visitors with an interactive environment that is both realistic and imaginative.
The journalists commented that Technology of the Song Dynasty is not only a combination of technology and art, but also an inheritance of traditional Chinese culture. It brings dreams into reality with the help of modern technology, providing tourists with a brand-new experience as a high-tech product that integrates education, entertainment and innovation.
At the waterfront platform of the Dragon Pavilion Lake, the journalists enjoyed the grand performance of Flower Boats on the Song Dynasty Imperial River. With the sky as the backdrop, the pavilions as the scenery, and the water as the stage, flower boats were adorned with melodious music and graceful dancers. From the boats, the Jade Belt bridge, the Chaomen gate, and the resplendent Hall of the Dragon Pavilion Park were all in full view. They complemented the tens of thousands of competing chrysanthemums in pots and the bright lights which resemble a galaxy in the scenic area, presenting a magnificent picture scroll with the sound of oars and the shadow of lanterns reflecting the enduring charm of the Song Dynasty.
The journalists all praised Kaifeng for its steady and robust development in the fields of culture and tourism. Here, they experienced the charm of the ancient capital, sensed its humanistic spirit, and felt the fusion of historical depth with modern vitality. The interweaving of bygone times with new creativity fill every corner with a unique allure. They believe that by adhering to the strategic vision of "a world-renowned historical capital and cultural tourism city", Kaifeng will fully display its millennia-old splendor and become a pioneer in the high-quality development of culture and tourism. (Chinese source: Henan Daily Reporter: Jiao Hongchang Correspondent: Li Xinyi and Yao Ziwen Translator: Ding Lan)
