On September 2nd, more than 30 journalists from nine Southeast Asian Internet media groups and a dozen Chinese media groups at both central and provincial levels visited Guangzhou, a global city with long and profound history, forming part of the Southeast Asian Media Greater Bay Area Tour.

[Video: Luo Zhongming, Wu Zejia, Jasmine Yin]

The journalists were introduced to the unique Cantonese culture and Guangzhou’s achievements in technology and innovation during their trip to Yongqingfang, the Cantonese Opera Art Museum, Development Exhibition Hall for Science Square in Guangzhou Development District, and Guangzhou Leafun Culture Science and Technology Co., Ltd.

Exploring Lingnan culture

The first place the tour group arrived at in the morning was Yongqingfang, home to the city’s trademark arcade houses and precious memories of Guangzhou as a two thousand years old commercial hub.

Journalists visit Yongqingfang. [Photo by Will]

The area, established in 1931, is a well-known center of Lingnan culture and Guangdong culture. In this area covering less than 8,000 square meters, you can find exhibition houses and a museum that showcase Canton porcelain, Canton embroidery and Cantonese opera as well as Bruce Lee’s ancestral home and many former residences of well-known figures.

In recent years, the façades of buildings located in Yongqingfang have been extensively renovated, but the original layout and special residences were preserved. Yongqingfang has since become a successful fusion of new and old, in keeping with current trends.

Two Cantonese opera performers take the stage at the museum. [Photo by Will]

The Cantonese Opera Art Museum located on Enning Road was a highlight of the trip. In the past famous Cantonese opera performers got together or lived in this neighborhood. Many Cantonese opera masters’ former residences were located around here, such as Ma Si Tsang and Hung Sin-nui.

It is said that: “Where there are Chinese people, you can hear Cantonese opera”, a saying that goes to show how popular Cantonese opera was and is still to be with overseas Chinese.

A large number of Cantonese Chinese emigrated to Southeast Asia, therefore many Cantonese opera troupes and artists also went to the region. Therefore, Southeast Asia is acclaimed as “the second hometown of Cantonese opera”.

Ms. Huang Hu Guiqing, Singaporean J.P. and famous Cantonese opera artist, said, “Cantonese opera has been in Singapore for more than 100 years, as can be traced through documents. In 1857, Cantonese opera performers set up a Cantonese opera association ‘Li Yuan Tang’ in Tofu Street. This proves that in the 19th century, Cantonese opera was quite popular in Singapore. In 1890, ‘Li Yuan Tang’ was renamed ‘Bahe Hall’”.

Journalists interview the performers. [Photo by Will]

For many journalists it was their first time visiting this museum and they enjoyed it very much. Ms. SU Ling Yi, Director of Chinese News Department of Sing Sian Yer Pao, said Thailand is one of the countries with the most overseas Chinese; there are many guild halls of Guangdong cities where they can enjoy Cantonese opera performances. SU pointed out that the trip gave her a chance to learn more about the root and inheritance of Cantonese opera.

Ms. HAN Yonghong, Vice Editor Chief of Lianhe Zaobao, told the reporter that many people enjoy watching Cantonese opera performance in Singapore, and renowned Cantonese opera artist Hung Sin-nui once performed in her country. “After visiting the museum and watching a performance, I have gained many more details about Cantonese opera.”

In 2009 the joint application by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao was approved and Cantonese opera inscribed in 2009 on the UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The Cantonese Opera Art Museum is committed to protecting, passing down and promoting the art of Cantonese opera, sharing the essence and charm of Cantonese opera and Lingnan culture through exhibitions, performances, cultural exchanges and education.

The Cantonese Opera Art Museum built with many traditional Lingnan architectural features offers themed exhibitions, a theater, garden and education spaces. It has attracted people from both home and abroad to watch Cantonese opera performances, such as a delegation of mayors from Western United States, Fortune Global Forum’s global media group, the spouses of Fortune Global Forum guests, and a delegation led by the former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin. It continues to bring Cantonese opera to the global stage.

Leafun leading the “culture + technology” business

In the afternoon, the journalists visited the Exhibition Hall of Science Square and Guangzhou Leafun Culture Science and Technology Co., Ltd. to learn about how Guangzhou-based enterprises became leaders in new forms of business based on cultural experiences.

Journalists watch a holographic video at Leafun. [Photo by Will]

You might not be familiar with Leafun, but you must have heard about the National Center for Performing Arts in Beijing, the Guangzhou Opera House and the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. These are only some of Leafun’s clients and projects.

Leafun Culture Science and Technology Co., Ltd., established in 1997, is specialized in culture and creative industries. With the philosophy of integrating culture with technology, it provides customers with innovative solutions and thorough technical support for artistic and cultural performances, cultural facility construction, culture and leisure tourism, cultural exhibitions, and urban cultural landscapes based on its expertise in professional audio devices, lighting, video products and integrated control.

Journalists view a drone by EHang at the Exhibition Hall. [Photo by Will]

Journalists view a robot arm at the Exhibition Hall. [Photo by Will]

At the Development Exhibition Hall for Science Square in Guangzhou Development District, the up-to-date technology products manufactured by Huangpu District attracted the journalists’ attention. They were wowed by the VR and AR technology, drones, industrial robots, and palm print recognition technology.

Over the next few days, the journalists will go to Dongguan, Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Zhongshan so as to gain a greater understanding as to the latest achievements in the development of the Greater Bay Area.

Authors: Monica, Michelle

Editors: Wing, Simon

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广州打造粤港澳大湾区非物质文化遗产的重要聚集地

组团打卡永庆坊、看粤剧演员“变脸”换装……9月2日，“活力湾区 世界共享”东南亚主流网络媒体采访团走进国际化历史名城广州，先后走访了永庆坊、粤剧艺术博物馆、励丰文化科技股份有限公司以及科学广场展示厅，领略广州独有的传统文化韵味，见证广州在科技创新发展上取得的优异成绩。

媒体记者开展岭南文化探访之旅

此次行程的第一站是广州城市微改造的缩影——永庆坊。

始于1931年的永庆坊片区，直至十年以前仍是老旧危房的集中区域。但这片土地，却是岭南文化和广府文化最重要的载体之一：在不过8000平方米的区域里面，广彩、广绣、粤剧依然深深扎根于此；包括李小龙故居以及近现代众多知名人物的故居也在述说着百年来广州所经历的种种变迁。

在永庆坊里，采访团跟随着工作人员的指引，从入口处的漫游指南图位置出发，走过一条条干净整齐的麻石街，先后参观了李小龙故居、活字印刷体验馆、永庆古今展等，感受旧城更新的面貌。据永庆坊工作人员介绍，该片区的微改造在保持原有建筑的外轮廓不变的情况下，对建筑立面进行更新、保护和整饰，保留了岭南建筑民居的空间肌理及西关特色趟栊门、角门、雕花等元素，让“旧”和“新”充分地有机结合。改造后的永庆坊，既保留了古城文化，又与时尚潮流相结合，成功跻身周边游热搜榜首，也令前来参观的记者们啧啧称奇。

粤剧是联结广东与东南亚情感与文化记忆的“乡音”，与永庆坊仅一墙之隔的粤剧艺术博物馆也是当天文化体验之旅的重要一站。一直以来，关于粤剧在海外的情况都流传着这样一句话：“凡有华人的地方就有粤剧”。据《广府文化》介绍，在东南亚各国中，新加坡、泰国等国家和地区居住的广东籍华人较多，前往这些地方的粤剧戏班和艺人也比较多，故有“粤剧的第二故乡”之称，因此此次采访团中不少人对粤剧并不陌生。

“泰国是全球华人华侨最多的国家，有很多广州会馆、潮州会馆，我们经常有机会听到粤剧，连一些泰国政要也是‘票友’，偶尔会登台唱几段。”来自泰国星暹日报的侨社新闻主编苏灵逸表示。聊至兴起，她还当场哼了一小段《帝女花》唱段，“以前只是对粤剧有些了解，此行找到了粤剧的根，第一次知道粤剧是与京剧、昆曲齐名的世界非物质文化遗产，有着如此丰富的内涵，获益匪浅。”

两名粤剧演员正在演绎经典曲目。

在一段精彩的粤剧表演结束后，两位演员刚刚来到台下就被记者们团团围住。“您学粤剧有多少年了呢？对于没有基础的人来说粤剧好学吗？”来自新加坡联合早报的记者韩咏红对粤剧尤其感兴趣，迫不及待地问出一连串问题。“在新加坡有很多人喜欢看粤剧，著名粤剧表演艺术家红线女也曾在新加坡演出过。今天参观了粤剧博物馆、看了粤剧表演以后，我了解了更多有关粤剧的细节，尤其是今天两位艺术家的表演，真的很精彩。”她表示。

励丰文化玩转“文化+科技”

窸窸窣窣的虫鸣声由远及近、不绝于耳，大风吹动树枝发出吱吱呀呀的声响，裹挟着淅淅雨丝在耳边落下……这个场景不止出现在亚马逊热带雨林里，还出现在励丰文化的展示厅里。当天下午，采访团来到了励丰文化科技股份有限公司以及科学广场展示厅，了解企业如何以文化科技+金融为发展战略支撑，以城市景观亮化、智慧城市和文化旅游产业为落脚点，逐步发展成为全球文化体验方式与文化消费新业态的创领者。

提到广州励丰文化科技股份有限公司，很多人都会觉得陌生，但是如果说到国家大剧院、广州大剧院、奥运会开幕式，你是否会觉得无比熟悉？聚焦文化创意产业，专注提供专业音响、灯光、视频产品与集成控制技术及服务，这便是励丰文化。从最初的产品销售+工程集成出发，励丰文化不断创新，进行自主研发生产，同时通过创意设计推动商业模式的创新，打通了从产品到应用的全链条。

以励丰文化自主研发的高端数字音频系统lemuse为例，这套系统不仅被广泛应用到了包括新疆大剧院、又见平遥剧场等多个国内的大型场馆，还参与了新加坡首个社区文化中心多功能剧场的建设。这套系统里的可变声学环境可以实现现场体验、一厅多用的效果，有效提高了对公共场馆的集约利用率，降低运营成本，优化投资效能，在新加坡受到高度好评。下一步，励丰文化将继续加大研发投入，积极创新，争取推动更多优质产品走向国外市场。

在科学广场展示厅里，VR技术、AR技术、无人机、工业制造机器人、“手掌微特征”识别技术……诸多“高精尖”黄埔“智造”吸引了采访团的目光。通过互动式体验，记者们感受到了黄埔和广州科技脉搏的振动。

采访团在科学展厅参观亿航无人机。

据了解，采访团将会继续深入东莞、深圳、中山以及珠海，感受粤港澳大湾区发展变化，讲述粤港澳大湾区和东南亚地区合作共进的美好故事。

【撰写】南方网记者 梁惠敏 魏申

【视频】罗钟鸣 吴泽嘉 尹珏文