From October 13 to 17, the 2023 Maritime Silk Road Cultural Festival will take place in Guangzhou's Yuexiu District, featuring a series of activities about intangible cultural heritage, Cantonese cuisine, poetry, fine art, traditional Chinese Medicine and other cultural elements.
During the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), Chinese ships set sail from Guangzhou, bound across the South China Sea, thus pioneering the most important routes of the Maritime Silk Road (MSR).
Located in the heart of Guangzhou, Yuexiu District preserves five MSR sites, including the Archaeological Site of the Nanyue Kingdom Palace, the Tomb of the Nanyue King, Guangta (literally meaning Plain Pagoda) in the Huaisheng Mosque, Guangxiao Temple, and the Xianxian Mosque. During the event, Yuexiu will launch a travel route linking these five destinations and invite residents and visitors from China and abroad to take a city walk.
Huaisheng Mosque
Meanwhile, the five-day event will be held in four venues, with plentiful activities, including performances, exhibitions, lectures, and interactive experiences. On October 13, this Festival will kick off at 689 Creative Park, presenting Chinese traditional dance, Kucha music and dance, dragon dance from Zhanjiang's Tiaoshun Island, djembe, and songs from China and abroad. More shows on chorus, jazz music, and Cantonese music will be held there from October 14 to 16.
689 Creative Park
Additionally, the other three venues have prepared various activities for the public as well. Science popularization of MSR animals and plants will be held at the Liuhua Lake Park. Intangible cultural heritage experiences, as well as a calligraphy and painting exhibition, will be available in the area encompassing the intangible cultural heritage block on Beijing Road, Yong'an Hall, Guangdong Overseas Chinese Museum and other places. Moreover, people can enjoy performances, sitcoms, an elegant assembly, and the closing ceremony at the Square of the Temple of the Five Immortals and Nanyue Sages Hall.
Liuhua Lake Park
Furthermore, nighttime activities will be a highlight of this year's Maritime Silk Road Cultural Festival, such as a car boot sale bazaar at the Square of the Temple of the Five Immortals and Nanyue Sages Hall, an MSR Food, Beer & Music Party at the 689 Creative Park, and the Pearl River night cruise on the "Nanhai God" cruise ship.
You can search WeChat official accounts "广州越秀发布 (pinyin: guang zhou yue xiu fa bu)" or "越秀文体旅游 (pinyin: yue xiu wen ti lv you)" to get more details of the event.
Reporter: Holly
Editor: Olivia, Monica, James
Photo: Guangzhou Yuexiu Fabu
