On April 20, the 2026 Orchid Cultural and Tourism Week drew to a successful close in Guangzhou's Yuexiu District. The five-day event featured over 60 activities that attracted more than 300,000 participants both online and offline, injecting new vitality into the millennia-old city center this spring.
A dancer in a traditional Chinese costume performs on stage.
An orchid-themed exhibition of cultural relics and paintings.
During the event, the Canton Orchid Garden was transformed into an open-air immersive theater. This year's Cultural and Tourism Week debuted the "Ten Elegant Arts in Ancient Style" evening sessions, where pavilions and towers bathed in soft, hazy lighting, creating a particularly poetic atmosphere. Costumed performers portraying historical figures such as Xie Daoyun, Lin Daiyu, and Zhuo Wenjun wandered along the stone paths, engaging visitors in activities like drawing flower-patterned notes and playing Go.
Children experience intangible cultural heritage skills.
The fragrance of orchids permeated the entire Yuexiu District. On the central island of Dongshan Lake Park, 20 rare orchid varieties—including Dendrobium officinale and Dendrobium nobile—were displayed to the public. And at the Gao Jianfu Memorial Hall, the "Orchid Charm of Yuexiu: Priceless Treasures" art exhibition showcased the brushwork and paintings of over 50 artists from Guangdong and Fujian.
Star-rated hotels and time-honored brands launched the "Flowers of Lingnan Banquet". Ticket holders for the Canton Orchid Garden were granted exclusive discounts at multiple commercial districts, including New Fa Center, China Hotel, and LN Dong Fang Hotel.
Reporter: Ma Yitian
Photo: Liang Wenxiang, Zhong Yong
