On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the "Love China, Protect the Great Wall" initiative, the 2024 "Hello, Beijing" event, hosted by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism and the People's Government of Huairou District, and organized by the Beijing Overseas Cultural Exchange Center and the Huairou District Culture and Tourism Bureau, was successfully held at Mutianyu Great Wall from October 18th to 19th. Fifty foreign friends residing in Beijing and 20 Chinese and foreign parent-child families from over 40 countries including Brazil, Germany, Kenya, and Romania came together to appreciate the magnificent scenery of this World Heritage site.
Convenient Entry Services Enable Foreign Tourists to "Travel on a Whim"
At the event ceremony on October 18th, Sun Jian, member of the Party leadership group and deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, delivered a speech, introducing that China has currently achieved full visa exemption with 24 countries, implemented visa-free entry policies for 16 countries, and granted 72-hour or 144-hour transit visa-free access to 54 countries, greatly enhancing the convenience for foreigners to work, study, and travel in China. Meanwhile, Beijing has actively optimized the payment environment for inbound tourism to help foreign friends embark on "spontaneous" travels in China. As of August, Beijing has welcomed over 2.3 million inbound tourists this year, becoming one of the hottest global tourist destinations.
"Hello, Beijing Ambassadors" Enthusiastically Share Their Great Wall Stories
Three Great Wall guardians were awarded the title of "Hello, Beijing Ambassadors." They come from the fields of cultural relics protection, painting art, and environmental protection. Cheng Yongmao, an expert in Great Wall restoration techniques, shared the challenges and gains he experienced on his journey to becoming a leader in Great Wall restoration; Tian Fengyin has dedicated herself to creating oil paintings themed on the Great Wall and vigorously promoting her hometown's natural and cultural heritage internationally; and William Lindesay, a foreigner, shared his extraordinary 38-year journey and emotional stories of bonding with the Chinese Great Wall, appealing to more Chinese and foreign individuals to come to Beijing to experience the scenery and essence of the Great Wall and join in its preservation efforts.
Embarking on the Path of Great Wall Restoration, Exploring the Spiritual Connotation of the Great Wall
At the event site, Cheng Yongmao, the expert in Great Wall restoration techniques, explained the professional skills involved in Great Wall restoration and introduced the "4-1-5-3" process he created for Great Wall restoration: four originality principles, one concept, and five following techniques, aiming to achieve three purposes of simplicity, authenticity, and structural safety for the heritage site. Foreign friends personally experienced carrying bricks on the Great Wall, feeling the hardships of Great Wall restoration and gaining a deeper understanding of Great Wall culture.
Experience the Magnificent Charm of Intangible Cultural Heritage and Appreciate Traditional Master Craftsmanship
Exploring intangible cultural heritage is a cultural journey through time and space. When you step into the world of intangible cultural heritage experiences, it's like opening a door to ancient wisdom. Scroll Inking showcases creators meticulously producing rubbings containing elements of the Great Wall, presenting its majestic posture on scrolls through manual inking, making them highly valuable souvenirs to be collected. The Great Wall relief sculptures select relief paintings rich in Great Wall elements, allowing creators to paint with color matching, vividly presenting the magnificent image of the Great Wall in the form of relief paintings, perfectly embodying the deep integration of the Great Wall and art.
Step into the Great Wall Homestay and Taste the Beauty of Integrated Chinese and Western Design
Chinese and foreign guests at the event also visited the popular homestay at the foot of the Great Wall, Beijing Tile Factory Boutique Homestay. From the outside, the Brickyard Homestay retains the traditional architectural features of rural areas in northern China. The red brick walls left by the former glazed tile factory are filled with a sense of historical weight, and the ancient kiln caves seem to be telling the stories of the past. These traditional elements are cleverly combined with modern Western architectural design concepts. Fragments of colorful glazed tiles handmade and broken are creatively decorated on the ground, creating a visual effect that is both simple and fashionable.
On the Great Wall, the gathering of diverse cultures from around the world shines like bright stars illuminating the ancient bricks and stones. Guests from all over arrive with awe and curiosity about the Great Wall and return with profound insights into its knowledge. Let us use the Great Wall as a bridge to continue promoting the interaction and coexistence of diverse cultures worldwide, jointly writing an even more glorious chapter of human civilization.
