Zhejiang- the "Daka China" International Communication Event was launched at the Wenzhou Overseas Media Center on Nov. 20, with almost 100 domestic and international social media influencers, journalists, internet celebrities, communication experts, new media professionals, ex-pats, and exchange students from 20 countries embarking on a three-day journey to the city of Wenzhen in south China's Zhejiang Province.
"In recent year, Wenzhou has put great emphasis on expanding opening-up and is committed to assuming greater international communication responsibilities in the country and the world," said Chen Junwei, party chief of the CPC Wenzhou Municipal Committee, while attending the launching ceremony. "This international communication themed event will serve as an important window to showcase Wenzhou's global image, and is also a golden opportunity to exchange ideas and learn from other country and region's advanced experiences in terms of international communication."
Experts, scholars, social media influencers from more than 20 countries, as well as a lot of local and national online media outlets attend the launching ceremony of the "Daka China" International Communication Event.
Jerry Kowal, a famous American vlogger on China's YouTube-like video-sharing platform Bili Bili, Li Ziqi, the most famous Chinese lifestylist and YouTuber who made an international sensation with her exquisite rural life videos, and Wiggin Stuart Thomas, host and screenwriter for People's Daily Media Innovation - whose Overseas Communication Excellence Awards (OCEA) listed iChongqing first place on its Top 10 Outstanding Cases of overseas communication -, as well as many other social media influencers and internet celebrities all, attended the launching ceremony and presented a total of 44 "Daka China" scenic spots with a strong Zhejiang vibe and characteristics in their own ways at the event.
After the launching ceremony, the first stop is Wenzhou-Kean University, a Zhejiang-New Jersey cooperative international university with both Chinese and American cultures. Journalists and social media influencers were divided into two tour groups according to their own choosing. One group wore an orange wristband on the "Back to the past" tour, while the other group was wearing a blue wristband on the "Head to the future" tour. Both tour groups were accompanied and guided by student volunteers of Wenzhou-Kean University.
Expats experience and practice calligraphy in a traditional culture cafe of the Wenzhou-Kean University.
Expats practiced calligraphy, visited the student dormitory, the university milestone gallery, the student innovation center, and later experienced various fun activities at the student club exhibition booths. South African Doctor Brett Lyndall Singh, who also goes by his Chinese name "Xin Chengle," even went up and gave his debut guitar show to the audience in front of the Music Club booth, which aroused waves of applauds in the crowd.
The tour then moved on to Jiangxin Island, which has been hailed as one of China's four most famous islands with its distinctive cultural characteristics of "poetry," "Zen," and "ancient navigational mark." Expats were quick to take a liking to this place after visiting the historic sites on the island, such as the British Consulate in Wenzhou and the Wenzhou Revolutionary Martyrs Memorial Hall.
Expats take a group photo before leaving Jiangxin Island.
As soon as the group left Jiangxin Island, they visited Wenzhou Planning Exhibition Center, Wenzhou Library, and then had dinner at the Tian Yi Jiao restaurant. They were overwhelmed by the hundreds of meters-stretching food stands of local cuisines and delicacies.
Yet perhaps the jaw-dropping and impressive tour was the one in the evening when they visited the Nantang Street by an antique-looking cruise ship. As the ship cruise ahead in circles around the Wenruitang River, astounding musical and theatrical performances by real-life actors and actresses along the two banks of the river caught ex-pats by surprise, making everybody on the ship hold their breath until the end of the show. Dedicated actors inhabited their roles as famous poets, novelists, and many other historical and mythological figures and gave a flawless performance.
"Hands down, that was the most beautiful performance I've ever seen in my life," said an ex-pat right after she went ashore. "The choreography, the sound, the music, the overall coordination... The Nantang Impression show literally made me forget about all the other places I've been to."
South African Doctor Brett Lyndall Singh, who's also the co-host of the launching ceremony, takes a group photo with other ex-pats.
The Zhebao Fusionmedia Technology organizes this event, Wenzhou Municipal Cyberspace Affairs Office, and the Zhejiang Association of Internet Cultures, sponsored by the Zhejiang Daily Press Group, the Zhejiang Provincial Cyberspace Affairs Office, and the China Federation of Internet Societies, and under the guidance of the Communication Bureau under the Central Cyberspace Affairs Office.