Chongqing– An online themed event named Exploration through a Millennium of Cultural Heritage in the Yangtze River Economic Belt was recently launched by the Chongqing and provinces of Sichuan, Yunnan Guizhou, and Hunan.

Following the opening ceremony held on December 14, two separate tour routes organized for media workers departed to promote the rich history and cultural heritage of the Chongqing Urban Area, Dazu Rock Carvings, Wushan Museum, and Fengjie White Emperor City.

Event organizers will strive to produce an innovative series of top video posts to generate large traffic volumes for the region and allow for a millennium of glorious history and culture in the Yangtze River Economic Belt to shine nationwide through internet platforms.

The Baidi (White Emperor) City • Qutang Gorge Scenic Area was first built in 25 AD and is now a 4.7 square kilometer historical site and tourist attraction located at the entrance to Qutang Gorge in Fengjie County. The site was also one of the first national scenic spots to be opened to the outside world in 1978.

In the Tang and Song dynasties, famous poets and literati, including Li Bai, Du Fu, and Bai Juyi, spent time at this location and left behind a wealth of timeless poetry. This legacy has bestowed Fengjie its reputation as the City of Poetry.

A fine example is 'Leaving White Emperor City at Dawn,' written by the Chinese poet Li Bai, which has been recited through the ages and has brought fame to this attraction both far and wide.

Since the Three Gorges Dam was completed, water levels have risen to 175 meters, meaning that Baidi City is nowadays a lush and picturesque island surrounded by the Yangtze waters and connected to the mainland by a bridge.

There are spectacular views towards Kuimen (Qutang Pass) from the island's eastern flank, a scene that has long been depicted on the back of the 10 Yuan banknote.

Among the top attractions inside Baidi City are the stele forests made of calligraphic art, with over 200 inscriptions engraved in stone that date back as far as the Sui Dynasty. They were created mainly by literati figures and local officials and reflect their history, culture, and unique scenery. 

Fengjie builds on cultural foundations

In recent years, as economic and cultural development continues unabated, the local Yong'an Neighborhood in Fengjie has made great strides in the effort to improve cultural facilities and foster awareness of the city's poetic heritage.

Yusheng Community takes its name from the sound of rustling bamboo leaves, and residents now enjoy facilities such as a culture street, fitness walkway, poetry wall, and Zhuzhi Square.

These have become the focus of creative activities that immerse residents in a cultural and artistic environment and which are supplemented by a local community center that offers a public library, cultural displays, and classrooms for learning about art-related subjects.