On the evening of October 20, the 15th China Yangtze Three Gorges International Tourism Festival and the 2024 World Great Rivers Song Festival officially kicked off at Wanzhou Stadium in Chongqing. This spectacular event brought together world-class artists, using music and art to share the voice of the Yangtze River with a global audience.

Co-hosted by the Chongqing Municipal Government and the Hubei Provincial Government, the festival has been held annually since 2010, significantly boosting the global reputation of the Yangtze Three Gorges as a premier tourism destination.

The 15th China Yangtze Three Gorges International Tourism Festival opens. (Photo/Liu Dan)

This year’s festival featured a wide range of activities, including the "15th Yangtze Three Gorges Tourism Festival: Encounter with Youth" Star Concert, the 2024 Around the Three Gorges Cycling Race, the Chongqing Wanzhou Cross-Yangtze River Competition, the Yangtze River Cruise Tourism Development Forum, and the 2024 Yangtze Three Gorges Regional Tourism Cooperation Conference. 

These events vividly showcased the ecological, natural, and cultural splendor of the Yangtze Three Gorges to the world.

Performances in the 2024 World Great Rivers Song Festival Event. (Photo/Liu Dan)

As one of Chongqing’s signature cultural tourism events, the 2024 World Great Rivers Song Festival, themed "Let the World Hear the Voice of the Yangtze," highlighted iconic songs from the Yangtze River Basin and other great rivers of the world. This provided an unforgettable audio-visual experience for attendees. 

Since its inception, the festival has adhered to the highest standards of quality and innovation, continually exploring new ways to showcase the unique cultural charm of the Three Gorges and fostering cross-cultural dialogue between China and the world.

Audience in the 2024 World Great Rivers Song Festival Event. (Photo/Liu Dan)

At the 2024 World Great Rivers Song Festival, Bridging News conducted a special interview with Takada Mari, the Japanese Consul General in Chongqing. She shared her impressions of the event, noting that it was her first time attending. Takada expressed a particular interest in the local cuisine of Wanzhou and found the Three Gorges’ scenery exceptionally beautiful. However, she also remarked that foreigners still lack sufficient awareness of Chongqing and the Three Gorges. She hopes that events like this will help raise international awareness of the breathtaking beauty of the Three Gorges and the remarkable development of Chongqing.