Chongqing - A musical dialogue between the Volga and the Yangtze rivers opened in Chongqing, as artists from Russia and China launched a series of cultural exchanges aimed at deepening bilateral ties through music and tourism.

The "Two Rivers, One Road" Music Showcase Tour began at the Chongqing Grand Theatre. (Photo/Chongqing Culture and Tourism Group)

The "Two Rivers, One Road" Music Showcase Tour, jointly organized by the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory and Chongqing Normal University, began with a masterclass and concert at the Chongqing Grand Theatre. The event is supported by the Chongqing Culture and Tourism Group (CQCT) and forms part of the China-Russia Years of Culture initiative.

The "Two Rivers, One Road" Music Showcase Tour began at the Chongqing Grand Theatre. (Photo/Chongqing Culture and Tourism Group)

In the afternoon, faculty from the prestigious Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory led a masterclass for local music educators and students at the Chongqing Grand Theatre’s education center, offering insights into performance technique and artistic interpretation.

The "Two Rivers, One Road" Music Showcase Tour began at the Chongqing Grand Theatre. (Photo/Chongqing Culture and Tourism Group)

The main concert took place in the evening to a packed house. The program featured 15 works ranging from Russian classics such as Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite to Chinese pieces, including variations on The Song of Yangtze River. Performances included solo works for violin, cello, and piano, as well as chamber music by a woodwind quintet.

The "Two Rivers, One Road" Music Showcase Tour began at the Chongqing Grand Theatre. (Photo/Chongqing Culture and Tourism Group)

The event also extended beyond the theater under the "Traveling Chongqing with Artists" tourism program. Russian musicians visited the Locajoy Theme Park in Yongchang for a wildlife encounter, observing giant pandas and other species as part of an ecology-inspired cultural exchange.

The "Two Rivers, One Road" Music Showcase Tour began at the Chongqing Grand Theatre. (Photo/Chongqing Culture and Tourism Group)

Additionally, a delegation from the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory, led by Vice President Margarita Karatygina, visited Chongqing Normal University and Chongqing Preschool Education College for campus performances and workshops. The group also traveled to Wanzhou for a performance and a visit to the Chongqing Three Gorges Immigration Memorial.

The "Two Rivers, One Road" Music Showcase Tour began at the Chongqing Grand Theatre. (Photo/Chongqing Culture and Tourism Group)

A representative from CQCT highlighted the program’s role in integrating the arts with tourism and urban branding. “By combining high-level performances with immersive city experiences, we are creating a sustainable model for cultural exchange and international tourism development,” the representative said.

The initiative reflects Chongqing’s broader efforts to position itself as a global cultural destination while strengthening people-to-people ties between China and Russia.