Chongqing — Chongqing reported 14.557 million participations in public cultural activities in 2025, according to figures released at a year-end citywide gala reviewing the municipality’s achievements in grassroots culture.

The announcement was made on Jan. 21 at "Stars Shine over Bayu — Chongqing's 2025 Public Cultural Gala", which served as both a showcase and a year-end review of the city’s public cultural work.

Throughout 2025, programs were held across the municipality — from urban theaters to rural villages, from community squares to national stages. More than one hundred municipal-level branded cultural activities were organized, drawing residents of all ages into performances, exhibitions, and creative programs.

The year-long effort delivered cultural resources directly to local communities and helped build an easily accessible "15-minute high-quality life service circle," ensuring that cultural participation remained within close reach of the public.

The closing ceremony of the “Stars Shine over Bayu — Chongqing’s 2025 Public Cultural Gala” is held in Chongqing. (Photo/Organizer)

Chongqing also achieved a historic breakthrough on the national stage. During the 14th China Art Festival and the 20th Qunxing Awards, which were hosted in the city, three categories and six final evaluation events were staged, alongside nine public benefit performances.

A total of 13 Chongqing works were shortlisted for the final rounds, with four winning Qunxing Awards, marking the city’s best performance since the national award system was reformed. The results placed Chongqing among the country’s leading regions for public cultural creation.

The award-winning performance “Sweetness in Every Sorghum Stalk”《高粱秆儿节节甜》. (Photo/Organizer)

The gala stage reflected the diversity and vitality of Chongqing’s public cultural scene. Performances ranged from mass fitness dances and ethnic folk choreography to comedy sketches and youth street-dance pieces, offering a vivid picture of cultural life across the city.

Each work featured at the gala was selected from major branded programs held throughout the year, representing refined creations that emerged from extensive grassroots participation.

The event also honored veteran cultural workers whose long-term dedication helped shape Chongqing’s public cultural system. Young staff presented flowers to Wu Chunfan, Yan Cuihua, and Xiong Yanhong, all former district cultural center directors, in recognition of their decades of service.

Yan said public culture must be passed down from generation to generation, adding that love for the people’s culture and a sense of responsibility are the foundation of all cultural work.

At the grassroots level, cultural institutions continued to innovate. The Shapingba District Cultural Center, led by director Zha Ting, organized more than 40 activities during the 2025 National Cultural Center Service Promotion Week, introducing film screenings, open-mic performances, casual dance sessions, and an outdoor environmental concert that attracted large in-person and online audiences.

The work behind each program included extensive rehearsals by amateur performers and close coordination among multiple teams, reflecting the commitment to delivering high-quality cultural services to the public.

Chongqing also strengthened cultural exchanges beyond the municipality in 2025. A series of cross-regional programs promoted cooperation with neighboring regions and major cities, while public cultural volunteer initiatives introduced Chongqing folk art to communities across the country.

Ren Jing, Party branch secretary and director of the Chongqing Masses Art Centre, said long-term efforts to build branded programs have created a positive cycle of producing outstanding works and cultivating talent.

Looking ahead, the city's cultural system will continue to focus on community-based cultural services, develop new forms of public art favored by contemporary audiences, and expand access to cultural resources.

With hundreds of events and millions of participants, Chongqing's 2025 public cultural report reflects both scale and depth — and points toward a future in which grassroots culture continues to thrive.