The first Beijing Cultural Forum officially kicked off on July 25. The forum had a permanent theme, "Inheritance, Innovation and Mutual Learning," as well as an annual theme, "Promoting Cultural Innovation to Empower a Better Life."

At the opening ceremony, the "Ten Major Events in the Construction of National Cultural Centers in 2021" were announced, and leaders from culture, technology and other disciplines held roundtable dialogues.

The forum was led by the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. It was hosted by the Office of the Leading Group for Promoting the Construction of the National Cultural Center in Beijing and the Publicity Department of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, and co-organized by the Dongcheng District Committee and District Government.

The forum selected urban landmarks with unique capital characteristics, such as the Central Axis, Shougang Park and the Grand Canal, and specially designed three on-site observation routes.  The first is the points along the Central Axis,  the organic renewal of the old city, the inheritance of red culture, etc.; second, Intangible cultural heritage living inheritance and other aspects; third, three public cultural facilities along the Grand Canal and the city's sub-center, three temples and one tower, reflecting the protection and construction of the Grand Canal Cultural Belt, the innovation and development of the city's sub-center.

In addition, the forum will publish the "Atlas of Beijing's Achievements in Promoting the Construction of National Cultural Centers", focusing on the vivid practice of cultural construction in recent years. The logo of the Beijing Cultural Forum has been released. It evolves with the character "Jing" as the main design, and integrates the character "Wen" and the shape of the Temple of Heaven to fully demonstrate the cultural characteristics of the capital.

The participants to this forum included heads of government departments and cultural units, experts and scholars, well-known writers, entertainers and grassroots cultural workers.

The first Beijing Cultural Forum kicks off on July 25.[Photo/SOCAAC]