German vlogger explores fusion of cultural heritage, modern technology in Nanjing

A German vlogger recently embarked on a discovery trip to Nanjing, the capital of east China’s Jiangsu Province, exploring ways the historic city is using modern technology and new business forms to give its cultural heritage a new lease of life.

The ancient city Nanjing, with a history of around 2,500 years, served as China’s capital for six dynasties, which lasted from the early Three Kingdoms (220-280) to the end of the Southern Dynasties (420-589).

In October 2019, Nanjing became China’s first City of Literature recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) because of its long literary history and rich cultural accumulation.

The first stop of vlogger Judith Kahl’s Nanjing trip was the World Literature Saloon. This was a project launched under a development program aimed at building a city-wide network of public literary spaces.

“The World Literature Saloon sits under the Jilong Mountain. It was once the site of the first literature museum in Chinese history. It is now open to the public as a literary activity center, exchange center, and exhibition center,” said Wan Ziye, a guide at the saloon.

A vast selection of exhibits helps visitors better understand the connection between Nanjing and literature. The most eye-catching installation in the main building is a digital display showcasing the city’s 1,800 years of literary history. It not only integrates important time nodes and works, but also allows visitors to interact with it to get more details about each masterpiece.

The saloon also serves as a place for public literature activities to promote the inheritance of the city’s excellent culture.

Judith also visited a digital art exhibition that took people on a magical journey into the fantasy world of the 4th century Chinese book “The Classic of Mountains and Seas,” browsing the pages in an innovative way.

The book is a classic Chinese text and a compilation of mythic geography and beasts. It is a fabulous geographical and cultural account of pre-Qin China, as well as a collection of Chinese mythology.

“Our exhibition is a digital disassembly of the ancient book ‘The Classic of Mountains and Seas’ through some digital light and shadow techniques,” said Zhang Yi, the curator of the exhibition.

With dazzling artworks in various forms and diverse interactive installations, presenting the audience the traditional cultural heritage of ancient Chinese myth art through immersive experiences.

“The whole exhibition is full of various interesting interactive experiences, helping me to not only understand the wonderful stories and characters in the ‘The Classic of Mountains and Seas,’ but also feel the wisdom and imagination of ancient Chinese people through modern technology. After visiting this exhibition, I think the book ‘The Classic of Mountains and Seas’ is very interesting. In Germany, there are also many famous classics, such as Grimm’s Fairy Tales, which everyone is very familiar with. I plan to promote this exhibition form after returning to Germany. I hope that our German classic literature can be better disseminated,” said Judith.

As a big fan of Chinese epic masterpiece “A Dream of Red Mansions” written by Cao Xueqin in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the German vlogger certainly wouldn’t skip the Jiangning Imperial Silk Manufacturing Museum in the author’s hometown.

The modern museum was built on the site of the former Jiangning Imperial Silk Manufacturing Bureau of the Qing dynasty, where Cao spent his childhood. It showcases part of the history and culture portrayed in the book.

In addition to a rich collection of cultural relics, the museum holds immersive performances based on the Chinese classic. Without a fixed stage and seats, the audience can fully enter the scene and interact with the characters.

“Our play has actually made an innovative exploration. Here, we combine digital art with stage designs, so that every visitor can enter the story itself from the first-person perspective and feel the charm of this classic work. We hope that we can make an immersive cultural tourism product through digital art combined with immersive experiences and various artistic expressions, so that these classic literary works can enter people’s lives in a more vivid way,” said Chen Hong, the show’s producer.

Judith also went on a night-time sightseeing tour along the Confucius Temple-Qinhuai River scenic belt, a renowned spot that receives more than 50 million visits every year. She talked to tourists there to find out what draws people from all over the country to the ancient city.

“Nanjing was the ancient capital of six dynasties. Its cultural heritage is very strong.Confucian culture is very attractive to us,” said a visitor.

“I feel the advancement of technology in Nanjing. The city is using more novel ways to promote traditional culture,” said another visitor.

Like most tourists, Judith, donning traditional Han clothing, learned more about the city’s history and culture while appreciating the exquisite historical architectures and the local style performances along the Qinhuai River leisurely on a beautifully painted boat.

“Through this trip, I found that Nanjing is a city both old and young. In this millennia-old ancient capital, I do not only feel the profound heritage of Chinese culture, but was also surprised to find that the history and culture still exude fresh vitality today. This trip brought too many surprises, and I need to slowly reflect on it in the future,” said Judith.

German vlogger explores fusion of cultural heritage, modern technology in Nanjing

Huang Zongde, a Chinese war veteran and one of the four recipients of the Medal of the Republic, paid tribute to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives, and expressed the strong will to devote everything to the country and the people.

Huang made the remarks after receiving the award from Chinese President Xi Jinping at a ceremony held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Sunday morning.

Huang, 93, joined the revolution at the age of 17. He fought bravely to secure victories in many military campaigns spanning from the Chinese People’s War of Liberation to the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea, rendering meritorious service on numerous occasions.

In his speech, Huang expressed his gratitude to the Communist Party of China (CPC) and to the vast Chinese people, vowing to devote everything to the country.

“General Secretary Xi Jinping personally awarded me the Medal of the Republic, which represents the highest honor of the country. This honor is not just for me, but for every member of the people’s army. Please allow me to represent the 14 comrades who received the national honor today to thank the Party and the country for their affirmation and encouragement, and thank the people across the country for their support and trust,” said Huang.

“I was born in the old society, when the country suffered, and the nation was in danger. Under the guidance of the Party, countless passionate young people like me actively joined the army. We fought bravely against the enemy and swore to defend our country to the death. This was the mission and responsibility of our generation, and it was also the original aspiration and duty of every Chinese, every Communist Party member, and every revolutionary fighter. In particular, there are thousands of heroes who sacrificed their precious lives for national independence and prosperity. They are true heroes, and the lofty honor today also belongs to them,” said the veteran.

“The people’s army was built by the Party, and is loyal to the Party. Without the CPC, the country and the people, we would have nothing. I have witnessed the growth of the people’s army in the test of blood and fire, and witnessed the Republic’s rise from poverty and backwardness to prosperity and strength. I look forward to the bright prospects of comprehensively promoting the construction of a strong country and national rejuvenation with Chinese modernization. I feel extremely proud to have experienced this great journey and participated in this great cause. On the new journey, as long as the Party and the people need it, we will unswervingly dedicate everything we have and resolutely accomplish the tasks assigned by the Party and the people. Finally, I sincerely wish the great motherland prosperity, the great people happiness and well-being, and the heroic people’s army to continue to achieve new and greater victories,” Huang said.

Xi signed a presidential order on Sept 13 to award national medals and national honorary titles to 15 individuals on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the PRC, which falls on Oct 1.

Following the presidential decree, Wang Yongzhi, a late missile and rocket expert and pioneer of China’s manned space program; Wang Zhenyi, a medical scientist known for his breakthroughs in leukemia treatment; Li Zhensheng, an agricultural scientist specialized in wheat breeding; and Huang, were awarded the Medal of the Republic.

Recipient of Medal of Republic vows to devote everything to country, people