The 2023 International Youth Forum (IYF) on Creativity and Heritage Along the Silk Roads & Changsha Media Arts Festival is scheduled to open on June 26. The event is of great significance as it is held on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative and the resumption of offline activities after a gap of three years. With the theme of "Youth Engagement in Promoting Cultural Diversity and Inclusion", it will reflect the responsibilities and actions of youth groups in promoting intercultural dialogue and addressing global challenges.

The agenda of the three-day event includes a gathering of Chinese and foreign youths, an opening ceremony, a high-level forum, youth discussion sessions, a parallel forum involving representatives from Creative Cities Network member cities, a tour of Xiangjiang River, youth sharing sessions, and sessions to explain the results of the discussions.

Immersive experiences are a highlight of the event. At the opening ceremony, Changsha, a UNESCO Creative City of Media Arts, presents a media art fantasy poem performance, which was created based on Changsha's local culture to show the city's vibrant and poetic style.

In addition, youth representatives from various countries will take a boat to watch a light show along the Xiangjiang River, as well as a drone performance, to immerse themselves in Changsha's beautiful night scene. They will also try their hands at Changsha's intangible cultural heritage items, such as pottery, palm leaf weaving, paper-cutting, dough sculpture making and shadow play, to savor the city's intangible cultural heritage in an immersive way.

Translator: Kuang Zhenzhen

Chinese source: changsha.gov.cn