The 2025 "Century-old Lilac Poetry Fair" was launched in Beijing on Friday, bringing together over 200 poets and poetry enthusiast across the world, to showcase the charm of Chinese culture and foster cultural exchange.
Co-sponsored by China Media Group and Beijing Xicheng District People's Government, the annual poetry event's opening ceremony featured cross-generational performances, with actors from different age groups sharing the stage.
The performances at the opening ceremony blending music, dance and poetry in creative ways, presented a visual and cultural feast for audiences. A Global Chinese Poetry Collection initiative was also launched at the event.
Various cultural zones, including a literature salon, recitation hub and poetry-and-music lounge, have been set up for international guests who highlight the importance of cultural exchange.
"Cultural exchange is very important, when we understand each other's cultures we have a better understanding for the others. And also nowadays, especially China is opening up on different countries. It's not only the culture, but we can cooperate in different sides," said a poet from Morocco.
"There are many differences in international society nowadays, but we can also find ways to communicate, so it is very important to enhance exchanges between countries," said another poet from Colombia.
The Lilac Poetry Fair is a traditional cultural event that has been passed down since the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) to this day, spanning centuries. Notable Chinese literary figures like Ji Xiaolan, Gu Tinglin, Gong Zizhen, and Lin Zexu have all been part of this historic tradition.
Poetry fair held in Beijing to promote Chinese culture, enhance cultural exchange
Marking China's 11th Space Day, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) introduced major space projects in the 15th Five-Year Plan period on Friday in Chengdu, the provincial capital of Sichuan in the southwest, the main venue of a series of events marking this day.
Jointly sponsored by the CNSA and the provincial government, the event revealed major sci-tech achievements and space industry updates, with Shan Zhongde, head of the CNSA, introducing China's major space projects to be implemented in the next five years.
"In the areas of entering space, utilizing space, exploring space, and governing space, we will intensify the efforts to carry out key projects including manned spaceflight, lunar probe, planetary probe, and the national satellite internet. We will pace up the demonstration and launch of a new generation of space-power initiatives such as heavy-lift rockets, reusable launch vehicles, and next-generation national space infrastructure. In the fields of lunar and planetary probe, asteroid defense, on-orbit service, and space debris mitigation, we will deepen international collaboration, build the International Lunar Research Station, have in-depth engagement in global space governance, and create an open and cooperative landscape for China's space industry to build a community with a shared future for mankind," Shan said.
The CNSA also released a series of updates marking the Space Day, including the latest lunar discoveries from the Chang'e-5 mission, two new minerals named magnesiochangesite-(Y) and changesite-(Ce), selected international partners for the Tianwen-3 Mars mission, announcement of international cooperation opportunities for the Xihe-2 mission, and the Version 1.0 of the Commercial Space Standards System.
On the same occasion, Xie Jun, deputy chief designer of the BeiDou system, Zhang Bing, member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and veteran astronaut Ye Guangfu, were appointed as the 2026 China Space Public Welfare Ambassadors.
More than 30 side events will take place across Chengdu during the Space Day period. Highlights include a space science exhibition at the Chengdu New International Convention and Exhibition Center, a VR sci-fi drama aimed at extending space knowledge, and the Space Wish Initiative launched by the China Media Group (CMG), inviting the public to share their stories related to space.
"We plan to put up over 30 activities in various forms with rich content for the Space Day to give people a feeling for the evolution and dynamism of China's space program. Aside from offering academic exchange platforms for professionals, we place more emphasis on engaging the public, particularly young people, in carrying forward the spirit and culture of space exploration," said Wang Cheng, secretary-general of the China Space Foundation.
Officials introduces space projects in 15th 5-Year Plan period
