2026 Greater Bay Area Film Concert celebrates shared cultural memories, togetherness

More than 100 filmmakers and musicians from both sides of the Taiwan Strait and the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, alongside artists from several other countries, took part in the 2026 Greater Bay Area Film Concert in Macao on Sunday.

Held under the theme "We Are Family," the concert featured more than 200 Chinese and international songs. They not only include well-known classic hits that resonate with Chinese audiences, but also original musical works with diverse types such as "Tide" and "Wish for World Peace."

The event also incorporated film-related performances and newly developed stage technologies.

Launched in 2021, the annual event draws on the cultural traditions of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area while presenting traditional Chinese culture alongside contemporary creative work.

"I hope that a cultural-exchange event like this can help spur cultural innovation and creativity in the Greater Bay Area, while also helping people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait deepen their emotional connection," said An Renyi, chief director of the gala.

Among those attending was Tai Hin Ieong, executive director of the Macao Live Streaming Association and chairman of the Macao Streamer Association.

"It’s a wonderful gala. We have seen many different performing groups and singers from both sides of the Taiwan Strait come together here. Through music, all our memories and cultural traditions have been connected," Tai said.

The concert's theme of shared memories and cultural ties also resonates in the run-up to two major holidays on Chinese calendar. This year's Mid-Autumn Festival falls on Friday, Sept. 25, six days before China's National Day on Oct. 1.

"This gala is held in the Greater Bay Area around the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day each year. It calls to mind the Chinese poetic line, 'A bright moon rises above the sea; people far away share this moment.' I would like to wish Chinese communities around the world a happy Mid-Autumn Festival and joyful family reunions," said Ho Chung Chuk, a Hong Kong audience member.

2026 Greater Bay Area Film Concert celebrates shared cultural memories, togetherness

Cities across China are decorating landmark sites with national flags and floral displays as National Day is around the corner.

Yuzhong District of southwest China's Chongqing City is displaying over 2,000 flags alongside carefully arranged floral landscapes covering main roads, commercial hubs, and bridges. In Shexian County of east China's Anhui Province, red flags are fluttering amid the Huizhou Ancient City's floral greenery.

At the Wenshan Dongshan Park in southwest China's Yunnan Province, citizens unfurled a giant 24-by-16 meter national flag, singing vibrant songs to express their heartfelt wishes. Cities such as Chengdu in southwest China, Taiyuan in north China, and Yichang in central China are also showcasing the five-star flag to usher in the holiday.

Flower displays bloom throughout streets and parks, with cities of Fuzhou in the east and Daqing in the northeast hosting themed floral exhibitions that brighten public spaces. Markets bustle with activity as fresh produce flows steadily. In Zhongmu, Henan Province in central China, trucks loaded with pomegranate, honey tangerines and kiwi line up early to meet demand. In Urumqi City of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, flower markets bloom with over a thousand varieties meeting diverse consumer preferences.

Ahead of the holiday, Hong Kong's streets have been adorned with bright national and special administrative region (SAR)'s flags alongside large National Day posters. Community groups are holding cultural activities featuring traditional crafts to celebrate the 77th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China.

In Macao, national flags wave at border checkpoints, streets, parks and squares, paired with celebratory banners creating a lively National Day atmosphere.

Cities across China adorned for National Day celebrations