Xiamen's Siming district forges ahead with cultural industry going global

Siming district of Xiamen in Southeast China's Fujian province is driving the globalization of its cultural industry by harnessing its rich cultural heritage, open economic ecosystem, and innovative industrial layout.

The sixth Gulangyu Music Festival is in spotlight. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

As part of Xiamen's strategic plan spanning 15 years, a dedicated chapter titled "The Social and Cultural Value of Gulangyu Island and Its Tourism Development and Utilization" emphasizes the island's status as a national treasure, advocating for its development and protection.

Su Ling, head of the Market Department of the Gulangyu Administration Committee, said efforts are being made to transform Gulangyu Island into a demonstration zone for cultural export. “We are continuously cultivating international events such as music festivals and poetry gatherings. We aim to tell China's story through the island's diverse architecture, making the 'Piano Island' a hub of international cultural exchange," Su said.

Miao Juan, director of the Siming District Cultural Center, said that currently, Siming district boasts 56 intangible cultural heritage projects and over 160 recognized inheritors. 

National intangible cultural heritage: Xiamen lacquer thread sculpture technique. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The center is striving to foster the innovative development of Siming's intangible cultural heritage in promoting youth exchange and the development of creative industries, injecting cultural vitality into the development of the Belt and Road Initiative, Miao said.

Leveraging the advantages of Xiamen as a pilot free trade zone and its strength in maritime cooperation, Siming aims to establish itself as an influential base for cultural export. As a hub for the gaming industry, it is accelerating the aggregation of gaming enterprises, aiming to support enterprises in expanding into the international market.