Nanhaizi forum kicks off in Beijing

This year's Beijing Nanhaizi Cultural Forum opened at the Capital Museum on Dec 25, with over 10 experts and scholars in attendance and millions of online attendees.

The Nanhaizi area in Daxing was once a royal hunting ground and historical entertainment spot. Today, it is regarded as a top location to boost local culture.

During the forum, Li Jianping, honorary president of the Beijing History Research Association, and Wang Zhiwei, who works at the Forbidden City Publishing House, introduced the cultural origins of the Forbidden City and the central axis of Beijing in a pedigree with Nanhaizi culture, with an eye on Nanhaizi Yangshi Lei design drafts and court paintings preserved in the Palace Museum.

Wang Qiheng, an architect and professor at Tianjin University, and Sun Ruiying, director of the Information Department of the Capital Museum, gave a lecture on how science and technology can help revitalize ancient culture. Professor Liu Wenpeng from Renmin University of China also released two monographs which interpreted the area's different roles in the past. 

Two exhibitions were held promoting the Nanhaizi Yangshi Lei archives and Beijing Nanhaizi culture at the Capital Museum. The exhibitions are free for the public, who can make reservations through the WeChat public account of the Capital Museum.

During the former event, 16 invaluable drawings of cities, temples and gardens were on display, showing the architectural design of the four palaces, as well as the cultural links between Nanhaizi and the central axis, the Yongding River and the Grand Canal in Beijing.

The latter showcases representative intangible cultural treasure, as well as cultural and creative works derived from Nanhaizi culture. The legend of Fenghe River and the five-color leek and two intangible cultural heritage projects made their official debut at the forum.

The district's Party official Cai Xiaojun introduced the achievements in industrial economy and cultural tourism Daxing has made in recent years, focusing on new opportunities brought to the district by the South Central Axis of Beijing and its extension.

Cao also revealed favorable policies at the forum, welcoming domestic and global investors and professionals to visit the district.