Global Highlights in Nansha

Guangzhou Foreign Affairs Office | Updated:2025-06-23

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As the gentle breeze brushed against the Jiaomen River of Nansha, a night brimming with ancient charm and international rhythms came to a close amidst the interweaving of lights and shadow. On the evening of June 15, the Global Highlights in Nansha - 2025 Jiaomenhe International Neighborhood Gala Night & Publicity Day for Intangible Cultural Heritages concluded, adding a cross-border audiovisual feast into China's Cultural and Natural Heritage Day.

This event is jointly hosted by the Publicity Department of the CPC Nansha District Committee, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of Guangzhou Nansha Economic and Technological Development Zone, Nansha District Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sports, and Party Working Committee and Office of Guangzhou Nansha Subdistrict. Local residents, compatriots from Hong Kong and Macao, and foreign nationals from various countries and regions were gathering here in Nansha, a symphony of “harmony in diversity” with intangible cultural heritage (ICH) as the bond.

Cultural Kaleidoscope: When Cantonese Opera Meets African Drums, ICH Creates a New Trend Across Boundaries

The event kicked off with Like You and Sway, a fusion of the Cantonese hit song and classic Canadian jazz-pop, instantly igniting the atmosphere with the brilliant performance by EZ Band.

Melodious Cantonese Opera Speaks of Homesickness: The classic Cantonese opera excerpt, Shuang Qiang Lu Wen Long, captivated the audience from the very beginning, immersing them in the depths of Cantonese culture.

The African Drum Ignited the World's Heartbeat: Eunice from Cameroon brought an African drum performance Waka Waka (This Time for Africa), with powerful and rhythmic drumming that instantly ignited the audience's enthusiasm.

Indian student Ghanibhuti Gogoi's solo performance of the Assamese song Odhikar (Oracle of Love) added a unique cultural charm to the event.

In addition, performances such as the classical dance Rain in Cantonese Alley, street dance Summer Dance, and the five-tone drum percussion Yan (Banquet) showcased the fusion of tradition and modernity through diverse art forms.

As the melody of the song As You Wish gracefully flowed, the event approached its conclusion in a warm and hopeful atmosphere. The children's angelic voices, like a bridge across cultures, conveyed a beautiful hope for harmony in diversity.

Leryin, a Malaysian student from HKUST(GZ), closed the event with a vibrant performance of Fight Song. The song electrified the entire venue, marking a passionate and successful end to this cross-border feast of intangible cultural heritage.

On this wonderful night, a harmonious blend of multiple languages wove together, as people of different nationalities and accents used art to express their sense of belonging to China.

A New Chapter of Integration: ICH Gives the "International Neighborhood" a Deeper "Chinese Root"

In the Nansha Jiaomenhe International Neighborhood, the protection and inheritance of ICH have been endowed with extraordinary dual significance.

Rooted in Chinese culture, ICH serves as a cultural gateway for international friends to understand China. It also offers an accessible immersive experience, fostering a sense of identity and cultural belonging among global residents.

The participation of international friends is the best testimony of "dynamic inheritance" and global publicity.

When African drums and Cantonese opera share the stage, ICH embraces diverse cultures with an open attitude. It also sparks infinite innovation, becoming a vivid medium for telling stories of China and the Greater Bay Area (GBA).

According to an international participant on site, the Nansha Jiaomenhe International Neighborhood provides multiple channels for foreign residents to blend in, which makes them feel truly welcomed. They can participate in community building through tea gathering for Chinese and foreign residents, as well as volunteer services.

Besides enjoying convenient daily services, they can also take part in fantastic cultural events, just like tonight's ICH gala. These efforts have fostered a real sense of openness, inclusion, and belonging among them. He added that he was deeply impressed by the hospitality of the local people and the "Nansha Speed" in both his personal and professional life. Now, he regards Nansha as his second hometown.

A Vision for Nansha: Empowering ICH from the Heart of the GBA

Located at the geometric center of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), Nansha undertakes the dual missions of driving coordinated economic development and promoting cultural exchange and mutual learning between China and the world.

The successful practices of the Jiaomenhe International Neighborhood have provided a valuable"Nansha Model" for the inheritance and innovation of ICH in the new era.

Inspired by the theme of this year's Cultural and Natural Heritage Day—Integrating into Modern Life: ICH in Full Bloom—Nansha is adopting a more open, inclusive, and innovative stance.

It is actively building an international platform for the inheritance and development of ICH, contributing Chinese wisdom and Nansha's strength to the shared prosperity of global civilizations.