The 2024 Ming Dynasty Culture Forum kicked off at the Ming Culture International Exchange Center in Beijing's Changping District on July 13. The theme of the Forum is "The Splendid Age of the Colorful Ming," and it consists of a central forum, six theme forums, one international academic seminar, five exhibitions of cultural relics, and four modular series of cultural activities. More than 600 Chinese and foreign experts and scholars have gathered to take part in discussions around the historical and contemporary significance of Ming culture.

Picture of the Forum. 

[Photo via the Publicity Department of the CPC Changping District Committee]

Coinciding with the opening of the Forum was the start of the "Magnificent Ming Dynasty Treasures - Special Ming Dynasty Cultural Relics Exhibition," which will last for two days. More than ten domestic cultural institutions will exhibit upwards of 100 high-quality cultural relics, mainly imperial treasures. Complementing a majestic gold mesh crown and the empress' phoenix coronet are a number of national treasures that include the authentic calligraphy of Dong Qichang, a gold box from the Royal Archives Center, and a copy of the Jiajing era Yongle Encyclopedia. To ensure more visitors a chance to view the relics, many will be moved to the cultural relics exhibition hall in the Dingling Tomb Scenic Area (Thirteen Ming Tombs) after the Forum, where anyone with tickets to the scenic area can enjoy access.

The Golden Mesh Crown of Wanli Emperor. 

[Photo via the Publicity Department of the CPC Changping District Committee]

A call for designs for a Ming cultural tourism complex was issued during the main forum. The project is located in Shisanling Town, Changping District. There are abundant cultural and tourism resources, business and service resources, and scientific research industries found there, such as the Ming Tombs, the Juyongguan Great Wall, the Yinshan Pagoda Forest, the Baifuquan Ruins, Badaling Outlets, the Fun Capital Amusement Park, Future Science Park, and Nankou Industrial Park.

The project promises to become the world's most famous Ming culture exchange base, China's most influential Ming culture theme exhibition area, and a significant world heritage cultural and tourism business cluster for northwest Beijing. The project call for designs has likewise gone out to international institutions, individuals, and teams focusing on project operational planning, functional business form research, and urban design.

(Source: CRI Online of China Media Group)