The upcoming 2023 Mid-Autumn Festival gala, hosted by China Media Group, promises to be a literary celebration focusing on five distinct elements: poetry, wine, the moon, water and bamboo.
This gala will seamlessly blend aspects of ancient literature and traditional music into its performances, venturing beyond customary venues to present an original fusion of classical poetry and modern fashion against historically significant cultural landscapes.
The inaugural stage is set in the picturesque Yangtze River Park in Yibin, Sichuan Province. Here, around 20 performances in various formats—solo vocals, duets, symphonic music, and dancing—will unfold. The intent is to evoke a profound sense of yearning for the motherland by intertwining themes of Mid-Autumn Festival reunions and heartfelt patriotic emotions.
Yibin, the first city on the Yangtze River, stands at the confluence of the Jinsha and Minjiang rivers. The city has made significant strides in ecological preservation, prioritizing green development. With an organized approach to environmental management along the Yangtze River, Yibin has propelled advancements and improved its material and energy sectors. It champions an eco-friendly, low-carbon, circular economic structure and lifestyle.
Despite rapid economic growth along the Yangtze River, environmental challenges like overfishing, water pollution, and soil erosion have emerged, necessitating conservation efforts.
China, recognizing the value of clear waterways and pristine landscapes, has undertaken measures to protect its rivers. This includes waste cleanup, water pollution prevention, fishing bans, and monitoring natural reserves.
In Yibin, biodiversity has surged since the introduction of a 10-year fishing ban three years ago. Yibin is the Yangtze River's sole nationally protected rare-fish reserve and a natural breeding ground for the Yangtze sturgeon. In March of this year, a field breeding experiment was carried out in an inner river flow of the Yangtze River in Yibin. During the experiment, 10 male and 10 female mature Yangtze sturgeon parent fish were released, and 8 female fish finally generated over 500,000 roes.
Liao Wenbin, mayor of Yibin City in Sichuan Province and a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress, stresses the importance of local governments understanding the broader perspective and committing to safeguarding the Yangtze River's upper reaches. He advocates for strict water purity guidelines and uninterrupted flow, underscoring Yibin's responsibility and mission as the Yangtze's inaugural city.
According to the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the Yangtze River's significant environmental improvement parallels the growth of the Yangtze River Economic Belt. A noteworthy achievement is the water quality of all monitored parts of its mainstream graded at Grade II or higher in 2020.
In the five-tier assessment system, Grade II is the second highest. In 2015, only 45.2 percent of the monitored portions in the Yangtze's mainline had water quality of Grade II or higher.
Yibin provides a perfect setting for the gala. Drawing from ancient writings about the Yangtze River and local customs, the performances resonate with Yibin's rich Yangtze River culture. The ancient tea and horse trail, along with the vibrant attire of numerous ethnic groups and the captivating natural scenery, enhance the festival's appeal.
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