2024 China Science Fiction Convention opens in Beijing

"Dream of the Future," an interactive short science fiction film integrating sound and light technology, kicked off the eighth China Science Fiction Convention on Saturday.

The opening ceremony was held at the No. 1 Blast Furnace SoReal Science Fiction Park in Shougang Park, Beijing. The venue, formerly a deserted furnace, has been turned into a "space starship" equipped with innovations such as Extended Reality or XR, space computing, and digital twin technology. 

The event incorporated cutting-edge technologies including holographic imaging, artificial intelligence and motion capture to create an immersive science fiction experience.

In recent years, Beijing has developed the science fiction industry across the entire chain, promoting the transformation of Shijingshan Shougang Park from a conference venue to China's first science fiction industry cluster, attracting more than 200 related companies from around the country.

Over the past five years, around 50 percent of China's science fiction film and television productions and 40 percent of science fiction books were produced in Beijing. The science fiction industry is an important starting point for the development of "new quality productive forces."

Beijing has been accelerating the construction of common technology platforms such as the Zhongguancun Science Fiction Industry Innovation Center, facilitating the use of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence large language models to better support the upgrading and development of the science fiction industry.

Beijing has also stepped up the construction of science fiction master studios, encouraging the creation of more high-quality literature, film and television works. It continues to provide support for the expansion of Shougang Park as a science fiction industry cluster, and is implementing industry development action plans to attract more leading companies and key projects.

The China Science Fiction Convention, held in Shougang Park, Shijingshan District, will run until April 29 in conjunction with the annual Zhongguancun Forum. Under the theme "Scientific Dreams, Creating the Future" the event features eighteen activities across four sections, including the opening ceremony, forum meetings, industry promotion activities and a science fiction film week. The aim is to contribute to the construction of the Beijing International Science and Fiction Center while promoting the high-quality development of the science fiction industry in China.