From October 18th to 19th, the 2024 “Hello, Beijing-Expats” Immersive Cultural Tour to the Great Wall Event for Foreigners in Beijing was successfully held at the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. Fifty foreign friends from over 40 countries, including Brazil, Germany, Kenya, and Romania, as well as 20 Chinese and foreign families, climbed the Great Wall to experience the charm of this UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site.
Site of the Activity
Visit the Great Wall
Visa-free Policy Facilitates Ready-to-go Travel for Tourists
The Event, hosted by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism and Huairou District People’s Government and organized by the Beijing Overseas Cultural Exchange Center and Huairou District Culture and Tourism Bureau, consisted of two sessions: “Hello, Beijing” Great Wall Encounter & “Hello, Beijing” Family Fun Tour of the Great Wall.
At the opening ceremony on October 18th, Sun Jian,Member of the Party Leadership Group, Deputy Directorof the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, delivered a speech. He highlighted China’s recent efforts to ease entry procedures, including visa exemptions with 24 countries, visa-free entry for 16 countries, and 72-hour or 144-hour visa-free transit for travelers from 54 countries. These measures have greatly facilitated the work, study, and travel of foreign visitors in China. Sun also discussed efforts to optimize the payment methods for tourism, encouraging ready-to-go trips for foreign visitors. As of August, Beijing had received more than 2.3 million inbound visits this year, making it one of the world’s hottest travel destinations. Beijing warmly welcomes foreigners to explore its unique World Cultural Heritage, such as the Great Wall.
Folk music piece “The Clashing Swords and Galloping Horses” from Beijing Chinese Orchestra
Martial Arts “Flag Formation” from Dragon Rhythm Shaolin Kung Fu
“Martial Arts Craftsman” team – The Youth
Representatives from the Cultural, Art, and Academic Sectors Awarded “Hello Beijing Ambassador”
At the opening ceremony on the 18th, three guardians of the Great Wall were awarded the title of “Hello Beijing Ambassador” : Cheng Yongmao, Great Wall restoration expert; Tian Fengyin, Great Wall-themed artist; and William Lindesay, a British scholar of the Great Wall. They represent the fields of cultural heritage, fine arts, and environmental protection. Through their professional expertise and long-standing connection with the Great Wall, they have deepened the audience’s understanding of its cultural significance.
Cheng Yongmao has been dedicated to safeguarding the Great Wall for decades, unwavering in his commitment. Starting as an ordinary cultural relic worker, he has grown into a leading figure in Great Wall restoration. His recent work includes the restoration of the wall at the Mutianyu Tower 14. Cheng emphasizes that the restoration of the Great Wall must follow the “Five Conformity” principles: conforming to the original layers, slopes, turns, old features, and ruins to maintain the authenticity of the Wall. This ensures the preservation of the site’s authenticity. He emphasized that Great Wall preservation not only involves physical repairs but also the transmission of its historical and cultural legacy to future generations.
Tian Fengyin is a local artist in Huairou who has made it her mission to create oil paintings themed around the Great Wall. She actively promotes the natural and cultural heritage of her hometown on an international scale. She hopes her work, as a dialogue with the Wall, can inspire more people to appreciate and protect this cultural treasure.
William Lindesay has had a 38-year bond with the Great Wall of China. Over the decades, he has traveled from afar to dedicate himself to protecting the Great Wall, becoming a bridge between China and the world in this field. Lindesay calls on more people, both from China and abroad, to visit Beijing, experience the majestic beauty of the Great Wall, embrace its spirit, and join in the efforts to preserve this historical treasure.
Sharing from Cheng Yongmao,a Great Wall restoration expert
Sharing from Tian Fengyin, a Great Wall-themed artist
Sharing from William Lindesay, a British scholar of the Great Wall
“Hello Beijing Ambassador” Granting Ceremony
Carrying Great Wall Bricksand Embracing Its Spirit
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the “Love China, Restore the Great Wall” initiative. As more organizations participate in Great Wall conservation, significant progress has been made in preserving this cultural heritage.
Foreign participants formed teams to relay 8.5 kg bricks to designated restoration points, gaining a deeper understanding and appreciation of the efforts involved in Great Wall conservation.
Experiencing Restoration
Beauty of Intangible Cultural Heritage: Discovering Traditional Craftsmanship
A special section dedicated to intangible cultural heritage offered participants the chance to explore traditional crafts and to further appreciate the charm of Great Wall culture. Activities involved making scroll rubbings, where artists handcrafted rubbings featuring elements of the Great Wall onto scrolls, capturing its majestic form as a collectible keepsake, and making Great Wall-themed relief paintings, where artists could paint and color the reliefs, showcasing the seamless fusion of the Great Wall and art. Parent-child activities such as sugar painting and dough figurine making, inspired by the Great Wall, sparked children’s creativity and enthusiasm for traditional crafts.
Enjoy the Cultural Heritage
“Task List” Treasure Hunt: Enjoying Immersive Family Adventure
Participants took part in a family treasure hunt with a creative “Task List” that guided them through the Great Wall. Families worked together to solve clues and locate hidden “treasures” around based on clues located in the wall’s crenels, watchtowers, and beacon towers, which fostered closer family bonds and allowed children to grow and learn through exploration. Stamping their “Task List” at checkpoints became a highlight for children, leaving them with cherished memories of their Great Wall adventure.
“Task List” Treasure Hunt
Great Wall Guesthouse: Admiring Fusion of Chinese and Western Design
Foreign guests also visited the net-famous Beijing Brickyard Boutique Guesthouse, designed by Jim Spear, an American architect who has lived in China for nearly 40 years and contributed significantly to rural development. This guesthouse, themed around the Great Wall and glazed tiles, blends local materials like stone, brick, and wood with Baroque-style-stained glass and loft-style high ceilings, creating a unique fusion of Chinese and Western design. It is also Beijing’s only “Chinese Rural Heritage Hotel”.
Great Wall Guesthouse
The convergence of diverse cultures at the Great Wall shines a light on both the natural beauty and cultural richness of Beijing. The beautiful natural scenery and rich cultural heritage of Beijing left international guests enchanted. Participants expressed that the Great Wall’s charm lies in its combination of large-scale man-made defense structures and the breathtaking landscape. It has transformed from a symbol of “defense” among various ethnic groups throughout history into a representation of “fusion” and “openness,” welcoming friends from all corners of the globe. They also noted that the Great Wall is an inexhaustible cultural treasure trove and expressed a desire to participate in similar activities again in the future.
Photo of the Activity
Reviews From the Guests
Congratulations and thanks for yesterday’s event; both the lecture on the restoration of the Great Wall and the extraordinary view of the sunset were unforgettable. You are doing very good work, keep it up! Dear organisers, I would like to thank you for this amazing tour to the great. I have been to the Great Wall so many times and to several sections of it, but yesterday’s visit was very special. We were like a big family; we learned a lot about the restoration of such an amazing historical heritage. The sunset view was fantastic, and the tour guides were so friendly and helpful. I would like also to thank the photographers for their patience and for the beautiful memories they gathered for us. It was an unforgettable day for me. Dear hello Beijing team, thanks for all your hard work, your professionalism is very appreciated by all my family members. Thanks for the presents and your good intentions. We came back with full of restoration knowledge and experience. Thank you very much for the organization of this event. The spot is really amazing, and the idea to include Wall restoration information with games is really good. Thank you again for this great day!
Media Contact
Company Name: Beijing Huanqiu Culture Media Co., Ltd
Contact Person: Shi Jianguang
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State: Beijing
Country: China
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