Essence of Beijing Series
A series of short videos titled Essence of Beijing, planned and produced by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, have been displayed on “Visit Beijing”, an official overseas social media account of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, with the intention of evoking a sense of longing in overseas audiences when they see Beijing’s beautiful scenery and fine art. The short videos feature Beijing’s iconic tourist attractions, emerging cultural landmarks, and representative artists, art groups, and young art practitioners from various art fields, showcasing the city’s unique charm to the world from a new perspective that combines culture and tourism.
The first episode in the series features a musician from Beijing’s Central Conservatory of Music and an Olympic medal-winning rhythmic gymnast performing at Beijing’s historic and newly renovated Longfu Temple.
The second episode in the series features Simatai Great Wall and the Forbidden City String Quartet performing at foot of the Great Wall in the amazing Gubei Water Town.
The third episode titled The Land of Peace in the City of the Essence of Beijing series, planned and produced by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, shows the rare waterside streets by the Sanli River of Qianmen, the downtown area of Beijing. Located next to the former residence of Mei Lanfang, the Yanliao Hall built in the Ming Dynasty serves as a veneration hall and a theater. Bai Jin, a young actor from the Jingju Theatre Company of Beijing and a member of the Mei School, performed Mei’s signature work, the alluring Drunken Beauty, giving the ancient hall a renewed radiance.
The fourth video of the Essence of Beijing series shows the Wang Jiaxun Percussion Troupe’s rendition of the upbeat song “Together for a Shared Future” at Shougang Park in support of the Olympic athletes’ journey for the Olympic Winter Games. With the establishment of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, and venues for the Olympic Winter Games including the Big Air Shougang and National Winter Sports Training Center, the century-old Shougang Park has emerged as a new landmark for the repurposing of the world’s industrial heritage and Olympic-driven urban development. The percussion version of “Together for a Shared Future”, while retaining the original style, adds and incorporates rich percussion elements and melodic percussion instruments such as marching drums and marimba vibraphone. The resonant notes of percussion echoed throughout the century-old iron and steel industrial plant, rousing the slumbering blast furnace and cheering for the Olympic athletes with fighting spirits for national honors. Together, with the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, for a shared future!