On the evening of October 16, 2024, the series of activities for the “Maritime Silk Road Cultural Tourism Week” kicked off in the Guangxiu District at the Wuxian Temple – Nanyue Sages Museum Square. The event featured a captivating array of performances including dance, magic, and opera, all of which illustrated the historical evolution and cultural heritage of the Maritime Silk Road.
Historically, Wuxian Temple was known as the ancient port of Poshang during the Jin Dynasty. It was a bustling hub for international trade along the Maritime Silk Road, and by the Tang Dynasty, the area transformed into a vibrant market, becoming a residential zone for foreign traders, famously known as “Fan Fang.”
The festivities brought the glory of the Tang Dynasty to life, with performances staged in a picturesque garden setting that evoked the era’s prosperity. The opening dance, titled “Poshan: The Crossing,” used dynamic movements to showcase the daily life and cultural richness of the ancient coastal regions of Lingnan. In the magic show “Treasure Hunting on the Maritime Silk Road,” the magician, dressed as a ship captain, interacted with merchants, creatively showcasing trade goods commonly exchanged during the Maritime Silk Road era, which received enthusiastic applause from the audience. Additionally, the exotic performance “Wonders of Maritime Culture” featured vibrant dances from India, Arabia, and Africa, blending various cultural influences.
This year, the Guangxiu District’s Maritime Silk Road Cultural Tourism Week emphasizes the preservation of Guangzhou’s millennia-old cultural and commercial heritage, woven around six key themes: travel, performance, exhibition, entertainment, shopping, and food. The event’s cultural hub, the Wuxian Temple, unfolded a captivating narrative that seemed to transcend time, akin to a fantasy realm. The immersive drama “Legend of the Five Rams: New Rhythms” seamlessly connected historical artifacts like the “Five Rams and Five Immortals Statues,” “The First Building in Lingnan,” and “The Ancient Poshang Port” with engaging dramatic elements, incorporating Cantonese storytelling and music, which made spectators the protagonists of the unfolding narrative.
Moreover, the “Cultural Dreamscape of Guangzhou” VR experience showcased a blend of culture and technology, offering an immersive stroll through historical scenes where participants could admire relics like the Western Han Dynasty jade seal and beast-patterned roof tiles. Accompanied by the “spirits of the Maritime Silk Road,” players could soar over historical sites, including the Guangxiu Temple’s light tower and the bustling trading scenes of the Tang Dynasty, all while enjoying a scenic sunset view from the vantage points of the deep Zhong tunnel.
“The spatial experience combines VR and Unreal Engine technology to accurately recreate the ancient Poshang port, representing the lively market life of the Tang and Song Dynasties,” explained Ke Linhai, Director of the Guangxiu District Cultural Heritage Management Center. “During the Maritime Silk Road Cultural Tourism Week, the eastern hall of Wuxian Temple will offer free VR experiences daily. Residents can reserve their spots via our WeChat account ‘Guangxiu Culture and Tourism.’ We welcome everyone to come and experience Wuxian Temple.”
In addition to daily performances and immersive experiences, Wuxian Temple and the Nanyue Sages Museum serve as the main venues for this year’s event, featuring an array of creative markets.
“Wuxian Temple, known as ‘the ancestral temple of Guangzhou,’ is essentially the first stop for visitors to understand both Guangzhou and the Guangxiu District,” shared He Yuanfei, Deputy Director of the Guangxiu District Cultural, Radio, Television, Tourism, and Sports Bureau. “Guangxiu has been the cultural heart of Guangzhou for over two thousand years and played a pivotal role in maritime trade, witnessing the development of the Maritime Silk Road. We aim to leverage our rich maritime cultural heritage through activities, artifact restoration, spatial enhancements, and neighborhood revitalization, effectively telling the stories of cultural lineage and revitalizing the old city with new vitality.”
