The second Zhuangyuan Culture Conference and the fifth Development Conference were jointly held on Nov 3-5 in the ancient town of Wan'an – located in Xiuning county in Huangshan city, in East China's Anhui province.
The term Zhuangyuan refers to the scholar who achieved the highest score in the imperial exams during ancient times. From the Song Dynasty (960-1279) to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Xiuning was home to 19 Zhuangyuan scholars, ranking it first among all counties in the country.
The goal of the culture conference was to leverage Xiuning county's rich Zhuangyuan culture to boost its economic and social development.
One of the highlights was the unveiling of the first range of cultural and creative products known as Zhuangyuan Haowu, representing the culmination of extensive research and development of local Zhuangyuan culture.
A woman dressed in hanfu, a traditional Chinese clothing, shows Zhuangyuan Haowu products. [Photo by Wang Xiaoling]
What's more, a selection of preserved ancient residential buildings in town served as the backdrop for a fascinating exhibition of ancient house art.
The exhibition integrated elements such as Huizhou wood carving – Huizhou being the ancient name of Huangshan city – and Huangmei opera performances, as well as coffee and dessert. The result was an irresistible attraction that drew visitors from across the country.
Most notably, eight projects, with a total investment value of 3.21 billion yuan ($441.50 million), were signed during this year's development conference.
The achievement was said to underscore Xiuning county's ability to attract investments and signify its commitment to fostering economic growth and prosperity.
An investment project signing ceremony takes place during the development conference. [Photo by Shi Yalei]