A Pearl Embedded in the New Silk Road

By+staff+reporter+JIAO+FENG

KAIFENG， located in the heart of China， was the worlds biggest and busiest city during the 11th and 12th centuries. As the intersection of the land and maritime Silk Roads， it was a place from where goods were dispatched and traders from the East and West met. Today， it is a major city in the central China economic region due to its integrated development with Zhengzhou， capital of Henan Province.

Ji Bingwei， Mayor of Kaifeng， expands on the citys position as regards the development of the New Silk Road Economic Belt.

Rich in History and Cultural Resources

With a history of over 2，700 years， Kaifeng was the capital city of China during the reign of eight dynasties. About 1，000 years ago， as the capital of the Northern Song Dynasty （960-1127）， Kaifeng was a political， economic and cultural center and a major transportation hub. The famous scroll painting Qingming Festival at the Riverside， exhibited at the Palace Museum in Beijing， is the best depiction of the prosperous city at that time.

When reflecting on the development of Kaifeng， we cannot ignore the wider picture of the Northern Song Dynasty， an era when Chinese culture， science and technology flourished. Besides paper-making， three other great inventions of ancient China – the compass， gunpowder and movable type printing– first appeared in this period. In addition， the arts of calligraphy， painting， opera， folk activities and poetry also peaked.

Notes on the Prosperous Capital compiled by people of the time records the style and features of Kaifeng. It elaborates on the daily life of the citys inhabitants， from the elite to the ordinary folk， and includes detailed information on its streets and buildings.

This publication and other historical data have provided clues for the reconstruction of many of Kaifengs ancient buildings and sites. A theme park based on the scenes in Qingming Festival at the Riverside has opened， and the Jinming Pool rebuilt according to a Chinese painting of the same name. The city gate， gate towers and the drum tower were also reconstructed to replicate the original appearance of the city.

In his conversation with China Today， Mayor Ji Bingwei revealed that there are 1，945 scenic spots and historic sites， and 139 items of intangible cultural heritage in Kaifeng. They are treasures that represent the citys cultural achievements and merits.

Cultural Exchanges Expand

“Tradition is well preserved in Kaifeng. If it werent it would lose its meaning.” As a city planner， Ji has a clear understanding about the citys future： “The New Silk Road Economic Belt gives us a good opportunity for cultural exchange and regeneration.”

In Jis understanding， the New Silk Road can accelerate both Kaifengs economy and its culture along the way.

Over 2，000 years ago， Zhang Qian， as envoy of the Chinese emperor， walked westward over hills and across rivers to reach Central Asia. The diplomatic mission unexpectedly paved a way for trade. Via this new route， China exported silk and porcelain to Central Asia and Europe and imported Western produce such as pomegranates， grapes and walnuts. Chinas iron casting expertise were introduced to Europe， while Indias Buddhism and Greeces sculpture art were brought to China and influenced the country in a profound way. “When Zhang Qian was sent west， he promoted Chinese culture on the way out and brought back foreign cultures on his return，” Ji said. “Material exchange is always accompanied by cultural communication， and cultural exchange can promote trade.”

Because of its role as an ancient trade hub， Kaifeng has become open to exotic cultures. The famous local dish Pa Guangdu， mainly made of large fish maw， an ingredient that is hard to find in an inland city， actually originated in India and Pakistan， but was introduced to Kaifeng by passing tradesmen. Today， the local government is united in its efforts to enrich local culture by absorbing foreign elements. In the last couple of years， the city introduced a puppet festival and swing contest， attracting large audiences. Meanwhile， Kaifeng strives to promote its local culture and specialties like calligraphic art， Bian embroidery， Guan porcelain and woodblock printing. The Kaifeng acrobatic troupe performs across the country and even internationally. In 2013， Kaifeng established the friendship city relationship with Kiryat Motzkin， Israel. The partnership has strengthened cooperation in tourism， culture and art， relic preservation and agricultural technology.

“The next step is to take advantage of the New Silk Road Economic Belt to promote our traditional culture as well as introduce new ideas，” Ji said. “The integration will boost communication and innovation， and inject vigor into our traditional culture.”

Cultural Industry Boost

It is， of course， the governments responsibility to develop the economy and improve peoples livelihood. The Kaifeng municipal government has outlined a long-term plan on how to make the most of its position and orientate itself to do just that.

Kaifengs culture is its trump card that should be given full play and hence boost the local economy， according to Ji.

He believes that culture is the soft power of a city， while the economy is the hard power. But soft power can become hard power. Cultural industry accounts for 25 percent of GDP in the U.S.， 17 percent in Japan and 10 percent in Britain. In China， the figure is only three percent and in Henan Province 2.26 percent. However， in Kaifeng 5.5 percent of its GDP comes from cultural industry， higher than the average level of the province and the country. “This sets us apart，” Ji asserted. “Cultural industry is a growth industry， a powerful part of the tertiary industry sector， which is able to drive the economy and enrich society.”

Cultural industry can cultivate job opportunities and boost the economy. With the construction of the New Silk Road Economic Belt， Kaifeng plans to introduce new ideas to vitalize local culture and transform it into economic benefits.

Ji introduced the idea of a triad of culture， business and tourism： By creating cultural products for visitors and adding cultural elements to tourist products and services， cultural industry will become more popular in the market. An example of the harmony of these three aspects in motion is the Little Song City Comprehensive Business Zone. Dubbed the “l(fā)iving room of Kaifeng，” the zone was restructured and has become a must-see destination where tourists can taste local food and experience folk arts. Kaifeng now has new tourist attractions– the Yuhe River， Shudian Street （literally， Bookshop Street， famed as the center for bookshops in the Qing Dynasty） and Gulou Street – and three performances showcasing the prosperity of the Song Dynasty.

Ji believes that the construction of the New Silk Road Economic Belt aims to boost industries through cultural and people-to-people exchanges. Along with increasing exchanges and tourism， new projects are expected. The economic belt， initiated by President Xi Jinping， is not only an economic move， but also a cultural one， and will ultimately propel global peace and development.