On December 31, 2023, the 2024 Beijing New Year Countdown event, organized by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, was grandly held at Shougang Park. With the theme "Colorful City, Splendid Journey," the event showcased the charming blend of traditional culture and modern civilization in Beijing, portraying the harmonious and vibrant life of the capital's residents. It expressed Beijing's resolute confidence and the era's style in embarking on a splendid journey in the new era, energetically scripting the chapter of China's modernization with a distinct Beijing flavor.
As night fell, Shougang Park sparkled with dazzling lights, marking the commencement of a fully immersive New Year celebration. Leveraging the unique features of Shougang Park, where industrial heritage and Olympic legacies coexist, and capitalizing on the rich resources of commercial spaces and cultural tourism scenes, the event unfolded with a "1+5" multi-point interactive setup across various spaces and immersive experiences. Apart from the main venue at the blast furnace, five additional public celebration zones were set up at Shangri-La Hotel, LiugonghuiShopping Plaza, Gaoxian Park, Sanganlu (Blast Furnace No. 3), and Liangshuita (Water Cooling Tower) including the ski jump platform. These areas were open to the public and featured festive and colorful New Year atmospheres created through light sculptures, light paintings, projections, and more. In collaboration with the illumination of Shijingshan night scenes and commercial promotions within the park, this festival and cultural tourism business activity aimed to attract a wide audience for photography, leisure shopping, dining, and gatherings, presenting a scene of "Beautiful Life, Shared by All" in welcoming the New Year.
On that evening, the blending of ancient and modern cultural and tourism experiences took place at the SoReal Sci-Fi Park located at the Blast Furnace No. 1. In the futuristic metaverse space filled with an industrial vibe, diplomats from various countries immersed themselves in the "Time Roaming" electronic music and starlight show. They experienced a rich array of distinctive intangible cultural heritage projects and enjoyed performances of beautiful traditional cultural programs. The melodious sounds of the ancient Chinese zither in "High Mountains and Flowing Water" echoed through the steel corridors, while the graceful singing of "The Peony Pavilion" lingered in the metaverse's super-dimensional space. The collision of traditional culture and modern civilization, the organic fusion of industrial aesthetics and innovative technology, provided foreign guests with a spectacular New Year journey. Beijing, with its open and inclusive cultural spirit, strives to construct a world-renowned cultural city where traditional culture and modern civilization complement each other. This effort aims to enhance cultural exchanges and mutual learning with countries around the world.
At 23:38, the New Year countdown celebration officially began. With red silk soaring and drums resounding, the scenes of Beijing's seven world cultural heritage sites unfolded on the screen, showcasing Beijing's historical and cultural "golden business card." Chinese and foreign singers harmonized in singing "Beijing," symbolizing genuine friendship. The splendid depiction of people living happily and harmoniously, enjoying a good life, unfolded gradually. The achievements in building a city of literature, the capital of performing arts, a city of museums, and the international consumer center were shared by the people. The grand symphony and choir performance of "Departure to the Future" reached a climax, symbolizing Beijing's innovative approach to the world, open collaboration, shared journey towards the future, and the commencement of a splendid era.
In the joyous celebration shared from dawn to dusk, cities along the "Belt and Road," including Asti in Italy, Seoul in South Korea, Victoria in Seychelles, Wellington in New Zealand, and other member cities of the World Federation of Tourism Cities, sent New Year blessings to Beijing through video messages. Amidst great anticipation, both Chinese and foreign guests, along with children, initiated the 60-second countdown to the New Year. The "Beijing City Spirit" swallows gracefully danced in the spring breeze, soaring towards the naked-eye 3D screen. The magnificent scroll of Beijing's central axis once again unfolded under the world's spotlight. The enthusiastic on-site audience collectively counted down "10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1," marking the beginning of a new era. Drums and bells resonated together, and at the stroke of midnight, the blessing "Happy New Year," elegantly written by Mr. Zhang Ji, Vice Chairman of the Chinese Calligraphers Association, appeared, showcasing China's traditional aesthetic and cultural confidence on the global stage. This form is expected to become a preserved segment in future editions of Beijing's New Year Countdown events.
Colorful City, Splendid Journey! In 2024, leveraging Beijing's advantages as a historical capital and the national cultural center, united and determined, we will vigorously propel the development of the capital in the new era. Together, we will script a chapter for Beijing in the comprehensive construction of a socialist modernized nation and the overarching advancement of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation!
