Yellow River culture promoted on global stage

East China's Shandong province, where the Yellow River meets the sea, has been putting great efforts toward promoting Yellow River culture overseas.

The international communication regarding Yellow River culture was highlighted at the Yellow River Culture Forum, which was held recently in Dongying, where the estuary of the Yellow River is located.

The Yellow River, known as China's "mother river" and the cradle of Chinese civilization, flows about 5,464 kilometers through nine provincial-level regions. It is an age-old witness to the nation's history.

Shandong, home to 628 kilometers of the Yellow River, boasts abundant cultural resources with the influence of the river throughout time.

The province has been exploring ways to promote Yellow River culture globally, according to Xi Yanchun, head of the Information Office of the Shandong Provincial People's Government.

The province is developing the Nishan Forum on World Civilizations to build a high-end platform to promote exchanges and mutual learning among world civilizations. It has also published works, including documentaries and short videos, showcasing Yellow River culture in multiple languages to make the culture better known.

"Yellow River culture is one of the four ancient civilizations, and its influence is very important around the world," Javier García, a senior Spanish journalist, said.

There are bright prospects in spreading Yellow River culture overseas and promoting ecological tourism. This will not only attract a large number of foreign tourists but also help establish a more comprehensive image of China, he added.

Liu Yuzhu, head of the China Foundation for Cultural Heritage Conservation, shared views on the protection and utilization of cultural relics along the Yellow River.

The Yellow River basin is rich in cultural relics and there are more than 300,000 immovable cultural relics in nine provinces and autonomous regions among the Yellow River.

To make use of the cultural relics, emphasis should be put in innovating communication methods and integrating high-tech methods like virtual reality to better promote them, according to Liu. "It is also necessary to strengthen exchanges with great river basins in the world, and promote the establishment of regular cultural heritage cooperation projects" Liu added.

An initiative was reached, calling for joint efforts to protect and inherent Yellow River culture, improve the Yellow River cultural and tourism brand, as well as enhance its international influence.