As 2026 marks the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, the mutual learning among the Chinese and African civilizations and the bilateral cooperation in the cultural tourism sector are ushering in a new stage.

Between July 2 and 5, a China-Africa Drum Music Intangible Cultural Heritage Exchange Event will be held at three venues in Changde simultaneously—Changde Hejie Block, Taohuayuan Scenic Area, and Taoyuan County. This event aims to deeply implement the national initiative on enhancing China-Africa people-to-people exchanges, further broaden Hunan's cooperation channels with Africa in culture and tourism, and boost the global profile of the Greater Zhangjiajie International Tourism Area.

A cultural and tourism delegation from Burundi will pay a special visit to Changde, using drum art as a media to build friendship. The visit will initiate a dialogue of civilizations spanning thousands of miles across mountains and seas, and build a new bridge for people-to-people exchanges between Hunan and Africa.

As a Pioneering Zone for In-depth China-Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation, Hunan has been leveraging the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo as a national-level platform to advance both economic and trade cooperation alongside people-to-people exchanges, and continuously strengthen the foundation of Hunan-Africa friendly partnership.

Changde, located in northwestern Hunan, is a core component of the Greater Zhangjiajie International Tourism Area, with prominent advantages in the internationalization of cultural tourism. The city is home to the thousand-year-old iconic cultural IP of Taohuayuan, or Peach Blossom Spring, which is nationally renowned. Meanwhile, it also boasts several national-level intangible cultural heritage items, such as Lizhou Drum, Changde Sixian (silk string), and Changde High-pitched Tune in Han Opera, possessing a rich heritage of folk customs and unique resources of cultural tourism.

Grounded in Changde's local intangible cultural heritage and landscape-based cultural tourism resources, this event will precisely meet the needs of China-Africa people-to-people exchanges, promoting Hunan's fine traditional culture to Africa. Besides, it will bring distinctive African folk culture into Changde, fostering mutual learning and shared benefits between the two civilizations.

The event is hosted by the Changde Cultural Tourism Development Group Co., Ltd., supported by the People's Government of Taoyuan County and the Changde Economic Construction Investment Group Co., Ltd., and organized by Changde Taohuayuan Tourism Management Co., Ltd.

The event covers four major parts—economic and trade matchmaking, cultural performances, intangible cultural heritage experiences, and industrial observation tours. It will offer a diverse and dynamic program that combines practical official cooperation with vibrant folk culture.

We sincerely invite friends from near and far to gather at Changde's Taohuayuan, enjoying the drumbeats that echo across mountains and seas, and celebrating this Hunan-Africa gathering.

This article is from Hunan Provincial Government. www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Pang Yuehui

Chinese source: hunantoday