Guest

Hu Huifen

Interview Background

In recent years, the Bureau of Culture and Tourism of Jing'an District has fostered public cultural services, advanced cultural tourism, and preserved heritage, creating a dynamic, diverse, and culturally confident core district of an international metropolis.

Host:

Hello everyone! Today we're honored to have Ms. Hu Huifen, Secretary of the Leading Party Members Group of Bureau of Culture and Tourism of Jing'an District, as our guest. Welcome, Secretary Hu!

Hu Huifen:

Hello, host. Hello, everyone.

Host:

In recent years, the Bureau of Culture and Tourism of Jing'an District has fostered public cultural services, advanced cultural tourism, and preserved heritage, creating a dynamic, diverse, and culturally confident core district of an international metropolis. The cultural brand has always been Jing'an's most prominent calling card internationally, serving as the perfect way to enrich lives and warm the city. In the first half of this year, three major cultural festivals—Shanghai · Jing'an Modern Drama Valley, Jing'an Music Festival, and Shanghai Jing'an World Coffee Culture Festival—once again converged, creating a splendid celebration of civic participation and artistic expression in our city. Secretary Hu, could you elaborate on this for us?

Hu Huifen:

Sure. Shanghai · Jing'an Modern Drama Valley is a key cultural initiative in Jing'an District and ranks among Shanghai's "Top Ten Cultural Events". During the 2024 Shanghai · Jing'an Modern Drama Valley, 24 outstanding plays from both China and the international community were staged across Jing'an's major theaters, with many shows selling out quickly. The One Drama Awards received submissions from 155 productions and nearly 600 award applications, setting a new record in both quantity and reflecting a youthful, diverse trend. Guided by the principle of "culture for all", the festival brings theater out of traditional venues into business districts, neighborhoods, and communities, allowing residents to enjoy high-quality cultural experiences close to home.

Host:

Thanks for your introduction. Jing'an has a rich jazz heritage. Could you share more details about this connection?

Hu Huifen:

OK. Jing'an is the birthplace of jazz in Shanghai, where China's first jazz band performed at the Paramount ballroom. Since its debut in 2007, the "JZ Spring Music Festival" has showcased outstanding jazz musicians from China and abroad, fostering the growth of jazz in China. Now rebranded as the "Jing'an Music Festival", it features a wider range of musical styles, further enriching the district's distinctive cultural identity.

Host:

Thanks for your introduction. Next, let's explore Shanghai Jing'an World Coffee Culture Festival. Jing'an is the heart of coffee culture in Shanghai. Could you tell us more about it?

Hu Huifen:

Jing'an boasts one of Shanghai's most vibrant coffee cultures, with West Nanjing Road having the highest concentration of cafés in the city—and possibly the country. Starbucks, Blue Bottle, Yongpu and other coffee brands have gathered in Jing'an, enriching the city's cultural fabric. Since its inception in 2006, the Jing'an World Coffee Culture Festival has become a signature event for Shanghai's coffee culture and a defining feature of Jing'an's cultural landscape.

Hu Huifen:

In the second half of the year, the Bureau of Culture and Tourism will further integrate culture, sports, tourism, commerce, and exhibitions. Key initiatives include hosting flagship events like the "Shanghai Summer" International Consumption Season, Shanghai International Light Festival, Shanghai International Tea Culture Tourism Festival, Golden Autumn Urban Tour of Shanghai Tourism Festival, Jing'an International Sculpture Project, and Head of Shanghai River Regatta. These efforts aim to develop premium cultural-tourism offerings and create innovative consumption experiences.

Host:

Thank you for your sharing! Speaking of the cultural and tourism sector, TJ Sports' broadcast production center is a prime example. Could you tell us more about it?

Hu Huifen:

TJ Sports established its presence in Jing'an in 2019. Its sports broadcasting hub is now Asia's largest e-sports live production center, handling global premier events like the League of Legends World Championship and VALORANT tournaments. Riot Games' global R&D center is also based in Jing'an. Additionally, the Lingshi China E-sports Center area clusters several municipal-level cultural innovation zones focused on e-sports, including the Zhujiang Creative Center. After years of cultivation, Jing'an District has nurtured nearly 100 esports and gaming companies, including industry leaders like Riot Games, Electronic Arts, and Jiuzhirun, top-tier event producers such as VSPO and TJ Sports, and renowned esports clubs like EDG and JDG. This forms a thriving international esports ecosystem.

Host:

The robust growth of Jing'an's cultural industry stems from strong policy support.

Hu Huifen:

In 2019, Jing'an District pioneered China's first district-level esports development policy Jing'an District Policies to Promote Esports Industry Development, allocating over RMB 100 million in funding. This year will see the release of upgraded 3.0 policy measures, expanding support for businesses and accelerating the esports industry's global expansion. At the Global E-sports Conference in July this year, Jing'an signed a cooperation memorandum with the China Audio-video and Digital Publishing Association to foster more active international collaboration in the e-sports industry. By hosting high-profile events like the Global E-sports Conference, China Game Innovation Award, and VIVO E-Sports Carnival, Jing'an is strengthening its dual-engine model of "cultural creativity + tech innovation" while enhancing industry infrastructure—solidifying its position as a global e-sports hub. Moving forward, Jing'an will accelerate the intensive, specialized, and large-scale growth of its gaming and e-sports sectors. Through policy support, funding, and service provisions, it aims to build a more robust and dynamic end-to-end industry ecosystem.

Host:

Spanning 4.2 square kilometers along the Suzhou Creek waterfront in Jing'an District, this 6.3-kilometer stretch connects 500,000 square meters of historic buildings and features over 170 cultural attractions. It serves as the central urban area's unique riverside hub blending Eastern and Western influences. Prestigious art institutions like UCCA Edge, Fotografiska Shanghai, Shanghai Sotheby's Space, SUHE HAUS, and MadeIn Gallery have established a vibrant arts corridor along Suzhou Creek, cementing its position as a key destination on Shanghai's cultural map.

Hu Huifen:

In 2023, Jing'an District officially launched the "Artistic Suzhou Creek" initiative. By focusing on five key areas—building alliances, sharing resources, co-creating brands, joint promotions, and collaborative policy applications—it has comprehensively advanced the cultural and artistic ecosystem along Suzhou Creek, transforming it into a world-class waterfront cultural district.

Host:

Great art and Suzhou Creek have spurred significant growth in Jing'an and Suzhou Creek Bay, helping establish Jing'an as an international hub for culture and the arts. Over the past year, a series of high-profile cultural and art exhibitions and international events have taken place, including the "Modern Time: Masterpieces from the Collection of Museum Berggruen", the Suzhou Creek Art Biennale, the world's largest trend art exhibition BEYOND THE STREETS (BTS), and Sotheby's auctions. The inaugural "Jing'an International Light Festival" held at Suzhou Creek garnered over 2 billion online views, setting a benchmark for the "Artistic Suzhou Creek" brand. The "Suzhou Creek Circle of Friends" is expanding rapidly, establishing a regional arts alliance and industry exchange platform. A series of targeted support policies have been implemented, accelerating the rise of this world-class waterfront arts district along Suzhou Creek.

Hu Huifen:

Jing’an will continue to align with the city’s "One River, One Creek" vision, using "Artistic Suzhou Creek" as its signature identity. By fostering an international platform for cultural and artistic exchange, we’ll attract diverse exhibitions and creative ecosystems from around the world to the Suzhou Creek waterfront. This will solidify the area as a global hub for art innovation and influence.

Hu Huifen:

The Bureau of Culture and Tourism will fully implement the guiding principles from the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee. Building on revolutionary culture, we will cultivate Jing'an's distinctive international urban identity. By integrating culture, commerce, tourism, sports and exhibitions, we'll create more impactful cultural landmarks for Jing'an. Through launching thousands of products, engaging tens of thousands of businesses, and driving massive engagement, we'll amplify culture and tourism's role as an economic engine. Aligned with Shanghai's mission to become a model for Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, we'll develop Jing'an as an exemplar of cultural confidence and self-reliance.

Host:

Thank you for your sharing. That is all for today's interview. Thank you, Secretary Hu.

Hu Huifen:

Thank you all. Goodbye!