Shenyang (GNP): As “China Travel” gains global popularity on social media platforms, Shenyang is opening its arms to the world with its unique charm. On 10 September, the China Travel GO Shenyang 2026 “Together Along the Belt and Road” Overseas Journalists’ Tour officially launched in the city.
Fifteen overseas journalists from Asia, Africa, South America and Europe gathered in Shenyang for the tour. They will interpret the dynamic spirit of the city from a global perspective and share authentic stories of Shenyang with the rest of the world.
The themed publicity event, organised under the Belt and Road Initiative, has run for seven years. Over that period, successive groups of international visitors have travelled to Shenyang, documenting its transformation and charm. This year’s edition marks a new stage in what organisers describe as a long-running “international circle of friends,” with journalists set to explore the city’s landscape, capture its development momentum and present a multi-dimensional image of Shenyang to the world.
The opening ceremony featured a cultural programme blending traditional elegance with modern vitality. Students from Heping No.1 Primary School staged the opera performance Young Opera Performers of the Pear Garden, showcasing the allure of traditional Chinese opera.
Chen Xueyue, the sixth-generation inheritor of Fengtian shadow puppetry, presented The Flaming Mountain, demonstrating the enduring vitality of the intangible cultural heritage through shifting light and shadow. Students from the Shenyang Conservatory of Music also performed a ruan ensemble piece, Melodies of Ruan, which drew warm applause for its melodious tunes. The performances allowed the visiting journalists to engage directly with the city’s history and hospitality.
Chen Gang, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of China Radio International (CRI) Online, addressed the launch ceremony. Chen Gang said CRI Online remains committed to building bridges for cultural exchange and presenting a true, multi-faceted picture of China to the world. He added that Shenyang has made notable progress across sectors in recent years, and that the ongoing Northeast Super League has become a new platform integrating culture, tourism, sport and business for the city.
Ji Yan, Shenyang’s cultural-tourism ambassador, gave a presentation on the city’s tourism offerings. Shenyang features distinct northern scenery across all four seasons, from blooming flowers and red autumn leaves to frozen rivers and snow-covered land.
The city combines its heritage with contemporary culture through café-lined streets, festivals, creative spaces converted from old factories, and traditional handicrafts. Sporting events, including Liaoning Basketball Team matches and the Northeast Super League, add to the city’s energy, while local dishes such as chicken racks and guo bao rou, along with its morning markets and old streets, reflect everyday urban life in Shenyang.
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Over the coming days, the journalist group will explore Shenyang’s development across culture, tourism, sport and business. Visits are planned to the BMW Brilliance Tiexi Plant to observe intelligent production lines for new-generation BMW vehicles, and to Yuanda Group and the Museum of Chinese Industry to learn about the city’s industrial achievements.
The cultural leg of the tour will include the Shenyang Imperial Palace, Shenyang Museum and Liaoning Provincial Museum, tracing the city’s historical roots, as well as the Northeast Asia Cloud Grassland and Rice-Dream Space, which reflect Shenyang’s eco-friendly development approach. Journalists will also attend the Northeast Super League semi-final match between the Shenyang and Changchun teams.
Organisers say the tour, held under the Belt and Road Initiative, goes beyond an exploration of the city, supporting Shenyang’s ambitions to become an international centre in Northeast Asia and strengthening its global communication reach. Through the perspectives of the 15 participating journalists, Shenyang aims to share its story of revitalisation as an established industrial base, presenting itself as an open, innovative and eco-friendly city to a global audience.
