“I Love Beijing” collection of works debuts at 2023 Beijing Culture Forum, including 48 paintings selected by BPAFFC

At the 2023 Beijing Culture Forum held from September 14 to 15, the “I Love Beijing” collection of works published by Beijing Publishing Group was given to the attendees as a gift. The book includes 64 illustrations created by teenagers, of which 48 were selected by the BPAFFC. The book is a sincere gift from Beijing and one of the biggest highlights at the Beijing Culture Forum, a national cultural event.

Qiao Ye, a famous writer and winner of the 11th Mao Dun Literature Prize, serves as editor-in-chief of the “I Love Beijing” collection of works. The book features four themes, namely, “Landscape of the Four Seasons,” “Charm of the Ancient City,” “Cultural Glamor” and “Modern Metropolis.” As a co-host, the BPAFFC played an active role in the call for submissions of the “I Love Beijing” collection of works from youths all over the world, and selected 48 outstanding works from the 43,000 entries of the 2023 “Colorful World” International Youth Painting Invitational Exhibition to include them in the illustrated book, which vividly showcases the beauty and charm of Beijing.

Some shortlisted entries of the 2023 “Colorful World” International Youth Painting Invitational Exhibition

The first call for submissions of the “I Love Beijing” collection of works was launched in April 2023, co-hosted by Beijing Publishing Group, the BPAFFC and other organizations under the guidance of the Publicity Department of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee. As of the end of July, close to 1,000 essays and 10,000 paintings from youths in some 20 countries and regions had been received. The entrants include six-year-old Chinese children and 17-year-old Canadian teenagers, and both foreign children studying China and Chinese children living abroad. Their works, although a little bit youngish, are full of vitality and passion, portraying the beautiful city of Beijing in their minds.

The “I Love Beijing” collection of works is a key outcome of the first call for submissions and also a vivid example of the achievements in building Beijing into China's cultural center. It has been learned that a book launch will be held during the 8th Beijing October Literature Festival, which is set to strengthen the influence of the 2023 Beijing Culture Forum.