Last Thursday, August 11th 2022, Cultural Keys’ founder AJ Donnelly was honoured to be amongst the five long-term Beijing residents named a Great Wall Hero by the Beijing Municipal Culture and Tourism Bureau. Having promoted the culture of Beijing and China for many years, AJ was thrilled to take part.
Read on to find out more about the event!
While the Chinese borders remain closed to tourists due to the country’s COVID-zero policy, the Beijing Municipal Cultural and Tourism Bureau is still committed to promoting Beijing as a vibrant and exciting choice for global tourism when China reopens.
‘Great Wall Heroes’ is a global marketing campaign aimed at attracting people to visit Beijing in the future. As part of the campaign, which has been running since 2016, five high-profile, long-term residents of Beijing who have contributed to Beijing culture, society or business life are chosen to convey their love for the city by taking part in different tourism activities that showcase different areas of the city. This year the theme was Beijing by Night, so activities and places to visit in the late afternoon and evening were particularly highlighted.
AJ began his involvement in the campaign in March 2022, working with representatives from the Beijing Municipal Cultural and Tourism Bureau to design a ‘cultural route’ across Beijing. Filming the video for the route happened in late April 2022.
Since AJ runs Cultural Keys, a company that aims to help non-Chinese speakers access and experience traditional Chinese culture, he showed us the route named ‘Beijing Through Culture’, which took in Beihai Park, White Tower Temple and the Qianmen area, and he also met some inheritors of Beijing’s intangible cultural heritage.
At the launch ceremony for the five new cultural tourism routes, AJ said “I’m not an emergency medical worker, or firefighter, so I’m no hero; I haven’t risked my life to help others. But I am passionate about Beijing and Beijing culture, so it’s my pleasure to be involved in this campaign.”
“When we started Cultural Keys, we had a simple aim in mind – to allow expat visitors the opportunity to not just see China, but to access, understand and enjoy the culture of China. And that’s why I was so happy to be invited to take part in this year’s event.” continued AJ.
On what message he wanted to give people who are considering visiting Beijing once borders reopen to tourists, he said “Come to Beijing and actually experience something of the culture, the history, the people – don’t simply read the headlines online. Once you do, hopefully you’ll start to understand why those of us, like myself, who live in this city, who love this city and who choose to call it home, have decided to do so.”
Watch the video introducing AJ’s route – Beijing Through Culture – here;
Do you think the Great Wall Hero campaign is a good way to promote Beijing? What are your favourite cultural highlights of the capital? Let us know in the comments below. We would love hearing your thoughts and insights on traditional Chinese culture!
Photo Credits
– AJ Donnelly; Beijing Municipal Culture and Tourism Bureau
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About Cultural Keys Chinese Culture Company
Cultural Keys helps you access, understand and enjoy life in China through traditional Chinese culture. Click here to read more about Cultural Keys and what we can do for you, your school, company or group to help you get more out of your time in China!