On 9 January 2026, a grand salon event themed “Dunhuang Cultural Heritage • Oceanic Symphony” was held at the VIP Lounge of UniPark in Zhuhai. The event featured enamel artworks by Chang Shana, a renowned master of arts and crafts who has been immersed in the Dunhuang art tradition since childhood with her father, Chang Shuhong (1904–1994), a world recognised Dunhuang scholar and artist.
Organised by Wenyin Lume (Zhuhai) Cultural Communication Co., Ltd (Wenyin), the event brought together intangible cultural heritage experts, art collectors, cultural scholars, and representatives from the cultural and tourism industry in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA). They met to discuss the aesthetic value and industrial momentum of intangible cultural heritage craftsmanship in the contemporary life, providing new perspectives for Zhuhai to promote the coordinated development of “cultural enhancement” and “economic growth”.
Dialogue between art and the city: Dunhuang cultural heritage connects with the oceanic charm of the GBA
This event represented joint efforts to enhance Zhuhai’s new cultural and tourism ecosystem with Dunhuang art. It offered an artistic dialogue spanning a millennium, bridging the Silk Road cultural heritage of Dunhuang with Zhuhai’s maritime charm, and embodying Zhuhai’s cultural inclusivity and innovative vitality as a key hub city in the GBA.
As a contributor to the design of New China’s image and the designer of the Forever Blooming Bauhinia Sculpture in Hong Kong, Chang’s works not only showcase the millennia-old aesthetics of Dunhuang but also reflect the creative transformation of China’s outstanding traditional culture in the contemporary era.
The CCTV documentary “The Daughter of Dunhuang: Chang Shana”, screened at the venue, revealed how she incorporated Dunhuang elements into national projects such as the Great Hall of the People and the Communist Youth League emblem, highlighting the perseverance and innovation of the “Dunhuang Maiden” in safeguarding cultural heritage.
Through roundtable discussions and the exhibition of representative works, the event enhanced the concept of integration of “intangible cultural heritage+cultural tourism” and provided innovative ideas for upgrading Zhuhai’s cultural and tourism industry.
Joint efforts: Activating urban soft power through cultural platforms
The representative from Zhuhai UniPark stated that Zhuhai, known as the “romantic city” in the GBA, needs to enhance its cultural and tourism quality by enriching it with deeper cultural meaning. This art salon is a practical example of “using space to convey cultural charm”. Song Shengdong, Chairman of Beijing Ronghui Culture Development Co., Ltd., highlighted from a curatorial perspective that Chang’s concept of “drawing on the past to serve the present” offers an important approach for the modern transformation of intangible cultural heritage techniques. Her works, such as Rainbow-Robed Heavenly Horse and Peace Dove Large Round Plate, distinguished by their exquisite craftsmanship and innovative designs, not only demonstrate the contemporary transformation of intangible cultural heritage techniques but also serve as vivid embodiments of “cultural confidence.”
Roundtable: Intangible cultural heritage internationalisation, commercial empowerment, and cultural tourism integration
During the themed roundtable session, Zhu Gang, Executive Vice President of the Guangdong Intangible Cultural Heritage Promotion Association, noted that the internationalisation of intangible cultural heritage requires achieving “perceptible resonance” through contemporary language. Xu Xiaohong, Chairman of Score Digital Technology (Zhuhai) Co., Ltd. and a collector of Chang’s early works, said that “collection is an investment of the soul,” and art should transcend boundaries to become an emotional carrier for the general public. Looking ahead, the integration of Dunhuang art with Zhuhai’s marine characteristics can be achieved through immersive experiences, cross-border designs, and other approaches, aiming to create cultural and tourism products that “possess both cultural depth and market appeal,” said Xu.
Wenyin: Redefining high-end experiences with “intangible cultural heritage+luxury travel”
Event organiser Chen Wei, founder of Wenyin, pointed out that contemporary high-end travel is shifting from “seeing the world” to “finding oneself”, with tourists seeking emotional resonance and cultural identity. In response to this trend, Wenyin, positioning itself as an “emotional landmark creator” and a “niche lifestyle service provider”, has proposed three practical approaches:
Firstly, the company creates immersive cultural experience scenarios focused on “intangible cultural heritage+”. By leveraging the resources of over a thousand national-level inheritors of intangible cultural heritage, it organises regular activities that are immersive, portable, and memorable. For example, in the “Wenyin Private Banquet”, handicraft practices are combined with aesthetic dinners, transforming traditional craftsmanship into spiritual nourishment during the journey.
In addition, the company uses scarce resources to customise exclusive travel experiences. By offering privileges such as low-altitude flights over the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge and private island receptions, it creates a sense of ritual and memorable moments that go beyond conventional travel.
Thirdly, it uses the “Wenyin Club” community as a platform to build a highly trusted circle ecosystem. Through activities such as intangible cultural heritage appreciation and cross-border salons, the company extends cultural experiences into deep connections and opportunities for collaboration.
Auspicious gift: Embarking on the annual cultural journey with the symbolism of the “Heavenly Horse”
The lucky draw at the end of the salon cleverly reflected the theme of this Year of the Horse, with Chang’s cloisonné enamel Golden Horse Bringing Blessings presented to fortunate guests, symbolising “achieving instant success.” During a viewing session, guests lingered before representative works such as Cundi Buddha Mother and Endless Vitality, appreciating the magnificence of cloisonné and the vividness of Dunhuang patterns, all within a pervasive artistic atmosphere.
In essence, this art salon was not only a mixture of Dunhuang aesthetics and the oceanic charm of the GBA, but also a pioneering demonstration of Zhuhai’s implementation of the cultural and tourism strategy outlined in the “15th Five-Year Plan.” In the future, Zhuhai is expected to achieve mutual empowerment through cultural development and economic growth, making “the coexistence of Silk Road civilisation and oceanic culture” a core advantage in Zhuhai’s cultural and tourism competition in the region, allowing visitors to “not only see the sea but also feel the depth of cultural fusion” in Zhuhai, said Chen.
