Viewing colorful lanterns and savoring the fragrance of salt, overseas Chinese media experienced the charm of Zigong, the"Thousand-year Salt Capital"and its intangible cultural heritage. 观彩灯、“品”盐香海外华媒感受“千年盐都”非遗魅力

On the evening of the15th, the senior executives of 28 mainstream overseas Chinese media from 21 countries, including the United States, Canada, Sweden, and Belgium, visited the Zigong Salt Industry Historical Museum, the Chinese Lantern Museum, and the Zigong Lantern World to experience the charm of the" Thousand-year Salt Capital" and the "Chinese Lantern City."

The Chinese Lantern Museum is the only professional museum in the world dedicated to the culture of lanterns.It displays, protects, and passes down the national-level intangible cultural heritage of the" Zigong Lantern Festival"and the provincial-level intangible cultural heritage of the" Traditional Production Techniques of Zigong Colored Lanterns." The senior executives viewed the representative works of the national intangible cultural heritage masters and craftsmen in the museum.

As night fell, the Zigong Lantern World lit up with various theme lanterns such as Sanxingdui, Qionglou Jade Building, and the auspicious dragon and phoenix lanterns, dazzling visitors.The tradition of competing lanterns among salt merchants in Zigong has not only improved the craftsmanship of Zigong lanterns but also made them larger in size compared to other lanterns, allowing visitors from both the East and West to immerse themselves in the experience.

The Zigong Salt Industry Historical Museum not only preserves valuable historical data but also plays a positive role in promoting local economic and cultural development.The well salt industry in Zigong,with its special raw materials, provides unique support for the development of the salt gang cuisine, earning the reputation of "the hometown of Chinese salt gang cuisine."

Overall, the senior executives of overseas Chinese media experienced the charm of Zigong's intangible cultural heritage through viewing colorful lanterns and savoring the fragrance of salt.

“这里的规模非常大，做工也非常精细，我也希望通过此行将自贡的彩灯推向澳大利亚，让更多的外国人喜欢上彩灯。”15日晚，澳大利亚澳华电视传媒副总裁杨军用精细、精致、精工、精彩、惊讶五个词总结了自己参观四川自贡的中华彩灯大世界后的感受。

当日，由中国新闻社联合川渝两地统战部门、宣传部门组织的“行走中国·2023海外华文媒体高层川渝行”参访团走进四川自贡。来自美国、加拿大、瑞典、比利时等21个国家的28家主流华文媒体高层走进自贡市盐业历史博物馆、中国彩灯历史博物馆、中华彩灯大世界等地感受“千年盐都”和“中国灯城”的非遗魅力。

自贡市地处成渝地区双城经济圈南翼、川南城市群中心位置，素有“江姐故里”“千年盐都”“恐龙之乡”“中国灯城”之称，还被誉为“中国盐帮菜之乡”。四川自贡燊海井古法制盐遗址和中华彩灯大世界被中国非物质文化遗产保护协会评为全国非遗与旅游融合发展优选项目。

"On the evening of the15th, Yang Jun,Vice President of the Australia-China TV and Media Group, used five words-meticulous, exquisite, fine craftsmanship, wonderful, and surprising-to summarize his experience after visiting the Chinese lantern world in Zigong,Sichuan. He expressed his hope to promote Zigong's lanterns to Australia through this trip and let more foreigners fall in love with them.

On the same day, the"Walking in China-2023Overseas Chinese Media Senior Executives Sichuan-Chongqing Tour", organized by the China News Service in conjunction with the united front and publicity departments of Sichuan and Chongqing,entered Zigong,Sichuan.Senior executives from28mainstream Chinese media from 21 countries, including the United States,Canada, Sweden, and Belgium, visited the Zigong Salt Industry Historical Museum, he Chinese Lantern Historical Museum,the Chinese Lantern World, and other places to experience the charm of the"Thousand-year Salt Capital"and"China's Lantern City"intangible cultural heritage.

Zigong is located in the center of the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle in southern Sichuan, and is known as the"hometown of Jiang Jie," "thousand-year salt capital," "dinosaur town," "China's lantern city,"and the"home of Chinese salt-gang cuisine." The Shenhaojing ancient salt-making site and the Chinese Lantern World in Zigong have been selected as preferred projects for the integration of national intangible cultural heritage and tourism development by the Chinese Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Association."

中国彩灯博物馆是世界唯一的彩灯文化专业博物馆，展示、保护和传承着国家级非遗“自贡灯会”及省级非遗“自贡彩灯传统制作工艺”。海外华文媒体高层一行在这里领略国家级非遗代表性传承人和工艺美术大师的代表作。在用上万件瓷器餐具以棉线精心捆扎而成的“瓷器宫灯王”前，大家纷纷用相机、手机拍照，感叹其做工精细。

夜幕降临，中华彩灯大世界光影流动，三星堆、琼楼玉宇、龙凤呈祥等主题的各类灯组璀璨夺目。徜徉其中，仿佛穿越时空。彩灯是一项亲民的艺术，深受世界各地民众的喜爱。仅2022年，自贡彩灯在美国、英国、法国、丹麦等15个国家和地区、51个城市开展境外彩灯项目70个。截至目前，自贡灯会已先后在全球80个国家和地区展出。

行走在中华彩灯大世界里，看到一组组造型独特、做工优良的彩灯，比利时《华商时报》主编姚伟想起了自己5年前曾参加的比利时布鲁塞尔元宵节灯展。姚伟在当时的报道中写到：“‘2018中欧旅游年——点亮欧洲心脏’元宵灯展亮灯仪式在布鲁塞尔大广场举行，来自中国彩灯之乡四川自贡市的大型组灯同时点亮，绚丽璀璨的光芒照亮美丽的布鲁塞尔大广场，大广场一夜绽放的‘火树银花’也是海外华人梦里寻觅的‘灯火阑珊’。”

“当时，在布鲁塞尔举行的灯展中外嘉宾云集，比利时的华侨华人非常激动，欧洲很多当地人也被中国灯展的美和文化所吸引。”姚伟表示，在国外和国内都看到了这么漂亮的彩灯，感觉非常幸运，自己也会通过短视频的形式将自贡灯会的美传播给更多的人。

The Chinese Lantern Museum is the world's only professional museum dedicated to the culture of lanterns.It showcases,preserves,and passes on the national intangible cultural heritage of"Zigong Lantern Festival"and the provincial intangible cultural heritage of"Zigong Traditional Lantern Making Craftsmanship."The senior executives of overseas Chinese media experienced the representative works of national-level intangible cultural heritage inheritors and master craftsmen here.In front of the"Porcelain Palace Lantern King,"made with tens of thousands of pieces of porcelain cutlery carefully tied with cotton thread,everyone took photos with cameras and phones,marveling at its fine craftsmanship.

As night fell,the Chinese Lantern World was illuminated with moving lights and shadows,dazzling with various theme lanterns such as Sanxingdui,Qionglou Yuyu,and Longfeng Chengxiang.Wandering among them felt like traveling through time and space.Lantern making is a popular art that is beloved by people around the world.In2022alone,Zigong lanterns were exhibited in70overseas lantern projects in15countries and regions,including the United States,the United Kingdom,France,and Denmark.As of now,the Zigong Lantern Festival has been exhibited in80countries and regions worldwide.

Walking in the Chinese Lantern World,Belgian Huashang Times editor-in-chief Yao Wei saw groups of lanterns with unique shapes and excellent craftsmanship,which reminded him of the Brussels Lantern Festival he participated in five years ago.In his report at the time,Yao Wei wrote:"'2018EU-China Tourism Year-Light up the Heart of Europe'Lantern Festival was held at the Grand Place in Brussels.Large-scale lanterns from Zigong,China's lantern city,were also lit up,shining brightly and illuminating the beautiful Grand Place.The'fire tree and silver flowers'that bloomed overnight on the Grand Place was the'flickering lights'that overseas Chinese had been dreaming of."

"At that time,many foreign guests attended the lantern exhibition in Brussels,and Chinese expatriates in Belgium were very excited.Many locals in Europe were also attracted by the beauty and culture of the Chinese lantern exhibition."Yao Wei said that he felt very lucky to see such beautiful lanterns both abroad and at home,and he will use short videos to spread the beauty of the Zigong Lantern Festival to more people.

点亮哥本哈根资料图。/北欧时报

2018年疫情之前，北欧时报和当地华人华侨在丹麦首都哥本哈根曾组织“点亮哥本哈根”大型彩灯活动，来自自贡的彩灯把哥本哈根最繁华的步行街渲染得格外艳丽，为期一个月的彩灯展示，引来丹麦小天使和无数北欧民众驻足观赏留影，盛赞中国魅力。希望后疫情时代自贡彩灯再次出征北欧，把“一带一路的黑夜”点亮！社长何儒遗憾没能亲自前来自贡，他通过网络发自内心对”川府之国“的祝福和邀请。

Before the outbreak of the epidemic in2018,the Nordic Chinese Times and local Chinese communities in Copenhagen,the capital of Denmark,organized a large-scale lantern activity called"Light Up Copenhagen."The lanterns from Zigong rendered the busiest pedestrian street in Copenhagen especially colorful.The one-month lantern exhibition attracted Danish cherubs and countless Nordic people to stop and admire,praising the charm of China.They hope that after the epidemic,Zigong lanterns can once again go to Northern Europe to light up the"One Belt One Road"night!Although the president,Robin Ho,regretted not being able to come to Zigong in person,he expressed his sincere blessings and invitation to the"Land of Abundance"through the internet.

自贡盛产井盐，有“千年盐都”之称。历史长河中，盐商们的斗灯之风，不仅提升了自贡彩灯的技艺，也让自贡彩灯体积相比其它彩灯更庞大，更能让东西方游客身临其境。

走进自贡市盐业历史博物馆，千年井盐文明的史诗画卷铺陈开来。沿着绿荫下的青石阶梯拾级而上，进入序厅，不少海外华文媒体高层都拍下了映入眼前的古铜色盐工凿井雕塑——盐工身材魁梧，手握凿井钻头，正用力凿向脸盆大小的井口。

Zigong is known as the"Thousand-year Salt Capital"due to its abundant production of well salt.Throughout history,the tradition of competing lanterns among salt merchants not only improved the craftsmanship of Zigong lanterns but also made them larger in size compared to other lanterns,allowing visitors from both the East and West to immerse themselves in the experience.

Walking into the Zigong Salt Industry Historical Museum,an epic painting scroll of the thousand-year well salt civilization is displayed.Following the green stone steps,visitors ascend to the entrance hall,where many senior executives from overseas Chinese media took photos of the ancient bronze salt worker drilling sculpture-the salt worker is burly and holding a drilling tool,vigorously drilling towards the basin-sized wellhead.

据了解，自贡市盐业历史博物馆，是中国最早建立的专业博物馆之一。该博物馆以收藏、研究和陈列中国井盐历史文物为基本功能。

当日，海外华文媒体高层一行在这里了解自贡市的盐业发展史、馆内珍贵藏品以及被列入首批国家级非物质文化遗产名录的自贡井盐深钻汲制技艺。从柴米油盐酱醋茶中家庭必需品之一，再到酸甜苦辣咸的生活一味，以传统工艺开采的井盐进入到每一个自贡人的餐桌，或许是将自贡井盐非遗技艺融入生活的最好体现。兴旺发达的井盐产业还为盐帮菜提供了特殊的原材料，造就了“中国盐帮菜之乡”的美名。

“自贡盐业历史博物馆不仅很好保存了珍贵的史实资料，还对促进地方经济文化发展起到了积极作用，同时也是一处很好的教育基地。”《北欧时报》副总编辑骆振龙在详细了解了钻井、采卤、输卤的早期制盐过程后，如此感叹劳动人民的智慧。（完）

It is understood that the Zigong Salt Industry Historical Museum is one of the earliest professional museums established in China.The basic functions of the museum are to collect,research,and display Chinese well salt historical relics.

On that day,the senior executives of overseas Chinese media learned about the history of the salt industry in Zigong,the precious collections in the museum,and the Zigong well salt deep drilling and pumping technology that was listed in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage.From one of the household necessities in cooking,such as salt,to the sour,sweet,bitter,spicy,and salty flavors of life,well salt,which is extracted using traditional methods,has entered the dining tables of every Zigong resident,which may be the best embodiment of integrating the intangible cultural heritage of Zigong well salt into daily life.The prosperous well salt industry also provides special raw materials for the salt gang cuisine,earning the reputation of"the hometown of Chinese salt gang cuisine."

"The Zigong Salt Industry Historical Museum not only preserves valuable historical data but also plays a positive role in promoting local economic and cultural development.It is also a good educational base,"said Luo Zhenlong,the deputy editor-in-chief of the Nordic Chinese Times.After a detailed understanding of the early salt-making processes,such as drilling,brine mining,and brine transportation,Luo marveled at the wisdom of the working people.(End)