The grand celebrations of the Forbidden City’s 600^th anniversary will proudly present China’s cultural confidence and open a new chapter in the revival of the Palace Museum. On January 29^th, 2019, in Beijing, Usunhome Cultural Tourism Co., Ltd., an affiliate to Usunhome Group, signed an agreement with the Palace Museum on producing the large-scale epic drama “The Forbidden City” (hereinafter referred to as “The Forbidden City”). The heads of the two parties attended the agreement signing ceremony, gave speeches and signed the agreement.. They are Dr. Shan Jixiang, Curator of the Palace Museum & memeber of the CPC Leadership Group of Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and Mr. Qiu Wei, Chairman of Usunhome Group and of Usunhome Cultural Tourism. Senior government officials present at the ceremony include Zhou Qing, Deputy Director of Department of Publicity of Sichuan Provincial CPC Committee, and Zhang Yingming, Deputy Director of Department of Publicity of Chengdu Municipal CPC Committee. Among the attendees, there are also many distinguished guests: Lou Wenjian, Vice President of the Tibet Branch of China Development Bank, Chen Shengrong, Vice President of the Sichuan Branch of the Export-Import Bank of China, Zhong Lian, Vice President of Shenzhen Capital Group Co., Ltd., and Shan Xing, certified sponsor & Director of Business Development Department of Guosen Securities.        

Rooted in the Forbidden City’s six hundred years of culture, “The Forbidden City” sets out to tell the legends of the ancient Chinese from the perspective of modern people in the interest of a community with a shared future for mankind. This piece of theatre will treat historical subjects in a way that resonates with today’s audience, highlight emotional experience and actor-audience interaction, and thus meet the aesthetic needs of visitors. Intended to celebrate the Forbidden City’s 600^th anniversary, such an audio-visual feast will open a new chapter in the development of the time-honored but young brand of the Forbidden City.  

In Dr. Shan Jixiang’s view, Usunhome, a very competent top player in cultural and tourism industries, has a great passion for cultural causes. The cooperation witnesses the Palace Museum’s first contact with a large-scale indoor epic drama. The purpose is to keep the Forbidden City advancing with the times and to use innovative techniques to inject new life into the jewel in the crown of traditional Chinese culture. Dr. Shan Jixiang hoped that the drama would present a majestic Forbidden City, make more people know more about its moving stories and sublime history, and impress all with unforgettable cultural experience.  

“We have every confidence in vitalizing and popularizing the Forbidden City’s cultural brand”, said Chairman Qiu Wei in his speech. Taking an innovative approach, Usunhome strives to make its  cultural charm felt by more. An embodiment of China’s cultural confidence, the drama is also an admirable attempt to connect traditional culture with younger generations and to connect Chinese culture with the world. It aims to make the Forbidden City popular around the world. According to Mr. Qiu Wei, “The Forbidden City” also marks the beginning of the two parties’ long-term cooperation. With the drama being the centerpiece of cooperation, they will work together more closely to diversify forms of tourism, breathe new life into the Palace Museum’s collection, and devise new methods for reviving cultural heritage. 

The drama is scheduled to premiere in Beijing before October 31^st, 2020. In the near future, visiting the Palace Museum, walking on the walls, tasting Peking Duck and watching the drama will constitute a more diversified cultural tourism pattern.

Many media outlets were present to report the ceremony, like Xinhua News Agency, People's Daily Online, China News Service, China Culture Daily, cctv.com, Sichuan Daily, Chengdu Daily, Sichuan TV, Chengdu TV, thecover.cn, Red Start News and CHENG DU. The signing of the agreement attracted much attention of nearly a hundred media organizations in total.