China’s blissful blend of modernity and ancient tradition

Amidst the quiet hum of electric vehicles and skyscrapers in the city of Guiyang also sits Chinese traditional culture. 

Artworks on the guardrails separating busy streets, sculptures across the city, and Guiyang takes you back to ancient times. 

China is one of the fastest-developing nations in the world, heavily invested in imagining a smart future, where systems work efficiently and operations are seamless. 

A leader in advanced sectors, high-tech industries and innovations, China has become the world's largest manufacturer with nearly 29% share of global manufacturing output in 2023. 

While living “20 years ahead”, China has jealously held on to its traditions. This can be seen in museums showcasing its journey through the years, the great men and women who made contributions to its rich history.

The Great Wall of China is one of the world's largest heritage sites, attracting close to 10 million visitors every year. Despite being thousands of years old, tourists and locals alike are still awed by the art of work done on it centuries ago.

Other than climbing on foot, today cable cars are used to scale one of the largest building-construction projects ever undertaken.

While cities like Beijing exude modernity, Guiyang preserves its well-preserved Qingyan Ancient Town, a 600-year-old historical and cultural site built during the Ming Dynasty in 1378.

The ancient town showcases a centuries-old city with modern shops selling traditional Chinese artefacts. There is a great rush for the visitors to try on the traditional attire adorned in silver, and maybe travel back to the past. 

Artwork is also still deeply enshrined in its systems. Although China has developed most of the latest machinery, Batik work, paperwork, and traditional embroidery are still done by hand. These craft skills are passed on to the next generation through the great hands of a master in the craft and also taught in vocational institutions.

This blissful marriage between modernity and tradition has also been incorporated into the media industry, with the legendary stories of China being retold in movies. 

Using Artificial Intelligence, a blend of ancient and new is transferred to younger generations to ensure century-old stories are retold. And this preservation of the Chinese culture is the heartbeat of the nation.