Successful kickoff in Munich: Beijing Culture Week in Munich ceremoniously opened under the motto "Infinite Beijing - Meeting in Munich"

On September 18, 2026, the "Infinite Beijing - Meeting in Munich" Culture Week, organized by the Beijing Municipal Culture and Tourism Bureau, was ceremoniously opened in Munich. The event combines tradition and modernity as well as the classic and contemporary trends. Through diverse, interactive formats and live demonstrations of traditional crafts, visitors can experience the rich culture and tourism offerings of the Chinese capital up close.

At the simultaneously held opening event of the German Beijing Culture Week, the following people participated: Wang Chong (Cultural Attaché of the Chinese Consulate General in Munich), Huang Kun (Deputy Head of the Air China Representative Office in Munich), Reinhard Humpelmaier (Head of the Ministerial Office at the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs), and Rita Roider (Head of the China Division at the Department of Labor and Economic Affairs of the City of Munich), as well as representatives from the German travel industry and media.

In his greeting, Cultural Attaché Wang Chong emphasized the special significance of the Culture Week, which takes place directly before the 191st Munich Oktoberfest and the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival. Both Munich and Beijing offered a mix of tradition and innovation, which is why the event represented an important platform for dialogue among civilizations and mutual understanding. The Consulate General would further deepen cultural cooperation with Bavaria in order to strengthen the friendly relations between the people of both countries.

Director Lu Haipo emphasized in her greeting that Beijing, in the autumnal atmosphere of the Oktoberfest, presents its charm as a modern metropolis with a history spanning thousands of years. Thanks to visa-free entry, the number of German visitors is continuously rising. She presented cultural and tourism offerings for the autumn and winter season and invited guests to the Inbound Tourism Conference next June. The goal of the Culture Week was to deepen cooperation through culture as a bridge, promote mutual exchange, and inspire more German guests to visit Beijing.

Ministerial Office Head Reinhard Humpelmaier explained that cultural exchange breaks down barriers and strengthens trust. Tourism, as a driver of personal contact, also boosts the economy. Since Bavaria and Beijing are leading centers for innovation, culture, and business, this exchange formed the foundation for long-term trade relations. However, sustainable cooperation requires regular encounters such as exhibitions or business-matching events. He expressed the hope that the Culture Week would open up new economic interfaces and make the city of Beijing better known in Germany.

Rita Roider emphasized that Beijing and Munich are rich in history and at the same time modern, innovative economic and Olympic centers. While Munich delights with its old town and beer culture, Beijing offers highlights such as the Forbidden City and the Great Wall. Both cities showed that the combination of history and urban attractiveness creates high-quality tourism offerings. In conclusion, she wished the Culture Week great success.

Travel influencer Aliena Döll presented Beijing from a European perspective and highlighted UNESCO World Heritage sites, lifestyle trends, and new Winter Games highlights. She also presented travel facilitations such as the 144-hour visa-free transit rule (referred to in the text as 240 hours), the acceptance of international payment cards, an online portal, and VAT refunds. Her presentation met with great response and increased Beijing's attractiveness as a travel destination.

The festive conclusion and highlight of the opening was a joint seal ceremony by Chinese and German guests. The placing of the seal impressions captured the moment of friendly exchange and illustrated the fascination of traditional Chinese culture. The ceremony also symbolized the shared vision of closer tourism cooperation, stronger bonds between people, and a successful start to the Culture Week in Munich.

Parallel to the event, the photo exhibition "Hello, Beijing!" showed a carefully selected collection of images. The photographs conveyed a diverse picture of the Chinese capital - from World Heritage sites, traditions, and everyday life to modern landmarks and technological innovations. In this way, the rich historical heritage and the dynamism of the modern metropolis were vividly presented.

During their stay, the delegation held specialist discussions with the Department of Labor and Economic Affairs of the City of Munich and the Association for the Promotion of German-Chinese Technological and Cultural Exchange e.V. The focus was on the exchange of tourism resources, attracting travelers, brand promotion, and industry cooperation. In doing so, the delegation took up German recommendations on market development and travel offerings in order to better capture the European market, and invited the partners to the "Beijing International Inbound Tourism Development Conference 2027."

- Deutsches Kulturrundfunknetz
- Fürther Str. 64b, 90429 Nuremberg, Germany

The Deutsche Bundes-Kulturzeitung (DBKZ) is a Berlin-based cultural newspaper devoted to serious coverage of arts and culture in Germany and the German-speaking world. Founded as an independent, public-minded editorial project, it reports on literature, music, theatre, film, visual arts, architecture, museums, exhibitions, heritage, and cultural policy. Its pages combine news, reviews, interviews, essays, and critical analysis, offering readers a calm, authoritative alternative to fast-paced entertainment media. DBKZ works with critics, scholars, artists, curators, and cultural institutions to place artistic developments in social, historical, and political context. The newspaper is published primarily in German, with selected English-language digests, newsletters, and podcasts available online. Its editorial mission is to strengthen informed public debate, defend artistic freedom, and document the changing relationship between culture, democracy, and society. Committed to accuracy, independence, and transparency, DBKZ serves cultural professionals, researchers, students, and general readers who care about the arts. Through print, digital platforms, public events, and partnerships with cultural organisations, it reaches audiences across Europe and beyond, maintaining a reputation for depth, fairness, and intellectual responsibility. Whether reviewing a new novel, examining a museum controversy, or reporting on budget decisions that affect the arts, DBKZ aims to provide context, clarity, and critical distance. It sees culture not as decoration but as a central part of democratic life.

This release was published on openPR.