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More than 80,000 people participated, through the online and offline modes, in last week’s 16th World Leisure Congress, held at the Jinhai Lake International Convention and Exhibition Center in the Pinggu District of the Chinese capital of Beijing.

With the theme of ‘Leisure Makes Life Better’, the Congress, held from 16th to 18th April, consisted of the opening ceremony, the main forum, 14 parallel sub-forums, the China (Beijing) International Leisure Industry Exposition, award ceremony, nine featured activities and the closing ceremony, which attracted over 110,000 visitors.

Presenting, via a combination of online and offline means, Chinese and international concepts on the future of leisure, the Executive Committee Office of the 2020 Beijing Pinggu World Leisure Congress sees that the event has yielded fruitful results.

The main forum of the Congress featured United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Executive Director, Zhu Shanzhong; World Leisure Organization, Chief Operating Officer Cristina Ortega; Ou Xiaoli Director of China’s Social Affairs Department and the National Development and Reform Commission, and Shan Jixiang, former Director of Beijing’s Palace Museum addressing the conference theme, proposing in-depth explanations of current industry and lifestyle trends.

The 14 parallel sub-forums focused on how leisure is closely related to people's lives with 162 experts and scholars contributing 342 papers and 332 abstracts.

Featured leisure activities such as China International Mind Games Challenge, Beijing International Peach Culture Forum and Peach Garden Calligraphy were held during the congress to attract the participation of the general public.

In particular, the activities such as the Peach Blossom Grand Stage Folk Culture Exhibition and Peach Garden Calligraphy blend traditional Chinese culture and some Western cultures with unique features, showing that Beijing has a profound cultural foundation and Pinggu boasts unique leisure charm.

Chen Dong, Director-General of Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, said in a speech at the closing ceremony that the Congress had expanded its "circle of friends" in Beijing with the communication transcending barriers and demonstrating the vitality of China's leisure industry.

Images: Delegates at the 2020 Beijing Pinggu World Leisure Congress (top) and the opening of the China (Beijing) International Leisure Industry Exposition (below) Credit: Executive Committee Office of the 2020 Beijing Pinggu World Leisure Congress.

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