On October 20, the Asia-Pacific Media Delegation from the China International Press Communication Center (CIPCC) visited Yanbian. Journalists from 21 countries successively toured the Ertan Hydropower Station and the Lisu Ethnic Group Intangible Cultural Heritage Inheritance Center in Yanbian County. They captured the wonders of the project through their lenses and documented the charm of intangible cultural heritage with their pens, embarking on an immersive exploration journey themed on sustainable development and ethnic cultural inheritance.

Ertan Hydropower Station: An Energy Monument Spanning Eras

The delegation’s visit to Ertan started from the underground powerhouse. There, through professional explanations, the journalists gained an in-depth understanding of the construction process of this century-long project, from blueprint to implementation. The construction of Ertan Hydropower Station pioneered international cooperation in China’s hydropower industry, integrating world-class hydropower technology and management experience during its development. As the largest hydropower station built in China at the end of the 20th century, it is not only a key milestone in the history of China’s hydropower development but also continues to supply clean electricity to Sichuan-Chongqing region and even Central China, playing a crucial role in adjusting China’s energy structure.

Following the project’s development context, the journalists climbed the 240-meter-high double-curved arch dam. Looking far into the distance, they saw the vast blue waters of the reservoir reflecting the surrounding primeval forests—a magnificent picture of harmonious coexistence between energy development and ecological protection. With its outstanding environmental protection concepts, Ertan perfectly integrates the power generation hub with the 112-square-kilometer Ertan National Forest Park. This transforms the "high gorge and flat lake" into not only a clean energy production base but also a popular eco-tourism destination, demonstrating a vivid practice where industrial civilization and natural ecology complement each other.

Kirsten Rokobuli, Executive Creative Manager and Omnimedia Journalist from Nauru, said with deep feeling after the visit, "I am impressed by the development model of the Ertan Hydropower Station. Despite the development and construction of natural resources, the project fully considers the surrounding ecological environment, emphasizing environmental protection while promoting regional development." She further added, "The Pacific region faces many problems caused by climate change. Seeing China balance ecological protection while pursuing development, this concept is extremely valuable. I want to bring this experience back to my country, so that more people can learn how to address climate change during development."

Lisu Intangible Cultural Heritage: Cultural Inheritance Through In-depth Experience

Stepping into the Lisu Ethnic Group Intangible Cultural Heritage Inheritance Center in Yanbian County, the delegation started an immersive journey about the inheritance, protection and innovative development of ethnic cultural heritage. The journalists carefully listened to and recorded the cultural connotations of Lisu costumes and "Jianmianhou" (a Lisu cultural symbol), admired the innovative ideas behind the design of "Amushiyi" cultural and creative products, tasted the unique Lisu oil tea, and danced the "Zuoshan Guozhuang" with Lisu villagers to the cheerful music of hulusi (a traditional Chinese wind instrument). Through these activities, they fully experienced the vitality and charm of intangible cultural heritage.

What particularly touched the journalists was that these precious ethnic cultural treasures from deep in the mountains have stepped onto the international fashion stage. In 2025, Lisu costumes from Yanbian appeared at both China International Fashion Week and China-France Fashion Week. Through the innovative dialogue between traditional totem patterns and modern design language, they showed the unique charm and contemporary value of China’s ethnic minority culture to the world. The "international journey" of Yanbian Lisu costumes is not only an innovative breakthrough in the inheritance and development of intangible cultural heritage techniques but also a vivid interpretation of China’s cultural confidence. It presents a lively example of the creative transformation and innovative development of China’s excellent traditional culture to the global audience.

Magdalene Yane, a journalist from the National newspaper of Papua New Guinea, praised after the visit, "What impressed me most is seeing how traditional culture is naturally integrated into various handcrafts and tourist experiences. Through this way, ethnic culture can be passed down from generation to generation. Here, both the elderly and young girls are fully devoted to creating traditional handcrafts, jointly guarding this precious cultural memory."

This visit of the media delegation to Yanbian has presented the development vitality and cultural charm of this land to the world through the journalists’ lenses and pens. The ecological practice of Ertan Hydropower Station shows Yanbian’s wisdom in achieving harmonious coexistence between industrial civilization and natural ecology; the dynamic inheritance of Lisu intangible cultural heritage demonstrates the vigorous vitality of traditional culture in modern society. These vivid scenes are a true reflection of China’s counties adhering to sustainable development and firmly upholding cultural confidence in the contemporary era. (Text/Photos by Huang Hao, Chen Qingyi)