Wuxi's new tune: From heavy metal to melodies

In an era when cities face multiple challenges — climate pressures, social fragmentation and rapid urban growth — culture is not only an asset, but a strategic resource for resilience and sustainable development.

That was the message delivered by Jose Chong, program management officer with UN-Habitat, at the opening ceremony of "Encounter . Enlighten" — the Wuxi Creative Cities Dialogue held at Wuxi National Digital Film Industry Park on May 15.

Coorganized by the UNESCO Creative Cities Network Secretariat and Wuxi, Jiangsu province, which joined the UCCN as China's first UNESCO Creative City of Music in October 2025, the event was themed "Cultural and Creative Industries Driving Sustainable Urban Development".

The network, established in 2004 to promote culture and creativity as engines of sustainable urban growth, now includes 408 cities across more than 100 countries, spanning eight creative fields and enriching the cultural lives of over 700 million people.

The dialogue brought representatives from UNESCO, UN Tourism and UN-Habitat, and representatives from about 20 UNESCO Creative Cities from countries including France, South Korea, Italy, Spain, Malaysia, Morocco, Qatar, the United States, and China. Local officials, cultural leaders and industry professionals gathered to explore how cities can pursue more sustainable futures through creativity and cultural exchange.

In her opening speech, Denise Bax, secretary of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, highlighted Wuxi's long-standing relationship with music and culture.

"By hosting this international dialogue, the city honors its commitment to promoting music beyond boundaries while advancing culturally diverse, sustainable urban development, in particular by exploring ways in which cultural and creative industries can drive positive change," she said.

For Chong, such conversations are increasingly urgent in today's fast-changing urban world. The themes of this dialogue — openness, integration and innovation — reflect exactly the kind of transformation cities need today, she said.

"Today, it is clear that the future of cities is increasingly shaped by culture and creativity. Cultural and creative industries — from music, film and design to cultural tourism and digital innovation — are becoming key drivers of urban economies, social cohesion and place-making," she noted, "because successful cities are not only efficient — they are meaningful. They create spaces where people can gather, participate, create and belong."

In a video address, Sandra Carvao, director of market intelligence, policies and competitiveness at UN Tourism, echoed the importance of culture in shaping sustainable tourism and livable cities. "Cities are not only gateways for visitors. More importantly, they are living spaces. They are centers of creativity, custodians of heritage, engines for cultural and social transformation.

"When tourism is planned and managed sustainably, putting communities at the center of such development, and when culture is placed at the core of development, it can help preserve heritage, regenerate public spaces, empower those communities that host it, and support creative industries. It can also enhance the quality of life and the experiences of both residents and visitors," she said.

Situated in China's Yangtze River Delta, Wuxi in Jiangsu is a city with more than 3,100 years of history. Blending the cultural traditions of Jiangnan (the region south of the Yangtze River) with modern industry and innovation, the city has long been known as the "Pearl of Taihu Lake" and the "Flourishing Land of Jiangnan".

Today, Wuxi is also positioning itself as a modern commercial and creative hub. Last year, China's "three-wheeled electric vehicles" became a sensation overseas, with a surge in orders. Much of that production comes from Xishan district in Wuxi, often called the "Electric Vehicle Capital of China", where one in every three electric vehicles nationwide is manufactured.

Similarly thriving are 10-trillion-yuan industrial clusters, including the internet of things and integrated circuits, which, along with traditional manufacturing, contribute to the glory of this century-old commercial city.

Wuxi is also a film dream factory. To improve the ecological environment and promote industrial transformation, a steel rolling mill was restructured into a film industry park that serves both tourism and film production. The park is home to over 1,000 film and television companies, with films produced here grossing over $1.8 billion in box-office revenue. It has produced high-quality Chinese films like The Wandering Earth and Creation of the Gods, and handled post-production for Hollywood films such as Captain America and Star Wars.

Music, however, remains central to Wuxi's identity. Last year, on the day it was honored as a UNESCO Creative City of Music, municipal troupes, social groups, and music enthusiasts created a 300-minute nonstop performance that attracted over 34,000 participants and 1.2 million livestream viewers.

Today, shared public stages can be found throughout the city's streets and neighborhoods. Weekly performances invite residents of all backgrounds to participate, turning music into an accessible and everyday cultural experience.

Following the opening ceremony, delegates joined a themed forum,"Music Makes Cities Better — Music Co-Creation and Urban Exchange". Representatives from Creative City of Music around the world, including Evian-les-Bains and Metz in France, Daegu in South Korea, Pesaro in Italy, Ipoh in Malaysia, Essaouira in Morocco, and Wuxi in China, shared experiences and discussed how music can support sustainable urban development.

Topics included innovation in the music industry, urban cultural communication and the future of music in the age of artificial intelligence. Participants also explored new ways for cities to cooperate through shared resources, joint cultural projects and global branding initiatives.

Three additional industry dialogues and site visits focusing on film production, smart mobility and cultural tourism were held later in the day.

Li Qiufeng, head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Wuxi Municipal Committee, said the city plans to continue using music as a bridge for international exchange and creativity as a core driver of urban growth.

The city will promote industries like film, entertainment, and musical instrument manufacturing, making culture an intrinsic driver of urban development. It will also focus on exchange and mutual learning, actively joining the creative city network and hosting events like "International Musicians in Wuxi", and showcase Chinese folk music on the international stage, he said.