Calls for leveraging intriguing drama and technological prowess to boost cultural development in GBA

Renowned Chinese actor and director Zhang Guoli (張國立) has mapped out his compelling vision on cultural development in the Greater Bay Area (GBA), calling for leveraging production of captivating drama to connect all people’s hearts in the bay region.

With unique geographical proximity, innovative technologies and rich pool of talents in the GBA, drama and performing groups in the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macau can further strengthen collaboration to thrive arts and cultural sectors’ development in the bay area.

Zhang made the remarks at high-end Forum on Building up China’s Cultural Strength 2025 (文化強國建設高峰論壇), titled “Building up Cultural Strength and Promotng Digital Intelligence of the Greater Bay Area”, which was held at the Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Centre in Shenzhen recently. In the forum, Chinese cultural experts also urged for harnessing top-notch technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), to foster cultural development in the GBA.

(Actor Zhang Guoli. Image: Organizer of the Forum)

The 70-year-old prominent star has starred in numerous TV series and movies since early 1980s. He is best known for starring as a quick-witted official and scholar in Qing dynasty in hit-TV comedy series – Eloquent Ji Xiaolan (鐵齒銅牙紀曉嵐) in early 2000s. He has also starred in movies and clinched various performance awards. He recently starred in movie – Silence of Smoke (我爸沒說的那件事) – in which Zhang starred as a father and cake master, showing his deep love and care for his son in the movie.

Addressing a speech in the forum, Zhang shared about how he led his drama troupe Longma Entertainment (龍馬社) development in Shenzhen’s Pingshan.

As an artistic director of the Longma Entertainment, Zhang led the troupe to move to Shenzhen’s Pingshan from Beijing in 2023. With the support of Shenzhen’s government, Longma Entertainment has preserved and revitalized 300-year-old Hakka Changshou Village in Pingshan as performing theaters for drama. Apart from theaters, the valley village highlights cafe, guesthouses, library and exhibition halls, fostering a vibrant cultural community.

Zhang said that he hoped that more high-quality cultural content will be created in Shenzhen, and then it can go viral across the country.

He added that more arts talents can be groomed to boost cultural development in the bay region in near future.

(Professor Liu Shuyong. Image: Organizer of the Forum)

Also, Liu Shuyong (劉蜀永), who is Professor of History Department of the Lingnan University and a renowned historian on China and Hong Kong’s history, said in the forum that since China marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression in September this year, authorities can nourish spirits of patriotism among young people in the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macau.

Professor Liu stressed that the Hong Kong Independent Battalion of the Dongjiang Column had made significant contribution to the country’s victory in the war. He noted that the battalion’s stories on fighting against the Japanese invasion in the wartime period can be promoted as an important part of history and culture in the GBA.

Professor Liu added that the celebration of the country’s victory in the war can serve as an opportunity to let young people inherit the spirits from war martyrs, who bravely sacrificed their lives. All historic sites and relics in the GBA in the wartime moment should be well-protected for teaching and educational purposes.

(Wu Zhiliang. Image: Organizer of the Forum)

Meanwhile, Wu Zhiliang (吳志良), Deputy Director of the Committee on Culture, Historical Data and Studies of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said in the forum that it has been a surging trend that top-notch technology, including AI, has been deeply integrated with arts and cultural development.

Wu, who is also President of Federation of Associations of Cultural Sectors of Macau, said digital and technological innovation will  upscale development in arts and cultural industries, and bolster economic development in the GBA and the country.

On the sideline of the forum, cultural experts and an award-winning writer joined a panel session to share their experience on the applications of AI and technological prowess in artistic and cultural creation.

(Naomi Chung, head of Xiqu, Performing Arts of the West Kowloon Cultural District)

Naomi Chung (鐘珍珍), head of Xiqu, Performing Arts of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, highlighted in the panel session that she once created a 3D printed robot with her team in performance, delving audience into the show.

Chung admitted that it is difficult for AI-powered robots to replace human actors in staging performance. But Chung said cutting-edge technology can be well-utilized to preserve and convey Chinese cultural tradition and heritage.

She said that technology can play a pivotal role as a bridge to communicate with youngsters and pass on artistic knowledge to them.

(Chinese science fiction writer Hai Ya)

Shenzhen-based science fiction writer Hai Ya (海漄) agreed with Chung’s saying and stressed that the GBA stands as the pinnacle of the technological innovation.

Although Hai admitted that AI cannot replace humans for curating captivating fictions at this stage, China’s technological prowess gives writers inspiration to curate their stories.

In 2023, Hai clinched the most prestigious international prize Hugo Award (雨果獎) for Best Novelette – the category for short works. His work, The Space-Time Painter (時空畫師), depicts the story of a detective who is launching a probe into ghost haunting at the Forbidden City.

(Mok Ian-ian)

AI development has marked a breakthrough in technological innovation, said Mok Ian-ian (穆欣欣), who is President of the Board of Directors of Macao Science Center, in the panel discussion.

Mok, who is a member of China Writers Association, said human-AI machine collaboration in cultural creation will become increasingly inevitable in near future.

The country’s rapid advancement of cutting-edge technology, including AI, has reshaped the cultural development in the GBA. The application of top-notch technology can preserve historical and cultural tradition and expand the boundaries in cultural creation and performance. Performing groups in the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macau can enhance collaboration and co-create plays and dramas to connect all audiences’ hearts and bolster cultural development in the bay region.