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The “Sweet Waxberry Reunion” International Communication Event, themed on Global Ambassadors of Cixi Waxberries returning to their adopted village, was warmly launched at Lianshuxia Art Village in Kuangyan Town on June 11. One year on, three international envoys, previously appointed as Global Ambassadors of Cixi Waxberries and conferred the title of Honorary Villagers of Lianshuxia, traveled across continents to revisit Cixi. Assuming the special identity of villagers coming home, they embarked on an immersive tour filled with the aroma of waxberries and hometown warmth.

Early in the morning, the ambassadors headed for the waxberry hills to pick plump, purplish-red fruits from the branches. Compared with their curiosity during their first visit last year, the three moved with practiced ease as they wove through the waxberry trees, chatting with local farmers about cultivation techniques and the joys of harvest. Denzil from Australia carried a bamboo basket to select fine fruits, his face lit up with delight. “Standing on the waxberry hills again after a year, the sweet and tart flavor of the waxberries tastes exactly as I remember, just like returning to my long-lost hometown,” he said. He noted that every premium waxberry comes from farmers’ painstaking care day in and day out. Throughout the trip, he documented every moment of his homecoming with his camera, planning to share the fresh mountain tang and heartwarming rural stories with overseas followers via his personal social media accounts.

At noon, the ambassadors enjoyed authentic local rural cuisine at Lianchao Cili Art Space, the homely, comforting dishes making the far-traveled “honorary villagers” feel right at home. After a short break, the group visited Churuishan Studio, an intangible cultural heritage workshop dedicated to filigree inlay, one of the Eight Unique Crafts of Yanjing. Under the careful guidance of Gao Cong, an inheritor of this heritage craft, the ambassadors twisted hair-thin silver threads into delicate handicrafts, repeatedly marveling at the intricate craftsmanship. Alex from Serbia concentrated on finishing his handmade work. Captivated by Yue Kiln celadon culture last year, he was once again awed by the ingenuity of traditional Chinese craftsmanship. “Last year, I touched the gentle glaze of celadon here; this year, I’ve discovered the exquisiteness of filigree inlay. Every time I come back to the village, I uncover new cultural treasures of Cixi,” he remarked. As an honorary villager of Lianshuxia, he no longer sees himself as an outsider merely visiting, but a fellow villager eager to share Cixi’s stories with global audiences.

In the afternoon, the ambassadors traveled to Shanglin Lake Celadon Culture Inheritance Park and served as public judges for the Cixi Waxberry Tasting Contest. Samples from 40 exhibitors were laid out on site, and the three ambassadors carefully sampled each batch, scoring them based on fruit shape, color, aroma and taste to select the finest waxberries. Maria from Russia jotted down detailed notes on every sample, fully immersed in the evaluation process. “Serving as a public judge in this professional contest has given me an intuitive understanding of the quality standards for Cixi waxberries. I personally favor the well-balanced sweet and sour taste of Cixi Biqi waxberries,” she smiled. Between tastings, the ambassadors sampled innovative waxberry-infused treats at the creative food zone, exploring the diverse culinary applications of the fruit.

Forging deeper international communication through the emotional bond of “villagers returning home” marks an innovative practice by Cixi to advance the global branding of its waxberries. “Their shift from visiting international envoys to returning honorary villagers reflects deepened emotional connection and recognition,” an official from the Publicity Department of the CPC Cixi Municipal Committee explained. Through the ambassadors’ genuine experiences and sincere sharing, the campaign not only conveys the fresh sweetness of Cixi waxberries to the world, but also presents a comprehensive picture of Cixi’s achievements in upgrading characteristic agriculture, preserving intangible cultural heritage, and developing art-driven rural construction, showcasing a vivid, multi-dimensional image of the city to global audiences.

A single waxberry, a joyful reunion, and three returning ambassadors weave together a vivid tapestry of ten thousand mu of waxberry orchards, millennia-old intangible cultural heritage, and art revitalization of villages. Taking waxberries as a cultural bridge, Cixi continues to warm this cross-border sweet rendezvous, striving to turn the mountain-grown sweet-tart flavor and dynamic vitality of its countryside into a taste of Cixi shared by the whole world.

Media Contact
Company Name: Publicity Department of the CPC Cixi Municipal Committee
Contact Person: Yang Qixing
Email: Send Email
Country: China
Website: http://www.cixi.gov.cn/