The World Lantian Jade Poetry Forest Launches in China: A New Chapter for Global Poetry Along the Silk Road

Illustration: Copilot

Lantian, China, witnessed a landmark cultural moment with the successful launch of the World Lantian Jade Poetry Forest as part of the Silk Road International Poetry Festival, alongside the investment signing ceremony for the Lantian Jade Tang Poetry Culture Museum Research Base. This significant event marked a powerful fusion of poetry, history, and international cultural exchange, reaffirming Lantian’s growing role on the global poetic map.

The celebrations will continue with the “Poetry · Jade · Lantian · Silk Road Together” 2026 New Year Poetry Recitation Event, scheduled for December 12 at the Lantian Jade Museum. The event brings together poetry, cultural heritage, and international cooperation, highlighting the enduring spirit of the Silk Road in a contemporary, artistic form.

Eight Major Projects, One Shared Vision

The program encompassed eight key projects, each symbolizing a step toward strengthening poetic and cultural dialogue across borders:

1. Investment signing ceremony for the Lantian Jade Culture Museum and Research Base

2. Unveiling ceremony of the Lantian Jade Tang Poetry Garden – International Creation Base of the Silk Road International Federation

3. Unveiling ceremony of the Lantian Jade Tang Poetry Garden – International Creation Base of the Silk Road Poets and Painting Academy

4. Unveiling ceremony of the Creation Base of the Poetry and Poetics Committee of the United Nations World Silk Road Forum

5. Launch ceremony of the “World Lantian Jade Poetry Forest”, promoting Xi’an—widely regarded as the capital of Tang poetry—to the global poetry community

6–8. A series of thematic background exhibitions celebrating Tang poetry, Silk Road culture, and New Year poetic traditions

Together, these initiatives reflect a shared ambition: to help Xi’an, the historic capital of Tang poetry, take confident steps toward becoming a world capital of poetry.

Poetry Without Borders

Although Cao Shui, Executive Chairman of the Silk Road International Federation, was unable to attend in person due to unforeseen circumstances, he sent his heartfelt wishes for the event’s complete success via video message. In a meaningful artistic contribution, he also presented his poem “Lantian Jade Love”, which was recited in both Chinese and English by the renowned reciter Zhenli, beautifully embodying the spirit of cross-cultural dialogue.

A Living Poetry Landscape

The World Lantian Jade Poetry Forest is more than a symbolic project—it is envisioned as a living cultural space where poetry, jade culture, and Silk Road heritage converge. By combining historical depth with contemporary creativity, the project opens new pathways for poets, scholars, and artists from around the world to engage with Chinese literary traditions while contributing their own voices.

As the New Year approaches, Lantian stands at the crossroads of tradition and innovation, inviting the world to celebrate poetry not only as a literary form, but as a shared human language. The successful launch of these initiatives signals a vibrant future—one in which Tang poetry continues to inspire the world, and the Silk Road once again becomes a bridge of cultural imagination.