Poets gather at Wutong Mountain for poetry festival

The Second Wutong Mountain Poetry Festival was held Nov. 30 at Wutong Mountain, a beloved Shenzhen landmark, providing attendees with a poetic exploration of nature and urban life.

Poets participated in a variety of activities, including lectures, performances, poem recitals, and guided tours, designed to spark creativity and deepen their connection to the surroundings. The festival served as a dynamic platform for poetic expression and cultural exchange, bringing together people, nature, and the city in a celebration of harmony. It also invited residents to discover new poetic inspiration amid the rhythm of urban life. 

Poets and attendees pose for a photo on Wutong Mountain during the Second Wutong Mountain Poetry Festival on Nov. 30. Photos by Wu Zhongping

During his speech at the festival opening, Wang Guomeng, vice chairman of the Shenzhen Federation of Literary and Art Circles, encouraged poets to write about themes such as reform and opening up, scientific and technological development, and financial innovation in Shenzhen.

Guests from domestic writers' associations and poetry magazines discussed the relationship between nature and writing. Liu Chun, vice chairman of the Guangxi Writers' Association, emphasized that poetry should be grounded in natural, social, and ideological contexts to create diverse works. Li Yang, from Stars Poetry Magazine, stated that poets influenced by traditional Chinese culture and Western aesthetics would exhibit distinct characteristics that define this era.

Poets and attendees engage in a discussion during the festival.

During the festival, the poets recited their works in front of artwork displayed at the Shenzhen Art Museum in Donghu Park, Luohu District. Shenzhen poet Xie Xiangnan noted that the dialogue between poetry and contemporary art at the art museum is both genuine and dreamlike, which creates a unique interaction between these two art forms. Poet Zhou Sese remarked that reciting poetry in the museum serves as a form of sound installation for the art.

The poets and guests also visited Wutong Mountain Park, Luohu Bridge, the Shenzhen International Trade Center, and the Shenzhen Jewelry Museum to appreciate Luohu's picturesque scenery and urban development.

A poet reads poems at the Shenzhen Art Museum.