The Blue Book   Photo: Li Yongjie/CSSN                       

On Nov.16, the Annual Report on Culture Development of Guangzhou in China (2021) was released in Guangzhou by the Guangzhou Development Research Institute of Guangzhou University.

The Blue Book indicates that in 2021, as cultural production, services, and consumption gradually adapt to the normal epidemic prevention and control environment, Guangzhou's cultural tourism and consumption is expected to recover growth. The “online plus offline” international exchange model and exhibition model will become more mature.

Several old problems remain, such as the unbalanced regional development of public cultural services, and weak cultural influence and innovation. In light of those, as well as new problems including the surge of complaints and security risks brought by the development of new cultural formats and models, the Blue Book suggests that, for the next step, Guangzhou should give priority to supporting remote urban areas in planning and building high-quality public cultural facilities. They can accomplish this by using local characteristic cultural resources. They should also strengthen the establishment of rules and systems in new formats and models, and simultaneously implement the work of making up for weak points and developing advantages in the construction of urban cultural soft power.