Poster for 2026 International Youth Poetry Festival (Photo: China Writers Association)
Young Chinese and Arabian poets and literary scholars are gathering in Guangzhou on May 8 for a cultural exchange programme aimed at fostering literary ties between China and the Arab world.
The 2026 International Youth Poetry Festival (China-Arab States Session) runs from May 8 to 17 across Guangdong province and Beijing. It brings together more than 40 young poets and Chinese literature scholars from 13 Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria and Morocco, alongside more than 40 Chinese poets and invited writers.
The programme is divided into two stages, starting in southern China from May 8 to 12, before moving to Beijing from May 13 to 17.
Guests check in at the registration desk. (Photo: Guo Hongda)
In Guangdong, participants will visit cultural landmarks and sites reflecting the region’s rapid development, including Canton Tower, the Pearl River, and the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link. The itinerary also includes visits to Chinese technology companies such as Huawei, Tencent and XPENG, alongside cultural heritage sites. In Beijing, the group will visit historical sites including the Great Wall and the Palace Museum. Beyond these visits, the programme will also include academic exchange sessions, literary dialogues, creative writing activities and other interactive sessions such as performances, poetry readings and literary markets.
Launched by the China Writers Association in 2024, the International Youth Poetry Festival has quickly developed into a platform for cross-cultural literary exchange. Previous editions have focused on BRICS countries and exchanges between China and Latin America.
Guests check in at the registration desk. (Photo: Guo Hongda)
China has long described itself as a country deeply shaped by poetry, with the southern province of Guangdong playing a notable role in the development of contemporary Chinese literature, particularly in the decades following economic reforms that began in the late 1970s.
In the Arab world, poetry holds a similarly central cultural position, with a tradition spanning more than a thousand years. Classical Arabic poetry has influenced storytelling, philosophy and public life across the region, with figures such as Khalil Gibran and Adonis widely regarded as major literary voices.
“Poetry has long carried the emotions of people as they meet, understand and connect with one another,” said Xiang Xin of the Guangdong Writers Association ahead of the festival. “We hope this festival creates a space for meaningful dialogue and lasting cultural exchange between China and Arab countries.”
The mascot of the poetry festival, Youyou, welcomes the visiting guests. (Photo: Guo Hongda)
The opening ceremony will be held at 8 pm on May 9 at the Guangzhou Cultural & Art Centre under the theme “Poetry speaks to hearts across the world.”
Reporter: Li Muzi