As the countdown to the 2025 APEC Leaders’ Meeting in Gyeongju begins, Xi'an and Gyeongju are spotlighting their 30-year sister-city friendship with a fresh wave of cultural and heritage collaborations. This year’s exchanges build on a relationship that began in 1994 and now aims to inspire deeper connections across borders.
Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi Province in northwest the Chinese mainland, boasts more than 3,100 years of history and served as the imperial seat for 13 dynasties. Renowned as the starting point of the ancient Silk Road, it has long been a gateway for trade, innovation and cultural exchange. Gyeongju, once the capital of the Silla Kingdom in South Korea, preserves a rich tapestry of temples, royal tombs and relics that tell stories of a vibrant past.
This August, both cities co-hosted an exhibition in Gyeongju featuring over 270 works by artists from the Chinese mainland and the Republic of Korea. The showcase spanned traditional calligraphy, fine arts and modern photography, offering a creative snapshot of each city’s heritage. Beyond the gallery walls, archaeological teams have exchanged research insights and best practices in cultural preservation, paving the way for joint restoration projects.
For travelers and digital nomads, these initiatives open doors to immersive experiences—from hands-on workshops with master calligraphers in Xi'an to guided heritage trails at Gyeongju’s UNESCO sites. For business and tech enthusiasts, the collaboration signals growing opportunities in creative industries and heritage tourism—key growth sectors across APEC members.
As global citizens tune into the APEC Leaders’ Meeting in late 2025, the Xi’an-Gyeongju sister-city partnership stands as a real-world example of how local ties can fuel broader regional cooperation. By celebrating shared history and embracing new collaborations, these two cities are redefining cultural diplomacy for a younger, globally minded generation.
Reference(s):
APEC Stories: Xi'an, Gyeongju deepen sister-city ties via exchanges
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