Shaanxi charms poets from afar

Bolivian poet Jessica Freudenthal poses for a picture with an actress clad in Tang Dynasty attire at the Yongning Gate in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, on Sept 14, 2025. [Photo by Xue Bo/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

At the Twelve Hours of Chang'an theme block, the poets, dressed in Tang Dynasty (618-907) attire, were transported back to the heyday of the Tang Dynasty. They experienced the vibrant urban life in Chang'an, once a hub of both eastern and western cultures and the starting point of the Silk Road. At Tang Paradise, a theme park adjacent to the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, they were treated to a captivating performance of Dongcang drum music, a royal musical form from the Tang Dynasty.

The poets also visited three local universities—Northwest University, Shaanxi Normal University and Xi'an International Studies University—where they participated in poetry readings and discussions with students passionate about poetry.