Kaifeng holds launch ceremony for biographical book

A new book titled "Kaifeng: The Biography" was launched in Kaifeng, central China's Henan province, on Tuesday. The book is part of a series on cities along the Belt and Road route. 

The book launch ceremony of "Kaifeng: The Biography" is held in Kaifeng, central China's Henan province, on Sept. 12, 2023. [Photo/CICG]

The event was jointly organized by Foreign Languages Press under China International Communications Group (CICG), the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Kaifeng Municipal Committee, and the Kaifeng Federation of Literary and Art Circles.

Lu Cairong, vice president of China International Communications Group (CICG), speaks at a book launch ceremony in Kaifeng, central China's Henan province, on Sept. 12, 2023. [Photo/CICG]

Once the capital of eight dynasties and kingdoms, Kaifeng sat at the eastern start of the land silk road of the Song dynasty (960-1279), and was the world's largest metropolis during the Northern Song dynasty (960-1127), said Lu Cairong, vice president of CICG, in his speech at the ceremony. As an important traffic hub along the ancient Silk Road, Kaifeng has played an essential role in promoting trade and cultural exchanges between China and other countries in Eurasia, Lu said. 

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. With a focus on the Silk Road, the biographical book tells vivid stories of Kaifeng and records the city's profound history and unique people-to-people exchange, Lu said. 

The collection of biographies of cities along the Belt and Road route is the world's first book series that explores the distinctive culture and history of these cities.