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Quanzhou, Wuxi Join UNESCO Creative Cities Network
2025-12-03 ICCSD

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A tourist wearing traditional flowery headwear has her makeup done at a travel photography studio in Xunpu Village of Quanzhou City, southeast China's Fujian Province. The distinctive Xunpu flowery headwear was inscribed on China's national intangible cultural heritage list in 2008.

[Photo via Xinhua News Agency]

Two Chinese cities—Quanzhou and Wuxi—have been added to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Creative Cities Network.

UNESCO expanded the Network on the occasion of World Cities Day, welcoming 58 newly designated cities worldwide, including Quanzhou and Wuxi.

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Tourists stroll through the Jichang Garden in early spring in Wuxi, east China's Jiangsu Province, March 1, 2024. Built in the 16th century, Jichang Garden is a classical Chinese garden renowned for its refined design and tranquil atmosphere.

[Photo via Xinhua News Agency]

The Creative Cities Network spans eight creative fields: architecture, crafts and folk art, media arts, design, film, gastronomy, literature, and music. Quanzhou has been recognized as a Creative City of Gastronomy, while Wuxi has been designated a Creative City of Music. Both cities were selected for their dynamic cultural environments, strong support for creative sectors, and innovative approaches to sustainable urban development.

With the latest additions, the Network now includes 408 cities across more than 100 countries, all acknowledged for their commitment to fostering creativity, advancing cultural vitality, and integrating creative industries into urban development, UNESCO said.

Quanzhou, Wuxi Join UNESCO Creative Cities Network_fororder_下载

An aerial drone photo taken on May 21, 2025 shows the Zhenguo Pagoda of Kaiyuan Temple in Quanzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province. Situated along the Fujian coastline, Quanzhou served as one of the world's largest ports along the Maritime Silk Road, especially during China's Song (960–1279) and Yuan (1271–1368) dynasties.

[Photo via Xinhua News Agency]

Established in 2004, the UNESCO Creative Cities Network supports cities that harness culture and creativity to generate employment, stimulate economic growth, and strengthen social cohesion—through skills development, support for creative professionals, and broad community engagement.

Several other Chinese cities—including Beijing, Shanghai, and Wuhan—are also part of the Network.

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A visitor holds a fish-shaped lantern at Huishan Ancient Town in Wuxi City, east China's Jiangsu Province, Jan. 25, 2025.

[Photo via Xinhua News Agency]

(Source: Xinhua News Agency)

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The International Center for Creativity and Sustainable Development under the Auspices of UNESCO (Category 2) was approved at the 38th session of UNESCO General Assembly in November 2015. In 2017, the People's Government of Beijing Municipality signed the agreement with UNESCO. ICCSD becomes the world's first UNESCO Category 2 center with the theme of "creativity and sustainable development". With the support and guidance of UNESCO, the Center intends to build the world's high-level international platform that aims at creativity and sustainable development, and includes the functions of research, training, cooperation, communication, demonstration etc. The Center shall become a first-class think-tank gathering talents throughout the world, building a global renowned "laboratory of thoughts" with a focus on creativity and innovation. It shall promote cultural exchanges and cooperation, disseminate and support Chinese enterprises, technology and culture.
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