On Monday, October 21st, 2024, Guangdong Television and People’s Daily Online U.K. joined forces to launch the documentary “Touching the Greater Bay Area” on global media platforms. This exciting collaboration was announced in London on October 17th, 2024.
The documentary, which is titled “Touching the Greater Bay Area,” follows a cultural exchange program that took place from June to August of this year. Ten students from top universities in the U.K. were invited to visit the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), including prestigious schools such as Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London, and the University of London. The program was split into five 15-minute episodes, each covering different aspects of the GBA, including technology, intangible cultural heritage, cuisine, environment, and education.
Since the program’s launch in June, a series of short videos have gone viral online. Related posts by Guangdong TV and People’s Daily Online have collectively garnered over 7.5 million views. Additionally, British students who participated in the program have shared their experiences through short videos on their social media platforms.
HJ Colston-Inge, director of the British educational charity Engage with China, shared photos comparing the city of Shenzhen in the Greater Bay Area from 1985 to the present day. She expressed her excitement for more British students to visit the GBA and the rest of China, hoping that these experiences will dispel any misconceptions and stereotypes.
Five British university students who participated in the program shared their personal experiences and insights. Romano, a student from the University of Cambridge, previously ran a society to help students learn more about China. Through this program, he gained a deeper understanding of China’s sustainable development efforts and was particularly impressed by the steps taken by local governments to protect and preserve endangered species.
Amelia, an art student from the University of Oxford, found inspiration for her studies from the profound Chinese culture she encountered during the program. She also noted the differences in daily life between China and the U.K. and expressed a desire to return to China in the future.
Choong, a Malaysian student from Cambridge University, felt a special connection to the GBA as her parents are from Guangdong. She was deeply impressed by the local customs and the rapid development of the province.
Matt, another participant in the program, summed up his journey in the GBA by singing a Chinese song and stating, “I didn’t expect the Greater Bay Area to have such a big impact on us, exceeding our expectations.”
Yara, who recently graduated from SOAS after studying International Relations and Chinese for the past four years, expressed how the experience was like everything she had learned from textbooks, but being there in person was a completely different and eye-opening experience. She added, “People can tell you everything about anything, but until you experience it yourself, you truly won’t ever know. It is genuinely one of those experiences you’ll carry for the rest of your life.”
This documentary, distributed by https://pressat.co.uk/, showcases the strong cultural exchange and collaboration between the U.K. and the Greater Bay Area. It highlights the value of firsthand experiences and the importance of breaking down cultural barriers. “Touching the Greater Bay Area” is a must-see for anyone interested in learning more about the dynamic and diverse region of the Greater Bay Area.