🌏 Guangdong is buzzing this week as it hosts the first APEC Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) of 2026 (Feb 1-10) alongside dazzling Lunar New Year celebrations! The province has become a living canvas where ancient traditions meet futuristic tech – think glowing lanterns powered by AI and holographic dragon dances. 🐉✨
This year's "APEC Partners" lantern installation – a collab of 21 intricate designs symbolizing member economies – is stealing the show. Pro tip: Visit Guangzhou's waterfront at night to see it pulse with synchronized light shows set to traditional Guangdong music!
Local artisans are teaching visitors to craft Zhuni clay teapots (a 600-year-old tradition) while VR stations let you "walk" through Ming Dynasty marketplaces. 🏮 One maker told us: "It's like our ancestors are high-fiving the metaverse!"
With 63% of APEC delegates extending their stays to join festivities, this cultural fusion is proving diplomacy works best with a side of tangyuan (sweet rice balls). The events continue through the Lantern Festival on Feb 15 – will you catch the final glow?
