Visitors take a photo with the torch and mascot of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 16, 2023. Photo: Li Hao/Global Times

A wide range of cultural activities were recently unveiled at the opening ceremony of the Dual Olympic City Art Festival in Beijing to explore new ways to inherit and develop the rich Olympic legacy in the capital and Zhangjiakou in Hebei Province.

The festival is committed to showcasing the Olympic legacy left to Beijing after hosting two successful Olympic Games by means of art and culture exhibitions and leveraging resources to promote cultural and tourism development in both Beijing and Zhangjiakou, a city that hosted most snow events for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games.

Five categories of Olympic themed activities were rolled out at the opening ceremony, including one Olympic art exhibition set to last until September 20 at the China Millennium Monument and two photography and design exhibitions,  held in Beijing's National Speed Skating Oval and Zhangjiakou's National Biathlon Center, respectively. 

Seven Olympic city walks and 105 theatrical performances and 108 mass cultural activities were also announced at the festival organized by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Cultural and Tourism. 

The city walk routes cover some of the landmark venues of the Olympic Games such as Big Air Shougang, the Bird's Nest and Yanqing Haituo Mountain. 

China made sports history in 2022 when Beijing became the first city in the world to host both the summer and winter editions of the Olympic Games. As the world's only dual Olympic city, Beijing has continued to promote the sustainable development of the Olympic Games legacy for the well-being of the public and to support fitness activities nationwide.

Gao Yunchao, vice director of Beijing Olympic City Development Association, told the Global Times that the activities are part of efforts to promote the development of the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Sports and Cultural Tourism Belt. 

"In a joint effort, Beijing and Zhangjiakou have been exploring and maximizing the value of the Olympic legacy. The activities aim to drive the post-game utilization of Olympic venues in Beijing and Zhangjiakou to promote regional development," said Gao.

"On the 15th anniversary of the successful hosting of the 2008 Beijing Games and the first anniversary of the Winter Olympic Games, Beijing will strengthen cooperation with Zhangjiakou to promote the regional cultural and tourism development with more mass fitness events and cultural activities, allowing more people to enjoy the Olympic heritage," Gao noted.

A development plan for the Beijing-Zhangjiakou sports and cultural tourism belt was revealed in August. Zhangjiakou will facilitate the creation of the belt and develop its renewable energy industry, with the aim of becoming an international winter tourism destination.