'Danube Beijing Night' Promotion Event Dazzlingly Launches, Sino-Hungarian Cultural Tourism Integration Lights Up Budapest

On May 21, 2026, the “Danube Beijing Night” cultural and tourism promotion event, hosted by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, was successfully held in Budapest, the capital of Hungary. The event took the flowing blue Danube as its dynamic stage, integrating a diverse array of activities such as the promotion of Beijing’s cultural and tourism resources, precise matchmaking between Chinese and Hungarian cultural tourism enterprises, a zodiac-themed exhibition, trendy cultural and creative product showcases, immersive intangible cultural heritage experiences, tasting of Beijing-style cuisine, VR panoramic tours, and more. It was meticulously crafted as an international cultural and tourism exchange event that bridges mountains and seas, connecting East and West, to deepen practical cooperation between China and Hungary in culture and tourism and continuously promote the coordinated development of two-way tourism between the two regions.

The event received significant attention and strong support from relevant departments, professional institutions, and guests from both China and Hungary. Nearly 150 guests, including Yang Xiuhua, Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Hungary; Xu Lianglin, Deputy Director of the Foreign Exchange Office of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism; Li Huixin, Director of the China National Tourist Office in Budapest; Wang Rudong, Director of the China Cultural Center in Budapest; Gao Bo, Market Director for Asia at the Hungarian Tourism Agency; as well as representatives from Chinese and Hungarian airlines, tourism enterprises, and mainstream media, gathered together to renew friendships, discuss cooperation, and envision a new future for cultural and tourism exchanges between China and Hungary. The atmosphere was warm and harmonious.

Yang Xiuhua, Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Hungary, stated that although China and Hungary are separated by mountains and seas, their cultures are connected and their friendship runs deep. Currently, cultural and tourism cooperation between China and Hungary is facing new opportunities. He expressed willingness to use this event as an opportunity to build a high-quality cooperation platform, deepen resource promotion, exchange of tourists, and brand co-construction, and promote regular exchanges in areas such as intangible cultural heritage, art, and study tours. This will allow Beijing’s ancient charm to meet the European elegance of the Danube, writing a new chapter in China-Hungary friendship.

Xu Lianglin, Deputy Director of the Foreign Exchange Office of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, noted that since China implemented a visa-free policy for Hungary in March 2024, personnel exchanges between the two countries have become more convenient, and cultural exchanges have continued to heat up. He stated that they will continue to deepen comprehensive, multi-level, and broad practical cooperation in culture and tourism between China and Hungary, warmly inviting more Hungarian friends to bring their families to Beijing to experience the heritage of Eastern civilization in the millennia-old capital, to feel the vitality of innovative development in the modern city, and to understand a true, multi-dimensional, and comprehensive China through Beijing.

Li Huixin, Director of the China National Tourist Office in Budapest, said in his speech that as of now, China has implemented unilateral visa-free policies for 50 countries, including Hungary, and has fully mutual visa exemptions with 29 countries. The foundation for cultural and tourism cooperation between China and Hungary is deep, and the prospects are broad. The office will continue to play a bridging role, helping tourism enterprises in both regions deepen cooperation and providing solid guarantees for the exchange of tourists and sharing of resources.

Gao Bo, Market Director for Asia at the Hungarian Tourism Agency, stated that China and Hungary have a long history of exchanges, with integrated cultures and highly compatible travel needs among their people, creating favorable conditions for in-depth cultural and tourism exchanges. Both sides will take this event as an opportunity to continue deepening practical cooperation in culture and tourism, promote personnel exchanges and cultural mutual learning, continuously narrow the distance between the people of the two countries, and push China-Hungary friendly cultural and tourism exchanges to new heights. Hungary warmly welcomes more Chinese tourists to visit Hungary and looks forward to more Hungarian people going to Beijing to experience the charm of the ancient capital and the city’s allure.

Travel enthusiast ELIZAVETA CHUPILKINA promoted Beijing’s cultural and tourism resources on-site, focusing on the four core dimensions of “New World Heritage Terms,” “The City of Dual Olympics,” “Fashionable and Trendy,” and “Smart Technology,” combined with entry facilitation measures. She vividly showcased new scenarios, experiences, and charms of Beijing’s cultural tourism, allowing guests to fully and multi-dimensionally appreciate Beijing’s unique style, effectively enhancing Beijing’s visibility and appeal in Hungary.

The matchmaking area for Chinese and Hungarian enterprises was lively and fruitful. Five key Beijing inbound travel agencies, including Zhongxin Yingchi International Travel (Beijing) Co., Ltd., Dahua Xinyuntong (Beijing) International Business Travel Co., Ltd., Beijing Huanya Landscape International Travel Agency, Beijing Longrun International Travel Agency Co., Ltd., and Beijing Bishan International Travel Agency, along with four domestic airlines—Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, and Hainan Airlines—conducted precise and practical negotiations with 45 Hungarian travel agencies. They efficiently opened up supply and demand channels, reaching multiple practical cooperation consensuses, injecting strong new momentum into the recovery and growth of the two-way tourism market between China and Hungary.

The Beijing cultural and tourism interactive experience area was vibrant and popular. The zodiac-themed design exhibition showcased the charm of Eastern aesthetics, conveying the cultural allure of the fusion of tradition and modernity; the trendy “WAKUKU” blind boxes were favored by guests; the royal kitchen cultural and creative pastries and Wu Yutai jasmine tea brought authentic Beijing flavors; the Xinzhi Yuanlang VR project allowed guests to enjoy a virtual tour of Beijing; and the intangible cultural heritage interactive display of “Auspicious Jade Rabbit” vividly interpreted Beijing’s intangible cultural heritage skills and auspicious cultural connotations.

As the Danube gently flowed, musicians from China and Hungary performed together, their fingertips dancing in a harmonious duet. The melodious tunes of Chinese folk music, like “Fisherman’s Song at Dusk” and “Jasmine Flower,” intertwined with the majestic and soft “Blue Danube” played on the violin. Using music as a bridge, Eastern and Western melodies resonated deeply by the Danube, composing a beautiful chorus of cultural exchange and harmonious coexistence between East and West. The on-site lucky draw brought the atmosphere to a climax, with exquisite gifts like Beijing trendy blind boxes and Palace Museum creative gift boxes being particularly favored by local travel operators.

Concurrently, the “Hello, Beijing” themed photo exhibition was held at the China Cultural Center in Budapest. The exhibition featured a selection of Beijing photography works, fully presenting the multifaceted aspects of Beijing’s world heritage, modern landmarks, folk customs, and technological innovation, vividly showcasing Beijing’s historical depth and modern vitality. It attracted many local residents, tourists, and culture enthusiasts to stop and view, allowing them to feel Beijing’s unique charm directly through the lens, effectively enhancing the effectiveness of international communication.

During the visit, the Beijing cultural and tourism team specifically visited Hungary’s leading travel enterprise, OTP TRAVEL. The two sides engaged in in-depth discussions on core issues such as the market demand for outbound travel from Hungary to China, the development of special products, optimization of tourist sources, and facilitation of entry services. They gained a comprehensive understanding of the current state, trends, and opportunities of the local tourism market, precisely listened to the demands and suggestions of enterprises, laying a solid foundation for subsequent precise alignment with market demands, deepening China-Hungary cultural and tourism cooperation, and promoting the high-quality development of Beijing’s inbound tourism.

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