Great Wall Updates: Poetry met history at the Badaling Great Wall

Photo taken on May 14, 2026 shows Kuwaiti poet Ali Ben Nekhy (left) reading a poem during the 2026 International Youth Poetry Gathering · Great Wall Poetry Session at the Badaling Great Wall in Yanqing District, Beijing.

The event brought together young poets and scholars from China and 13 Arab countries for a unique cultural exchange at one of the world’s most iconic landmarks. Standing atop the Great Wall, participants recited poems in their native languages, sharing stories of home, memory, and distant horizons. Traditional Chinese music, dance, Tai Chi, and children’s choir performances also joined the gathering, creating an immersive dialogue among civilizations.

(Photo: Courtesy of the China Writers Association)