Step into the City's Culture
From ancient capitals and coastal towns to bay areas and the Yellow River desert, students come to understand a city's cultural context and way of life beyond just performing music.
CHINA CITY MUSIC EXCHANGEChina City Music Exchange
One City, One Movement
Playing the Voice of Our Era Together
Using youth orchestras as a bridge, connecting the cultural heritage, campus aesthetic education, and professional stages of different Chinese cities. Every cross-city encounter is more than a performance—it is a musical journey to see the land, understand its culture, and get to know one another.
CityExchange
2026 NATIONAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA ARTS SEASONChina International Youth Arts Week Brand Series
8Key City Node
4Regional Culture Zone
6Core Exchange Module
1National Youth Aesthetic Education Platform
FROM CITY TO CITY
Let the city become
Let the city become
a child's second classroom
China is vast, and every city carries its own history, dialect, architecture, cuisine, and artistic character. Musical exchange turns these differences into learning experiences that can be heard, understood, and co-created.
Connect with Youth Orchestras
Through joint rehearsals, sectional exchanges, exchange concerts, and public performances, we build a cross-regional network of peer learning.
Deepen Arts Education Collaboration
By connecting schools, children's palaces, arts institutions, conductors, and teachers, a single event grows into a lasting educational partnership.
THE NATIONAL CITY NETWORK
Eight Cities in Resonance・One Map of Arts Education
The 2026 city network spans the cultural capital, the ancient capital of Tianfu, the starting point of the Silk Road, the heartland of the Central Plains, the golden coast of the Yellow River, the Lingnan Bay Area, the city of mountains and sea, and the culture of the north. Each city keeps its own cultural theme while sharing common standards for performance and educational exchange.
Beijing
A national-level stage and cultural capital, gathering outstanding orchestras from across the country to present annual achievements and top-tier exchange performances.
National Showcase ConcertChengdu
Rooted in Tianfu culture, urban creativity, and musical life, unfolding diverse dialogues between youth orchestras and city arts.
Tianfu CultureXi'an
Starting from the ancient capital and the origin of the Silk Road, bringing traditional civilization, folk music, and modern youth orchestras together on one stage.
Ancient Silk Road CapitalZhengzhou
Grounded in the core of Central Plains culture, linking campus orchestra achievements and regional arts education across Henan and neighboring cities.
Central Plains CultureWuhai
Between the Yellow River, the desert, and the urban oasis, creating youth symphonic experiences with distinct regional identity.
Golden Coast of the Yellow RiverGuangzhou
With the openness of Lingnan culture and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area, connecting global vision, urban music, and campus arts practice.
Lingnan Bay AreaWeihai
Drawing on mountain-and-sea culture and Qilu arts education resources, establishing a hub for coastal youth orchestra exchange and showcase concerts.
Mountains, Sea, and QiluChangchun
Showing the open spirit of northern cities, connecting Northeast campus orchestras, professional teachers, and cross-regional exchange networks.
Northern Arts2026 FLAGSHIP PROJECT
National Youth Orchestra Arts Festival
Centered on "showcasing educational outcomes × professional evaluation guidance × national honors announcement," this program builds a complete pathway from campus orchestra formation and regional demonstrations to a national platform and international connection.
OFFICIAL PROJECT MATERIALEvent materials source: official Aesthetic Education website
Music
CHINA INTERNATIONAL YOUTH ARTS FESTIVAL
From city showcases to the nation and the world
This program is designed for instrumental student arts clubs in universities, secondary and elementary schools, as well as off-campus youth groups. Through city branch venues, the Beijing national showcase, expert evaluations, masterclasses, exchange concerts, and a national aesthetic education symposium, orchestras' achievements in ensemble-building receive professional presentation and guidance for further development.
- City branch venues and the annual Beijing national showcase
- Assessment and professional feedback on campus orchestras' abilities
- International conductor masterclasses and teacher training
- Cross-regional joint rehearsals and exchange concerts
- Honors announcement, achievement certification, and international connection
21Provinces involved
103Cities involved
1, 091
Orchestras involved
Orchestras involved
99,280Number of participants
Figures are phased statistics published on the official Aesthetic Education event page, which is noted to be updated weekly.
PROGRAM ARCHITECTURE
Six Exchange Modules
From stage performances and professional evaluations to teacher forums, students, orchestras, and educators all find their place to grow within one city-wide program.
Opening & Closing Concerts
Grand theaters and professional stages host the annual opening, outstanding orchestra performances, honors ceremonies, and closing celebration.
Orchestra Performance Assessment
The Arts Committee and experts conduct live evaluations, offering guidance on artistic performance and long-term development for orchestras.
International Masterclasses
Conductors, performers, and education experts are invited to give hands-on guidance, exposing students and teachers to higher-level artistic approaches.
Inter-School Joint Rehearsals
Students from different cities and schools rehearse together, learning to listen, collaborate, and understand across cultures through ensemble playing.
Exchange Concerts
Centered on sharing rather than competition, each ensemble showcases its signature repertoire while broadening horizons through one another's music.
National Music Education Forum
Conductors, teachers, principals, and experts gather to share practical experience in ensemble building, curriculum, faculty training, and civic music education.
YOUTH VOICEStarting from the city,
finding their own voice on the world stage.
finding their own voice on the world stage.
WHAT STUDENTS TAKE HOME
What students take away,
01
02
03
04
What students take away,
isn't just a certificate
A broader artistic vision
Seeing how orchestras from different cities, formations, and teaching systems shape their own sound.
Cross-regional peer connections
Meeting new companions in rehearsals, daily life, and on stage, building musical friendships that outlast a single event.
Growth that accumulates
Through professional evaluation, performance records, and teacher feedback, turning stage experience into direction for the next stage of learning.
Cultural understanding and confidence
While coming to understand other cities' cultures, also rediscovering one's own land, team, and musical identity.
CITY CASE STUDY · GUANGZHOU
Guangzhou: Lingnan Culture and a Global Vision for the Greater Bay Area
The Guangzhou chapter centers on international artistic exchange, Lingnan musical culture, and the city's architectural landmarks, integrating professional performances, urban exploration, and youth arts education into a regionally distinctive exchange program.
THE EXCHANGE JOURNEYA complete
A complete
City Music Journey
Based on the orchestra's size, age range, artistic level, educational goals, and each city's character, the Foundation helps design workable cross-city exchange programs.
- 01
Needs Assessment and City Selection
Confirm the orchestra's background, number of participants, performance goals, and the cultural themes they wish to experience.
- 02
Orchestra and School Matching
Connect with local schools, youth palaces, city orchestras, and arts education institutions.
- 03
Repertoire and Exchange Design
Plan shared repertoire, sectional rehearsals, teacher exchange, and city cultural content.
- 04
City Showcase and Cultural Practice
Complete professional stage performances, inter-school exchange, cultural visits, and documentation of outcomes.
- 05
Outcome Extension and International Connection
Extend exchange outcomes to Wakayama, Europe, or other international music festival platforms.
PARTICIPATE · PARTNER · CONNECT
Let your orchestra,
Let your orchestra,
be heard in a new city
We welcome schools, youth orchestras, music education institutions, city cultural bodies, and corporate partners from Taiwan and abroad to jointly plan music exchanges, joint concerts, masterclasses, and teacher training programs in cities across China.