How Chongqing Became a Creative City of Design Granted by UNESCO

Chongqing - Chongqing has been recently designated as the Creative City of Design City in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network for 2023, highlighting its role as a crucial witness to China's progress and global integration through design. The journey began in 1978 when the mayor of Chongqing visited Europe, sparking a revolution in thought that led to the creation of an iconic city sculpture on the first Yangtze River Bridge.

Wang Guanyi, a sculpting artist from the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, led the design team, creating a sculpture featuring four human figures representing the seasons and a spirit of enterprise. Despite initial skepticism and opposition, the sculpture, adorned with ribbons inspired by ancient mural art, became a national sensation, symbolizing the arrival of a new era.

The impact of design in Chongqing extends beyond sculpture to industrial design, exemplified by Changan Auto, a local automotive giant with over 60 years of history. From joint ventures with foreign companies to independently designing electric vehicles, Changan's design team has played a pivotal role in the city's industrial growth.

Mi Mengdong, General Manager of Changan's Global Design Center, emphasizes the importance of emotional value in contemporary design. As autonomous driving technology evolves, he envisions designs that meet functional demands and liberate users' hands and feet, addressing emotional needs in fragmented moments of life.