Southwest China’s Chongqing municipality held its first Science Fiction Forum recently. 

Chongqing holds 1st Science Fiction Forum on Oct. 31, 2019.

The forum was co-sponsored by the Chongqing Science Writers Association and the Open Class Magazines.

Jian Qu, editor-in-chief of the Open Class Magazines extended his warm welcome to the guests from the sci-fi circle. He hoped that the forum would bring Chongqing, a cyberpunk-styled city, into the works of Chinese sci-fi writers.

Attendees to the forum included renowned Chinese sci-fi writers Wang Jinkang, Han Song, Chen Qiufan, He Xi, and Jiang Bo; senior sci-fi editors Yao Haijun and La Zi; sci-fi professionals Wu Yan, Yang Feng, and Fan Yilun, as well as local sci-fi celebrities Shu Mingwu, Li Guangyi and Duan Ziqi. They exchanged ideas on various topics including “the history of sci-fi in Chongqing”, “cyberpunk in Chongqing”, and “urban culture and sci-fi”.

In addition, the World Chinese Science Fiction Association (CSFA) established its southwest China liaison office during the forum, following setting up the offices in northeast China and in northwest China respectively before. Dong Renwei, co-founder of CSFA and the Xingyun Awards for Global Chinese Science Fiction, awarded the nameplate to the CSFA Southwest China Workstation. Li Guangyi was director of the liaison office, and Xiao Xinghan and Yang Wanqing deputy directors.

Writers attending the forum agreed that the landscape of Chongqing, especially its night views, coincided with the aesthetic style of cyberpunk very much. Meanwhile, Chongqing has long been an industrial base of China and is making big progress in AI and other new technologies, therefore it is very inspirational to sci-fi writers. Amid the current good momentum seen in the development of Chinese sci-fi, sci-fi in Chongqing was expected to make big headways.

Wu Yan, a renowned Chinese sci-fi culture researcher, and Liu Xinzhong, president of the Open Class Magazines, delivered speeches at the end of the forum.

As the highest-level sci-fi gathering in Chongqing, the Chongqing Sci-fi Forum will be held annually in the future. It will focus on local sci-fi, follow the development of local sci-fi talents, and keep track of local sci-fi industry. Renowned sci-fi scholars from both China and abroad will also be invited. Each year, the forum will have a different theme. An award for local sci-fi works is also in the pipeline to promote local sci-fi. 

In recent years, the sci-fi committee of the Chongqing Science Writers Association has organized a series of events to promote sci-fi in Chongqing and cultivate local talents. In the future, there will be more exchange programs. Sci-fi writers will be invited to campuses to give lectures. In the meantime, the association will organize local writers to go outside of Chongqing and visit places where sci-fi enjoys booming growth for exchanges with local sci-fi writers.