CHENGDU, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The 81st World Science Fiction Convention opened on October 18th night in the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu, marking China's first time holding the world's largest and most influential science fiction carnival.
The five-day event, highlighting the symbiotic relationship between science fiction (sci-fi) and the city, will include the opening and closing ceremonies, the Hugo Awards and salons.
Science fiction enthusiasts from five continents will rendezvous in China to discuss visions of the future and exchange views on the new trend of technology, focusing on the direction of humanity and even Earth's destiny in the universe.
Science fiction art
The science fiction art known as "Prophecy for Tomorrow" is particularly eye-catching at this time, and the theme of this year's science fiction convention is "Symbiosis Era."
Modern science fiction was born in the United Kingdom in 1818 and is seen as a product of the sci-tech revolution and the industrial revolution.
This young genre of literature and art was introduced to China by Lu Xun, a renowned Chinese writer, and others in the early 20th century.
It focuses on science and fantasy, considers the changes of the times brought about by sci-tech progress and explores the future possibilities of mankind and the world.
In 1939, the first Worldcon was held in New York, reflecting that in the 20th century, when the theories of relativity and quantum mechanics emerged, human evolution entered a new stage, ushering in endless possibilities and great challenges.
Why Chengdu?
Chengdu is the second Asian city hosting this convention, with more than 80 years of history.
The 65th World Science Fiction Conference in Japan's Yokohama in 2007 saw only a four-member delegation from China.
This year, thousands of Chinese science fiction writers and fans are gathering in Chengdu, sharing their knowledge of new technology and their visions of world.
The decision to hold the 81st Worldcon in Chengdu was made at the 79th Worldcon in Washington, D.C., in 2021.
Chengdu, as a bidding city, won the hosting competition after voting by sci-fi fans from around the world. The success is related to the vigorous development of Chinese science fiction.
Chengdu is home to "Science Fiction World," a magazine with the largest circulation of all science fiction publications globally, and is an important base of China's scientific innovation.