The opening ceremony of the Zhejiang leg of the 2026 Looking China — Foreign Youth Film Project exchange activity is held in Quzhou. [Photo/Sanqu App]

The Zhejiang leg of the 2026 Looking China — Foreign Youth Film Project exchange activity commenced on May 11 at the Chinese Confucianism Museum in Quzhou, Zhejiang province, aiming to foster cultural exchange through filmmaking.

Ten young filmmakers from seven countries including Spain, South Korea, Russia, Italy, and Argentina have gathered in Quzhou, known as the "Home of Southern Confucianism", for a 17-day creative journey.

"This marks the second consecutive year that Quzhou is hosting this event. Last year's Quzhou tour produced 10 short documentaries that shared vivid Chinese stories with the world," said Sheng Xiongsheng, director of the Quzhou Southern Confucian Culture Development Center. "These films were screened in countries like Argentina, Zambia, and Portugal, with some winning the 'Looking at China · Golden Eye Award'."

This year, the focus is on themes such as urban historical transitions, the inheritance of Confucian culture, and cultural vitality. 

Sheng expressed hope the young filmmakers would capture the charm of Chinese culture and the warmth and vitality of Chinese society.

Adria Guxens, a professor from Spain's ESCAC Film School, encouraged young filmmakers to create with passion and discover Quzhou's beauty from unique perspectives.

Since its inception in 2011, the "Looking China" project has aimed to present a credible, lovable, and respectable image of China through the eyes of foreign youth, said Luo Jun, vice-dean of the Academy for International Communication of Chinese Culture at Beijing Normal University.