On July 17th, 2025, the launch ceremony for the "Open bidding for selecting the best candidates on literature creation" under the "China's First Village of Writers" initiative was held in Zhangmutou Town, Dongguan.

With the theme "Surging Tides of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA)," the project centers on local narratives in Guangdong, particularly in Dongguan, as well as the spirit of the GBA and the Chinese story. In addition, two theoretical and critical research topics have been established, namely "New Popular Literature and Art" and "China's First Writers' Village," aiming to deepen the study of cultural phenomena in the GBA.

Xiang Xin, the Executive Vice President of the Guangdong Provincial Writers Association, stated that the launch of this project fully reflects the cultural responsibility and ambition of Dongguan, a city with a GDP exceeding one trillion and a population surpassing ten million. "Writers remain the most active driving force in literary productivity. They hold great promise and can be truly relied upon," she said.

Since China's reform and opening up, Dongguan has emerged as a major place for migrant workers' literature. A large influx of workers from across the country has settled in Dongguan, giving rise to prominent writers such as Wang Shiyue, Zheng Xiaoqiong and Liu Dongwu.

In 2006, the Dongguan Academy of Literature and Arts became the first among China's prefecture-level cities to launch a contract-based writing program for writers across China. Many writers were drawn to the area for research and inspiration. Attracted by the town's livable environment and convenient transportation, these writers settled down, gradually forming a literary residency community. In 2010, Zhangmutou Town established the cultural brand "China's First Village of Writers." Since 2023, the village has taken physical form in the Guancang Community, Zhangmutou Town, and has been upgraded to version 2.0. Currently, 97 writers have settled there.

Source:PEARL

东莞“中国作家第一村”文学创作“揭榜挂帅”项目正式发布

7月17日，2025 年 “中国作家第一村” 文学创作“揭榜挂帅”项目发布会在东莞樟木头镇举行。

项目以“潮涌大湾区”为创作主题，重点聚焦广东尤其是东莞本土叙事、大湾区时代精神、中国故事。同时，设立“新大众文艺”“中国作家第一村”两个理论评论课题，深化湾区文化现象研究。

广东省作家协会党组书记、专职副主席向欣说，项目发布启动，充分体现了“双万之城”的文化担当、文化抱负。“作家仍然是文学生产力中最活跃的因素，大有可为、值得信赖。”

改革开放以来，东莞成为打工文学的重要策源地。大量来自全国各地的务工者聚集在东莞，涌现了王十月、郑小琼、柳冬妩等知名打工文学作家。

2006年，东莞文学艺术院在全国地级市中率先面向全国作家开展签约创作，众多作家慕名前来采风。作家们因樟木头镇环境宜居、交通便利而定居，自此形成一个文学驻创群落。2010年，樟木头镇创建“中国作家第一村”文化品牌。2023年以来，“作家村”在樟木头官仓社区落地实体村落，升级为2.0版。现有97位作家入驻。

文｜记者 余宝珠 石梦卓
图｜记者 王俊伟
翻译｜盛嘉
英文审校｜肖凯欣