The 2026 International Youth Poetry Festival's Special Session for Arab Countries will be held in Guangdong and Beijing this May. Young poets and sinologists from 14 Arab countries, including the United Arab Emirates, will join over 100 young Chinese poets to mark a new milestone in inter-civilization exchange.

Guangdong, serving as the first stop, has prepared a warm welcome. The festival features Yo Yo, a mascot whose name is derived from the Classic of Poetry, created by the same designer behind Bing Dwen Dwen. Other highlights include the festival's theme song, Flame of Youth, with lyrics written in Cantonese, and the release of Poetry Records of Lingnan, a collection showcasing the region's literary heritage. During the festival, which runs through May 17th, participants will visit the Canton Tower, take night cruises on the Pearl River, tour tech enterprises, and attend special events such as visiting Lingnan buildings and watching Cantonese opera to experience Lingnan culture and urban charm.

The literary bond between Guangdong and Arab countries is profound. As early as the Tang Dynasty, Guangzhou established "Fanfang" (foreign quarters)for Arab and Persian merchants. The voyages of Sindbad in "One Thousand and One Nights" were inspired by the real-life travels of an Omani sailor to Guangzhou in the mid-8th century. In 2018, Syrian poet Adonis visited Guangzhou to plant a symbolic osmanthus tree and later wrote the long poem "Osmanthus." At this year's opening ceremony, Guangdong poet Huang Lihai will recite his original work, "Adonis is an Osmanthus Tree".

In recent years, Guangdong literature has made steady progress in its global reach, with works such as "The Pulse of the Greater Bay Area"having their Arabic copyrights licensed and successfully published. The Guangdong Provincial Writers' Association aims to use this festival to promote literary innovation and provide a platform for young poets to broaden their horizons and refine their craft through exchange.

2026国际青春诗会即将开幕：中阿诗人广东共赴诗意之约

这个五月，2026国际青春诗会（中国-阿拉伯国家专场）将在广东、北京两地举办，来自阿联酋等14个国家的青年诗人、汉学家将与过百位中国青年诗人齐聚，共谱文明互鉴新篇章。

作为首站，广东拿出了十足诚意：请“冰墩墩”设计师打造源于《诗经》的吉祥物“呦呦”、粤语填词国际青春诗会主题曲《青春火焰》、推出《岭南诗叶》集结岭南文脉。一直到5月17日，诗人们将登广州塔、夜游珠江、访科技企业，参加“当粤剧遇见诗歌”等特色活动，感受岭南风情与都市魅力。

广东与阿拉伯国家文学情缘可谓深厚。早在唐代，广州曾设有“藩坊”供阿拉伯及波斯外商居住；《一千零一夜》辛伯达航海故事就取材于公元8世纪中叶阿曼航海家远航广州的经历；2018年叙利亚诗人阿多尼斯访穗种下桂花树，创作长诗《桂花》；本届诗会开幕式上，广东诗人黄礼孩也将朗诵原创诗歌《阿多尼斯是一棵桂花树》。

近年来，广东文学“走出去”步伐稳健，《脉动大湾》等一众广东作品分别落地出版、输出阿拉伯版权。广东省作协将以诗会为契机，推动文学融合创新，也让青年诗人在交流中开阔视野、提升技艺。

文｜记者 梁善茵 熊安娜
图｜主办方提供
译｜徐芷晴
英文审校｜林佳岱