The 1990's saw a surge in the cultural demand and offer in Guangzhou. As we saw on Friday, in 1993, Guangzhou held the first New Year Symphonic concert, which was unprecedented. Pop music also exploded, and all these events were taken as signs of Guangzhou citizens' growing cultural awareness. Time had come for money to no longer be the only criteria on which to judge development.

Being the pilot province to carry out cultural restructuring, Guangdong has always been a pioneer in the art field to such a point that the cultural industry has become a key facture to Guangdong's economic growth with its added value reaching 100 billion Yuan, which puts the province in first position throughout all of China.

High class performances such as the New Year's concert, Masterpieces of Chinese Songs, Masterpieces of Chinese Singers have become Guangdong's cultural brands. Furthermore, the China Gold-bell Prize for Music is also held in Guangdong every year. Different kinds of cultural events help to improve citizens' awareness and aesthetic sensibilities.

Yu Qiqiang, Deputy-Director of the Provincial Cultural Bureau: "This year, the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra put on a performance at the Xinghai concert hall in Guangzhou. They also toured concert halls in Beijing and Shanghai. After the tour, they told us that Guangzhou's Xinghai Auditorium had the best musical equipment, and that the audience here was the most enthusiastic. They hope to return to Guangzhou again in two years."

(Yu Qiqiang, Deputy-Director of the Provincial Cultural Bureau says Guangzhou's Xinghai Auditorium has the best musical equipment.)

Development is of overriding importance in China, but it seems that Guangdong now clearly understands that development does not only include economic development, but also the quality and access to every kind of culture, from pop music to the most obscure intellectual art. Zhongshan city is a good example. Zhongshan Mobile and Zhongshan Power Supply Bureau hold a Culture and Art Festival every year, and they invited the famous pianist Lang Lang and dancer Yang Liping to put on performance for the audience.

"Through appreciation of music, we can improve our quality of life, as well as tastes in art and aesthetics. "

After thirty years of reform and opening up, Zhongshan continuously ranks fifth in the provincial economic output, and its GDP growth is also in the province's top ranks. Thanks to cultural restructuring, Zhongshan won the "Habitat Scroll of Honor Award" and "National Civilized City". Qiu Shuhong, Director of the Municipal Party Committee, Minister of the Propaganda Department says: "Through diverse cultural events, we enhance our economic structure. We use the least input, land, and resources to make the greatest profit and progress."