"Star Gazing in the Fantasy Night" Concludes on New Year's Eve, Shenzhen Science Fiction Week Closes in Shenzhen

On the evening of December 31st, the second Shenzhen Science Fiction Week of 2022 came to a close at the Ligao Paradise in Xiyong, Dapeng New District, Shenzhen. Preparations for the event lasted for half a year, and the Science Fiction Week officially kicked off on November 1st. The model of science fiction and cross-industry innovation once again swept through Shenzhen. More than ten science fiction popularization activities, including science fiction competitions, forums, lectures, science fiction dramas, open-air movie screenings, and astronomical observations, were held in Nanshan, Bao'an, Dapeng, and other places in Shenzhen. Several achievements in the science fiction industry were also launched during the Science Fiction Week. Over 6,000 science fiction fans and astronomy enthusiasts participated in the finale of this Science Fiction Week - the "Fantasy Night Stargazing" New Year's Eve event.

In his speech, Ma Guobin, the initiator and chairman of the Science Fiction Foundation, stated that the second Shenzhen Science Fiction Week, with the support and assistance of multiple institutions including the Shenzhen Reading Month Organizing Committee, Shenzhen Association for Science and Technology, Nanshan District Association for Science and Technology, Bao'an District Association for Science and Technology, and Shenzhen Astronomical Society, covered multiple regions in Shenzhen and continued to expand its influence. This further promoted the dissemination of science fiction culture in Shenzhen, enhanced the public awareness of science fiction culture, and facilitated consensus with the technology industry, cultural tourism industry, and science popularization industry. At the same time, science fiction, as an international language, also promoted the international exchange of Chinese science fiction.

It is understood that since the official launch of this year's Science Fiction Week on November 1st, numerous science fiction activities have been presented to the audience across the city. These include two live broadcast events from the Nantes Science Fiction Festival in France, a local writers' creation salon titled "Telling Chinese Science Fiction Stories Well in Shenzhen", the second "Popularizing the Future" Shenzhen Science Fiction Writing & Painting Competition for Primary and Secondary Schools, an open class on science fiction literary creation for teenagers in Nanshan District, as well as science fiction dramas "Unicorn" and "Cloud Body", and the Stargazing Fantasy Night on New Year's Eve.

Ma Yuepeng, initiator of the Science Fiction Fund and chairman of the organizing committee of the second Shenzhen Science Fiction Week, said, "One of the highlights of this year's Science Fiction Week is the Fantasy Night Stargazing New Year's Eve event. In the post-pandemic era, people are paying more attention to health and the harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. Against this backdrop, our Science Fiction Fund is empowering astronomical stargazing activities. Through such events, firstly, we actively respond to the government's call to build starry parks and dark night communities. Secondly, astronomical observation essentially explores the relationship between the starry sky and humanity through science popularization, and it is also a moment for us to collectively ponder and seek a community with a shared future for mankind."

Science fiction serves as a precursor to technology, a fact that has gradually been accepted by the industry. During the Science Fiction Week, the Science Fiction Foundation also reached a series of publishing contracts with Shenzhen Haitian Publishing House and Dunhuang Literature and Art Publishing House for young science fiction writers who won the Morningstar Dunhuang Cup next year. Additionally, strategic cooperation agreements were signed with the Shenzhen Astronomical Society, listed company Aotto Electronics (002587), and Hengyue ARVR Innovation and Entrepreneurship Base.

At the closing ceremony, Ms. Chen Muqing, Secretary-General of the Science Fiction Foundation, unveiled the "Dream City Plan," a science fiction cultivation initiative centered around Shenzhen. The plan aims to collaborate with universities and colleges in South China, Gansu, Henan, and other regions to nurture talents and produce works for the science fiction scene in Shenzhen. She also presented the Foundation's plans for 2023: one festival (Science Fiction Festival), one exhibition (Science Fiction Exhibition), one product (science fiction cultural and creative derivatives), and one community (Future Power Research Society). The focus will be on science fiction events, cultural and creative derivatives, and science popularization education.

The event site was filled with a festive atmosphere, brimming with the joyful rhythm of youth. In addition to open-air science fiction movies and interactive music, the author also noticed the sale of cultural and creative derivatives such as "The Three-Body Problem," "The Wandering Earth," and Chinese aerospace-related items. There were also dozens of professional astronomical telescopes aimed at the starry sky, and lively discussions were taking place on site, with occasional laughter and joy from adults and children. This event can be regarded as a grand occasion in the local science fiction and astronomy industry, attracting considerable attention. The camp effect was different from the usual award ceremony, immersing the participating audience in a refined and relaxing nostalgic camping atmosphere of science fiction space-time from start to finish. Mr. Lu Wei, the chief planner of the closing ceremony, said that in the post-pandemic era, the public psychology is more eager to return to nature. Therefore, the choice of location specifically took into account the needs of users. This should be the first time that the domestic science fiction community has adopted such an event format.