Ren Xiang: Elevate Henan's cultural treasures into influential global IPs

Ren Xiang: Elevate Henan's cultural treasures into influential global IPs

2026委员通道丨任翔：把中原文化精粹打造成有影响力的世界IP

In the streets of London, a steaming bowl of Spicy and Peppery Soup (Hulatang in Chinese) not only eases the homesickness of Chinese expatriates but also captivates foreign foodies, showcasing the global appeal of Henan culture. On January 25, the 4th session of the 13th CPPCC Henan Provincial Committee convened at the Henan People's Hall. During the event, Ren Xiang, a member of the provincial CPPCC shared his insights on promoting Henan culture abroad, using the international popularity of Spicy and Peppery Soup as an example.

在伦敦街头，一碗热腾腾的胡辣汤不仅慰藉了海外游子的乡愁，更让外国食客大呼惊喜，成为河南文化出海的鲜活注脚。1月25日，河南省政协十三届四次会议在省人民会堂隆重开幕，省政协委员任翔以“胡辣汤出海”为例，分享了他对河南文化“出海”的看法。

"As a family member of Chinese nationals living abroad and a returnee, it is my duty to share the story of my hometown, Henan, with people around the world," Ren Xiang said. He noted that Spicy and Peppery Soup is just one of many aspects of Henan culture gaining popularity internationally. For example, the Yellow Emperor Worship Ceremony has gained widespread acclaim both at home and abroad. Ren has been leading efforts to organize the Worship Ceremony for the Chinese community in the United Kingdom for the past six years.

“作为一名侨眷和海归，向世界讲好家乡河南故事，是我的一份使命和责任。”任翔说，除了胡辣汤，河南文化在海外出圈的可不少，比如新郑黄帝故里拜祖大典在海内外影响很大，他也先后6年牵头在英国自发举办“同拜活动”。

With a rich cultural heritage spanning thousands of years, how can Henan better promote and develop its traditional culture on the global stage? Ren Xiang proposed  introducing policies to uncover Henan's world-class cultural resources, including the Yellow Emperor, the Yellow River, oracle bone inscriptions, and Tai Chi. He emphasized the need to accelerate the registration of cultural and creative intellectual properties and brands overseas. He also stressed the importance of telling China's stories well, ensuring that Henan's cultural products not only reach global markets but also generate substantial returns.

河南积淀了几千年的优秀传统文化，如何更好地在海外传播和发展？任翔希望河南出台相关政策，鼓励各方发掘好河南的黄帝、黄河、甲骨文、太极等世界级文化资源，加快在海外注册文创IP和品牌，讲好中国故事，让河南文化产品不仅跑出去，还要赚回来。

Ren Xiang recommended that Henan leverage national and provincial international communication centers and institutions to better integrate the province's cultural industry resources and capabilities. He proposed planning annual themed activities for cultural promotion abroad, establishing platforms that align with overseas  communication, and enhancing the use of technology in digital intangible cultural heritage and AI-driven creative industries. These initiatives aim to develop new, youth-oriented business models that appeal to global consumers, ensuring that cultural promotion abroad is both dynamic and sustainable.

任翔认为，可借助国家级、省级国际传播中心和机构，进一步凝聚本省文化产业资源和能力，谋划“年度文化出海主题”，构建符合海外战略传播体系的“戏台”，强化数字非遗、AI文创等科技赋能，打造年轻人喜爱、支持全球消费的新业态，让文化出海有血有肉、自我造血。

"A global vision rooted in China should be embraced, with direct flights connecting cities like London and Milan to Zhengzhou, and the 240-hour visa-free transit policy being leveraged to invite foreigners to experience the best of Henan," Ren said. "They can enjoy Mixue drinks, savor Banu hot pot, shop for diamonds, and explore cultural tourism, and all of these will help enhance Henan's global profile and reputation." Looking ahead to the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), Ren expressed his commitment to building bridges for cultural exchange and mutual understanding abroad, ensuring that Henan culture is heard, understood and remembered worldwide.

“要立足中国拥抱全球的格局，依托从伦敦、米兰到郑州的直飞航班，用好240小时过境免签政策，将全球友人‘请进来’深度体验消费，来喝蜜雪、品巴奴、买钻石、玩文旅，推动河南在全球口碑二次传播和引流。”任翔说，面向“十五五”，他将继续尽力搭起海外文明互鉴的桥梁，让河南文化在全世界被听见、被读懂、被记住。（中文来源：大河网 记者：田凯中 刘远 编译：杨佳欣 审校：丁岚 赵汉青）