Zhongshan's Sunwen West Road pedestrian street was aglow with neon lights and bustling with visitors on the evening of September 3. Among the crowds were not only local people and general tourists but also a group of special friends from home and abroad. Strolling under the covered arcades of century-old buildings, the guests frequently raised their phones to capture the nightscape, architecture and cross-cultural novelty, preserving them in both photo albums and their first impressions of the city.

The Asia-Pacific Media Forum, with the theme "Building a Path to Shared Prosperity for the Asia-Pacific Community: Media Consensus and Action," opened on September 5 in Shenzhen, Guangdong province. Ahead of the forum, the organizer invited representatives from mainstream media, senior journalists and influential KOLs (key opinion leaders) from Asia-Pacific economies to tour Guangdong, and the delegation visited Zhongshan on September 3 and 4.

"I highly recommend visiting Zhongshan!" Said Kaelyn Dekarube, secretary for media of Nauru. She naturally became an impromptu tourism ambassador of Zhongshan on her first trip to the city. In her view, the pedestrian street artfully blends historical heritage with a vibrant commercial atmosphere, exuding a unique charm.

Sharadchandra Bhandari, editor‑in‑chief of the National News Agency of Nepal, was impressed by the adaptive utilization of the century-old arcades. He noted that Zhongshan has preserved its old buildings through innovative renovation and restoration, retaining its historical roots amid modernization. "This is the most precious heritage for future generations," he added.