April 14 — The “2026 Sichuan Tour for Overseas Chinese Media” brought over 20 representatives from 17 countries and regions to Chengdu’s Pidu District. Delegates visited the Embodied Intelligence Robot Base, Digital Smart Studio at Chengdu Film & Television City, and Ancient Town Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum, experiencing Pidu’s latest innovations in tech innovation, digital filmmaking, and the revitalization of intangible cultural heritage (ICH).

In the morning, a pilot assembly line for embodied intelligence robots in the Pidu High-Tech Industrial Park drew the delegation’s attention. On-site robot calibration, application demos, and a public enterprise service hub showcased the full industry chain: R&D, manufacturing, exhibition, and real-world deployment. Cheng Nüzhao, President of the U.S.-based China Tribune, noted: “Every time I engage with the robotics sector, I see clear technological leaps. The park’s integrated enterprise services are particularly impressive.”

Overseas Chinese media representatives tour the Zhiyuan Embodied Intelligence Robot Park. Photo by Zhang Lang

A senior official from the Pidu High-Tech Industrial Park Administration said Pidu, as a core hub for Chengdu’s AI industry chain, has lured leading embodied intelligence firms to cluster upstream and downstream suppliers, with full support for scenario development and university partnerships. An executive from Zhiyuan Southwest Embodied Intelligence Industrial Base confirmed the pilot line is fully commissioned: over 200 robot units have been trial-produced, with cross-sector application scenarios under active exploration. Huang Mei, Deputy Chief Editor of Spain’s La Voz China (formerly European Chinese Voice), remarked: “The industrialization of embodied intelligence gives the world a tangible understanding of Chengdu’s technological advancement.”

Next, the delegation visited the Digital Smart Studio at Chengdu Film & Television City, where virtual production stages and motion-capture studios were operational. Hundreds of LED screens formed a curved immersive backdrop, paired with a lifting sky dome and turntable system. During a live demo, virtual environments shifted in real time as cameras moved, vividly demonstrating how virtual production transforms traditional filmmaking workflows. A representative from Tencent Interactive Entertainment explained virtual production frontloads post-production, greatly boosting efficiency and cutting costs.

Opening ceremony of Chengdu Digital Smart Studio. Photo by Cheng Zhao

Overseas media representatives praised the studio’s cutting-edge design. Yuan Yan, Deputy Director of Washington Chinese TV (WATV), sensed Sichuan’s forward-looking transformation in the film and television industry. Shen Ming, head of the Short Video Department at Laos Information Network (58lao.com), emphasized the importance of building a film platform rooted in Western China’s cultural identity.

The day concluded at the Ancient Town Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum in Sandaoyan Town. Blending exhibitions, hands-on workshops, and cultural creation, the museum houses over 300 ICH artifacts — including lacquerware, Shu embroidery, and filigree silver work — offering a stark contrast to the high-tech venues earlier. 

Overseas Chinese media representatives visit the Ancient Town Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum. Photo by Zhang Lang

Zheng Haiyan, Deputy Chief Editor of Venezuela’s PanDa Ven News (Chinese American Herald of Venezuela), shared: “I used to see ICH only as static displays. Here you can watch, learn, and experience it — breathing new life into traditional crafts and bringing them back to the public.”