Yantai launches its first Japanese language city biography on April 18. [Photo/New Star Press]

On April 18, the Japanese launch event for The Biography of Yantai, the first city biography of Yantai, Shandong province in the Silk Road City Biographies series, took place in Tokyo. Representatives from China International Communications Group, Yantai authorities, publishing staff from both China and Japan, overseas students, and literature enthusiasts attended the event.

The Biography of Yantai is the citys first-ever biography, written by renowned local author Wang Yuepeng. The author explores Yantais ancient legends, extraordinary places, remarkable figures, unique customs, and pioneering creations, presenting both the ordinary and extraordinary aspects of Yantai.

Wang, reflecting on the creative process, said that writing the biography gave him a deeper understanding of the relationship between a writer and the land beneath his feet, and he hopes that the book will give Japanese readers a better understanding of Yantai.

Since its launch in 2017, the Silk Road City Biographies project has seen the publication of over 60 city biographies in six languages exploring cities in countries such as China, Russia, Argentina, Italy, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Panama. This initiative has become an important gateway for readers to understand urban civilization and evolution, providing a significant platform for contemporary writers to engage in urban literary creation.