Changsha is demonstrating the charm of its unique cultural heritage to the world as a result of it being awarded the title "Culture City of East Asia 2017" and, as part of the program, holding an event called the "Year of Changsha".

Initiated in 2013, the Culture City of East Asia project is a tri-national event to promote cultural diversity throughout East Asia. Each year, China, South Korea and Japan vote to select one of their cities as the Culture City of East Asia to promote their national cultural development and encourage trilateral cultural exchanges.

Changsha, Harbin in Heilongjiang province and Sanya in Hainan province were the Chinese finalists for the honor this year. Changsha got the highest score of 93.4 in the competition and was crowned the winner.

Quanzhou in Fujian province, Qingdao in Shandong province and Ningbo in Zhejiang province were selected in 2014, 2015 and 2016, respectively.

The Culture Cities of East Asia 2017 - Changsha, Kyoto in Japan and Daegu in South Korea - will hold cultural activities to strengthen the exchanges. The Year of Changsha was held from April 18-20.

"Changsha, with a history of 3,000 years, has unique cultural spirit and boasts long-standing connections with Japan and South Korea," Xiang Zhaolun, vice-minister of the Ministry of Culture, said at the opening ceremony.

As an East Asia Culture City, Changsha will demonstrate its profound cultural heritage, developed public cultures, openness and active cultural exchanges on the international stage, he added.

At the National Reading Forum, one of the Year of Changsha activities, librarians and scholars from China, Japan and South Korea exchanged views on how to enhance public reading and build a universal reading system.