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Ancient Charm Hidden in Mountains and Waters, Global Friends within One Community

Ancient Charm Hidden in Mountains and Waters, Global Friends within One Community

丨 2026-09-12

——The Housing Branch of Diplomatic Service Group Corporation Ltd. Successfully Hosts Beijing WTown Experience Tour for Diplomatic Envoys in China

On September 12, 2026, a cultural experience event for diplomatic envoys in China, themed “Ancient Charm Hidden in Mountains and Waters, Global Friends within One Community,” was successfully held at Beijing WTown in Miyun District, Beijing. More than 100 diplomats and family members from the embassies of over 40 countries, invited by the Housing Branch of Diplomatic Service Group Corporation Ltd., gathered at the foot of the Great Wall and by the Tang River for a rendezvous with mountains and waters and also a rendezvous of friendship.

Part One: The Great Wall as a Window, Illuminating Millennia of China

The event opened with drumbeats. Two lion dance teams leaped into motion, and ethnic dancers moved with flowing sleeves.

“Today, whether strolling through the ancient town, climbing the Great Wall, boating on the Tang River, or experiencing intangible cultural heritage, I believe everyone can feel the unique charm of Chinese culture and the vigorous vitality of contemporary China from different perspectives,” said Zuo Peng, General Manager of the Housing Branch of Diplomatic Service Group Corporation Ltd., in his welcome address.

Nestled beneath the Simatai Great Wall and embracing the flowing waters of the Tang River, Beijing WTown is a rare waterside town in the north — often described as “half magnificent mountains and waters, half gentle warmth of everyday life.” The diplomats wandered through the ancient town in four groups. The ancient streets wound along, gray tiles and walls were scattered in orderly fashion, and the Tang River shimmered with emerald ripples. They visited the Sima Xiaoshao Distillery to learn about the traditional brewing process of “Beijing Laobaigan”; entered the Yongshun Dyeing Workshop to appreciate the natural beauty of plant dyeing and the historical inheritance of printing and dyeing techniques; visited the Zhenyuan Escort Agency to hear the legendary tales of ancient escort guards; and stepped into the Eight Banners Guild Hall to experience the unique style of Qing Dynasty military culture and Manchu folk customs. Every step offered a view, every hall told a story, and everyone was thoroughly engaged, stopping frequently to take photos.

In the afternoon, the diplomats took the cableway in groups to the Simatai Great Wall and climbed up along the footpath. Gazing from the heights, they looked out over the winding Tang River, the scattered rooftops of the old town, and the encircling mountains. The Great Wall and the water town set each other off to perfection, and a breathtaking scroll of “grand landscapes and gentle warmth” slowly unfolded before their eyes.

“Here one can both touch the historical richness of the Great Wall and savor the poetic life of a water town. This unique atmosphere where ancient and modern blend is deeply impressive,” said one diplomat attending the event.

Mountains and waters as a guide and culture as a medium, the event opened a window for diplomatic envoys in China to understand China, allowing friends from afar to read, through firsthand experience, a China with profound heritage and enduring cultural lineage, and to feel a China full of vitality, amiable and approachable. This is precisely the meaning of the Housing Branch’s mission to “serve China’s diplomatic cause, serve diplomatic missions.”

Part Two: Boat as a Bridge, Linking Friends across the Miles

Boating on the Tang River offered another kind of pleasure.

“Oars cleave the green reflection of the hills; the boat drifts over jade-green waves. The Great Wall rides the far-off peaks; the talk of guests blends with the limpid song.” The sculling boat glided slowly on. Buildings lined both banks, rising from the water, while in the distance the Great Wall undulated along the ridgeline. Seated face to face, the guests drank in the scenery and chatted at ease. They began by asking one another’s nationalities, then moved on to tales of life in China — conversation flowing with genuine interest. Short though the Tang River route was, it offered everyone a shared time on the same boat to deepen understanding.

Tang Duowen, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the Embassy of Trinidad and Tobago in China, said, “Such activities give long-term partners an opportunity to deepen understanding, and also allow friends from different countries and cultural backgrounds to enhance trust and deepen friendship through shared experiences.”

”Today’s gathering is both a rendezvous with mountains and waters and a rendezvous of friendship,” said General Manager Zuo Peng. It is the Housing Branch’s wish that acquaintance begin with a journey through mountains and waters, and that friendship take root in daily exchange. To build a platform where diplomats of various embassies can deepen understanding and learn from one another — that is the heart of what the Housing Branch hoped to convey through this rendezvous..

Part Three: Service as the Foundation, Welcoming Friends from All Over the World with Sincerity

A rendezvous with mountains and waters is also an opportunity to train the staff team and improve services.

Preparation had begun months in advance. The Marketing and Operation Department team made repeated trips to Beijing WTown to survey the site, checking off every detail such as tour routes, event venues and on-site catering. What to do in bad weather, how to arrange for guests with different levels of physical stamina, how to respond to emergencies... Only by thinking through situations in advance can support be truly implemented. From group tours to catering arrangements, from rain gear preparation to medical support, every careful plan served one goal: to let diplomats and their families enjoy the trip comfortably and travel with peace of mind.

At the event site, support staff came from departments including the Marketing and Operation Department and the Property Management Department, all of whom make frequent contacts with clients in their daily work. While sitting together with diplomats doing handicrafts and drinking tea, they chatted casually about their feelings regarding the living environment, community facilities, and daily services. What was working well, what might be improved, and what new expectations there were — the staff listened carefully and sought ideas for improving the quality of daily services through relaxed conversation.

”Looking ahead,” said General Manager Zuo Peng, “the Housing Branch of Diplomatic Service Group Corporation Ltd. will, as always, listen attentively and respond actively to the needs of various diplomatic missions in China, continue to improve the living environment of Diplomatic Residence Compounds, and constantly upgrade service quality to better meet residential and daily-life needs of all.”

Serving diplomacy lies in sincerity and matters in daily work. From the thorough support of a single event to meticulous service every day, the Housing Branch will carry out its duty to “serve China’s diplomatic cause, serve diplomatic missions” in concrete work, integrate sincerity toward friends from all over the world into every action, let guests from afar live in peace and enjoy their residence, and make Diplomatic Residence Compound a warm home that connects China and the world and conveys friendship.