The Fifth China Tianjin Binhai New Area Writing Program for International Writers opened at Binhai Holiday Inn on August 31. The event seeks to promote Tianjin culture to the world and to improve its international influence through literature.

Writers from various countries attend the Fifth China Tianjin Binhai New Area Writing Program for International Writers. [Photo/enorth]

The 2016 program, themed as "New City and Old City", will last for 31 days, during which writers will visit many places in Tianjin to learn about its history and citizens' daily lives. They will also read traditional literature about the city to help with their own Tianjin story compositions.

More than 100 writers and literati from various countries attended the activity, 14 of whom are well-known internationally, such as Dinko Telekan from Croatia, Ewa Maria Zelenay from Poland, Jonathan Blum from the US, Sonia Di Placido from Canada, Heng Liang from Beijing, and Wu Xin from Tianjin.

Participants ponder the theme of this year's event at the opening ceremony. [Photo/enorth]

The writing program, which has been held every year since 2011, is sponsored by the China Writers Association, the publicity department of the Binhai New Area District Committee and the Binhai New Area District Administration of Culture and Radio.