Culture is the underlying foundation. In order to comprehensively showcase the progress and achievements of Suzhou's cultural industry, demonstrate the innovative development of cultural enterprises in Suzhou, and enhance the sense of honor and belonging for cultural enterprises and entrepreneurs, the results of the first Suzhou Cultural Industry "Dongwu Award" (Culture Enterprise) selection have been officially announced recently. FriendTimes, due to its dedicated cultivation of local culture in Suzhou and its steady performance, has been selected as one of the Top 10 Pioneer Cultural Enterprises.

Under the guidance of the Publicity Department of Suzhou and the Suzhou Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, and Tourism, the Dongwu Award is organized by the Suzhou Daily Newspaper Group and the Suzhou Cultural and Creative Industries Association. After a series of strict evaluations, including qualification review, preliminary evaluation, online voting, and expert final evaluation, a total of 10 leading cultural enterprises and 10 growing cultural enterprises were selected. With its outstanding innovation capabilities, industry influence, and continuous dedication to Wu culture, FriendTimes stood out among many competitors and was selected as one of the Top 10 Pioneer Cultural Enterprises.

△ Top 10 Pioneer Cultural Enterprises

As a company rooted in the local culture of Suzhou, FriendTimes combines in-depth exploration of Wu Culture and the inheritance and promotion of Suzhou culture. With cultural empowerment as its driving force, FriendTimes integrates cultural and creative products with the essence of Suzhou's intangible cultural heritage. Since its inception, FriendTimes has cultivated its brand culture with meticulous craftsmanship, incorporating elements of Suzhou culture such as Kunqu Opera, gardens, Suzhou embroidery, and the Ten Scenic Spots of the Grand Canal. For example, in the mobile game Fate of the Empress, the company collaborated with representative inheritors of the Suzhou Taohuawu woodblock print to create traditional New Year prints with the core themes of koi, dragon gates, and Spring Festival, emphasizing tradition and cultural significance when conveying traditional cultural heritage as the core concept. FriendTimes's product Promise of Lingyun also crosses over with Suzhou embroidery, Suzhou paper-cutting art, and Kunqu Opera. In the game, the outfit called Veiled Stage was inspired by Kunqu Opera costumes, combining contemporary artistic elements to delve into cultural connotation and era value in an educational and entertaining way. Together, they conveyed the classic charm of Chinese culture and promote the brand of "Jiangnan culture" to further enhance its popularity.

Furthermore, FriendTimes firmly holds cultural confidence and activates new momentum for digital development. While achieving rapid domestic business growth, FriendTimes also actively integrates high-quality game content with traditional Chinese culture through diverse digital means. They incorporate local cultural characteristics from overseas markets and continuously explore new interpretations of excellent traditional culture in the digital age. They actively shoulder the responsibility of being "ambassadors of traditional culture" by facilitating cultural communication and exchange between countries. They contribute to promoting Suzhou culture in the international market and allowing more users from both domestic and international backgrounds to experience the beauty of traditional Suzhou culture.

Throughout its history, FriendTimes has been dedicated to the preservation of traditional culture while also embracing new trends. The company has always focused on cultivating cultural heritage and maintaining a sustainable development through innovative ideas. Leveraging its technological advantages, FriendTimes expands the positive value boundaries of games through cross-industry collaboration.

In the future, FriendTimes will fully explore high-quality intellectual properties that embody the distinctive traditional culture of Suzhou. By utilizing its independent research and development capabilities, the company will further digitize and empower traditional culture, exploring innovative paths for cultural dissemination. It aims to inherit and promote the cultural genes of Suzhou by appealing to the preferences of contemporary youth. FriendTimes will create more internet cultural and creative products that highlight the unique features of Suzhou's culture, while spreading the Wu Culture in a more creative manner. It aspires to make greater contributions to the high-quality development of Suzhou's cultural industry.