Located in the southeastern region of Peru, Cusco served as the capital of the Inca Empire from the 13th century until the Spanish conquest in the 16th century. Every June, the city comes alive with the Inti Raymi, or “Sun Festival” – a major cultural event that celebrates the Inca legacy while embodying the harmony between Cusco’s historical roots and modern urban life.
The festival is now the second largest in South America and Cusco’s most significant annual event, drawing thousands of visitors from across Peru and beyond.
In a striking parallel on the other side of the world, the 3,000-year-old Sun and Immortal Birds Gold Ornament serves as a cultural beacon for Chengdu, China. Unearthed in 2001 at the Jinsha archaeological site, it features a vivid pattern of four birds flying around a fireball set on a red carpet. It embodies the sun and immortal birds of ancient Chinese mythology and is an invaluable material record of such old legends.
With its intricate patterns and profound symbolism, the motif has been adopted as both an official emblem of China’s cultural heritage and a signature icon of Chengdu’s identity.