In recent years, Haiyan has emerged as a leader in cultural development, securing the top position in the province as a model zone for Zhejiang's public cultural service system and ranking fourth in the province as a national civilized city. The county has hosted high-profile events such as the provincial rural cultural auditorium's "Our Village Gala," exemplifying its vibrant cultural practices that lay a solid foundation for building a modern civilization model in Chinese counties.

In 2024, Haiyan focused on comprehensive coordination, strengthening its cultural infrastructure, promoting cultural benefits for the public, and advancing industrial development to foster cultural prosperity across the county. Throughout the year, over 50 cultural activities were organized, including performances, exhibitions, and lectures. The county upgraded its public cultural facilities, achieving a coverage of 2,626 square meters per 10,000 residents, ranking first in Jiaxing city and fourth in Zhejiang province.

The thriving development of the arts in Haiyan is closely tied to the efforts of cultural commissioners, who have become a vibrant part of community life. Before the Year of the Snake Spring Festival, these commissioners were active across villages and communities, imparting skills, nurturing culture, and promoting new trends, becoming a beautiful landscape in the cultural life of Haiyan residents.

At the 2025 Haiyan County Rural Cultural Auditorium's "Our Village Gala" Spring Festival Evening, an intercultural song and dance performance by international students from Zhejiang Gongshang University captivated the audience, highlighting the fusion and exchange of Chinese and foreign cultures on the village stage and delivering a spectacular cultural feast. This event also allowed the people of Haiyan to experience the sparks created by cultural exchanges.

Haiyan has long placed great emphasis on cultural development, laying a solid foundation for its "Hometown of Literature" brand. In 2024, Haiyan was successfully named "China's Hometown of Literature," a title backed by a rich literary heritage. From Gan Bao, the Jin Dynasty pioneer of Chinese supernatural fiction, to Tang Dynasty poet Gu Kuang, Song Dynasty Chang Tang, author of Ganshui Annals, and modern cultural giants like Zhang Yuanji and Zhang Leping, "Father of Sanmao", to contemporary literary figures such as avant-garde writer Yu Hua and Hugo Award-nominated science fiction author Baoshu, Haiyan has produced a galaxy of literary talents.

A land nurtured by culture, Haiyan's passion for literature remains strong. In Shendang Town's the Conception & Geometry Books - Barn Bookstore, visitors flock during holidays, with parking lots full and literary enthusiasts gathering. Throughout Haiyan, places like the ever-crowded Zhang Yuanji Library, the "Hanfen Smart Bookroom" on street corners, and "Rural Libraries" in the countryside reflect a rich literary atmosphere.

To democratize cultural access and enhance citizens' quality of life through cultural engagement, Haiyan has executed a comprehensive cultural infrastructure plan through strategic zoning and substantial investment. The development framework features four distinct cultural clusters. Southern Cluster: A cultural enclave housing the City Library, History Museum, Zhang Leping Memorial Hall, Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition Center, and Qiyuan Cultural Plaza. Northern Hub: Modern complexes including the Grand Theater and Public Fitness Center, offering performing arts and wellness facilities. Western Gateway: The Cultural Arts Center serves as an integrated cultural service portal with multifunctional spaces for exhibitions and community events. Eastern Landmark: The Hangzhou Bay Sunrise Observatory, ingeniously integrated with the ancient Fish-scale Seawall (a Ming Dynasty marine engineering marvel), has emerged as a premier coastal destination for cultural tourism and leisure activities.

Culture is the soul of a place and a vital force in driving development. In 2025, Haiyan will continue to enhance its cultural offerings, promote the spread of outstanding traditional culture, and increase the influence of cultural figures, further solidifying its "Hometown of Literature" brand. The county plans to host over 100 cultural activities and sports events, deepening its "Zhejiang's Grace, Haiyan's Embrace" county civilization brand. It will also implement the "Ten Actions" for exploring modern Chinese civilization in Zhejiang, advancing the standardization and equalization of urban and rural public cultural services, and promoting the integration of culture and tourism, contributing Haiyan's cultural strength to the Zhejiang chapter of Chinese modernization.