Every Saturday evening, the steps around the square on the right bank of Jinji Lake are filled with audiences of all ages. As dusk falls and lights gradually illuminate the area, a music feast begins.

The moment the trumpet ensemble, comprised of musicians from different countries, finished performing “Hungarian Dance No. 5”, a young dancer in traditional Chinese costume leaped into the spotlight. This fusion of Eastern and Western elements, along with the blend of classical and contemporary art forms, vividly embodies the openness and inclusiveness of SIP.

Ms. Wang, who was taking a stroll with her child, stopped to listen to the music. “The melodies are all familiar to me,” she said.

At the open-air concerts themed “Summer Night in SIP”, people of different ages and backgrounds found a common rhythm.

A few kilometers away, the Suzhou Olympic Sports Centre has also become a hot destination for music enthusiasts. Concerts from famous singers have come one after another, captivating audiences from around the country and even overseas.

“Every year’s concert is not just a performance, but an annual ritual for me and those who love the same music to reconnect,” said a girl from Chengdu, Sichuan province.

This summer, SIP is using music to mend the interpersonal connections fractured by the digital age and rebuild a sense of “proximity” for everyone.