Summary: The article emphasizes the importance of upholding and promoting Chinese cultural identity and civilization, as highlighted by Xi Jinping's Thought on Culture. Xi Jinping underscored the necessity of understanding history, especially Chinese history, for effective governance and policy-making, referencing his past actions in cultural preservation and his belief that Chinese success is rooted in its unique characteristics and socialist path. He stressed the need to integrate Marxism with Chinese realities and traditional culture, advocating for the protection and creative transformation of cultural heritage. Xi also called for strengthening China's influence and discourse in international archaeology, emphasizing the need to explore effective mechanisms for cultural and technological integration to foster new cultural industries. He highlighted the significance of drawing wisdom from Chinese history and traditions for modern governance and promoting core socialist values and patriotism.
Summary: During the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays, rural tourism continued to be popular, becoming a new highlight of holiday consumption. Rural tourism and leisure agriculture have experienced rapid growth since the "14th Five-Year Plan," generating approximately 900 billion yuan in revenue last year. Local officials like Xiong Xiaoliang, the county head of Tonggu County, Jiangxi Province, noted the integration of agriculture, culture, and tourism to promote the development of transportation, catering, and accommodation. The article emphasizes the integration of urban and rural infrastructure, showcasing examples like the "Lishangou Inn" in Dawa Village, Hebei Province, and the homestays in Shangsiyuan Village, Shandong Province, where improved infrastructure has attracted tourists. The article does not mention the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson announced that Premier Li Qiang will lead a Chinese party and government delegation to North Korea from October 9-11. He will attend the 80th anniversary celebrations of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea and conduct an official friendly visit.
Summary: A Beijing-based SF Express courier, Liu Kuo, discussed the improvements in working conditions due to the establishment of "warm-hearted stations" (暖心驿站) offering amenities and support. Liu recalled Xi Jinping's 2019 visit, emphasizing the recognition of couriers' contributions. According to Wang Hongtian, Section Chief of the Xicheng District Committee's Social Work Department, the stations exemplify a people-centric development philosophy. The expansion of such services reflects national-level support for new employment forms as outlined in the "14th Five-Year Plan" and the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee. Liu, now a Party member, also participates in community services, mirroring similar initiatives in other cities.
Summary: The article highlights the dedication and hard work of laborers across various sectors who remained on duty during the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays. It emphasizes their commitment and sense of responsibility demonstrated through their diligent work. The article focuses on praising the labor of these unnamed workers. There is no mention of specific individuals, the United States, or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: During the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays, many regions in China leveraged online traffic to boost local cultural tourism, establishing a "traffic economy" model. Shanghai's focus on developing a "traffic-oriented economy" aims to promote the high-frequency flow and value-added of capital, goods, technology, and talent. Success hinges on regions leveraging their unique strengths to converge and integrate various elements, releasing new momentum for development. The shift from quantity to quality, exemplified by Harbin and Zibo, involves converting service experiences into practical improvements in the business environment. This localized approach focuses on converting "traffic" into qualitative improvements to drive high-quality development.
Summary: Xinjiang has significantly improved its logistics infrastructure, particularly in rural areas, by implementing the "Express Delivery to Villages" project, achieving over 96% village coverage. This initiative involves establishing logistics hubs and utilizing "rail-to-road" container trains, reducing transportation times and costs, with the goal of making e-commerce more accessible to consumers in Xinjiang. One strategy has been establishing collection centers such as those in Hangzhou and Xi'an which consolidate packages before shipping to Xinjiang. This has enabled faster delivery times and lower costs, with some e-commerce platforms now offering free shipping to the region. The improved logistics have also boosted the sales of local agricultural products, such as grapes and melons, to consumers across China.
Summary: Chinese scientists, analyzing samples from the Chang'e-6 mission, have discovered that the lunar mantle on the far side of the moon is "colder" than the near side. This finding, based on petrological and geochemical analysis of lunar soil, provides scientific data supporting the "dichotomy" of the moon and its evolutionary history. The research team's analysis of basalt samples revealed a lower crystallization temperature on the far side compared to the near side, indicating a cooler mantle. The collaborative research was conducted by the Beijing Research Institute of Geology of the China National Nuclear Corporation, Peking University, and Shandong University. The study was published in *Nature Geoscience*.
Summary: Wencheng County in Zhejiang Province is capitalizing on the burgeoning "low-altitude economy" by offering helicopter tours of scenic areas like Baizhangji Waterfall, attracting tourists during the recent national holiday. The county has launched the "Low-Altitude Tour of Wencheng" program, featuring electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, and is integrating aerial experiences with ground-based events. Other areas in Zhejiang, such as Haining City, are also experiencing success with "aerial sightseeing," including helicopter tours to view tidal bores. These initiatives aim to boost tourism and develop a comprehensive low-altitude tourism industry in the province. There is no mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: During the National Day holiday, Zigong leveraged the "Sichuan Super League" ("川超") soccer tournament to boost tourism, offering free access to attractions and transportation, and discounts at local businesses to ticket holders. According to Zigong's Culture, Broadcasting, Television and Tourism Bureau Deputy Director Cheng Jian, nearly 400 hotels and restaurants participated in the promotional activities. The city also organized events like light shows and music festivals, and opened up free parking spaces to accommodate the increased tourist traffic. As of October 7th, Zigong's A-level tourist attractions have received 935,400 tourists, an increase of 31.23% year-on-year.
Summary: The Wenchang Space Science Popularization Center in Hainan is nearing completion of its upgrade and renovation project, offering free short-term public access to test operations. The upgraded center features an immersive experience covering space history, rocket launches, space science, and future exploration. The renovation aims to create a more comprehensive and engaging exhibit for visitors. There is no mention of the U.S. or U.S.-China relations in the article.
Summary: The article emphasizes Xi Jinping's focus on preserving and promoting Chinese civilization and culture, viewing it as essential for national rejuvenation and the success of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Xi Jinping Thought on Culture has officially been proposed in October 2023. Xi highlighted the importance of studying history, protecting cultural relics, and integrating traditional culture with modern development and technology. He stressed the need to avoid excessive commercialization of cultural sites and to respect historical and ecological contexts. Xi also linked cultural heritage with instilling patriotism and national pride, particularly among the youth, by learning from Party history.
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Summary: Foreign Ministry Spokesperson announced that Premier Li Qiang will lead a Chinese party and government delegation to North Korea from October 9th to 11th. The visit, at the invitation of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and the government of the DPRK, is to attend celebrations for the WPK's 80th anniversary and conduct an official friendly visit. The spokesperson stated that maintaining and developing Sino-DPRK relations is a firm strategic policy of the Chinese party and government. China hopes to strengthen strategic communication and cooperation with North Korea, guided by the consensus of the two countries' top leaders. There is no mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations in the context of this announcement.
Summary: Chinese company New Hope Group has invested in Egypt's agricultural sector since 2011, establishing feed factories and a poultry company, improving feed quality and poultry survival rates, and creating over 1200 jobs. The company has also initiated projects such as training programs for women in rural villages to help them acquire skills in poultry farming. Egyptian officials, including the Minister of Local Development Manal Awad, praise China's contribution to Egypt's agricultural modernization and poverty alleviation, viewing China as a model for development. The Chinese embassy in Egypt and local organizations have partnered with New Hope on these initiatives. The article does not mention any discussion of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: Former Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba praised China's Global Civilization Initiative for promoting understanding and cooperation between nations, while opposing the clash of civilizations. Pohamba, who visited China in July for the Ministerial Meeting of the Global Civilization Dialogue, expressed admiration for China's rapid technological innovation, citing his visit to the Tesla Shanghai Gigafactory. He emphasized Namibia's gratitude for China's support during its independence struggle and the strong bilateral relationship, particularly in agricultural cooperation including exporting Namibian meat to China. Pohamba also highlighted his party's willingness to strengthen party-to-party cooperation with the Chinese Communist Party and exchange experience in governance. He noted China's non-colonial history and China's consistent support and assistance to Namibia.
Summary: In a phone call with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun-dong, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated China values its relationship with South Korea and is willing to increase mutual trust and deepen cooperation. Wang called for mutual support between China and South Korea as they host upcoming APEC summits, aiming to strengthen multilateralism and promote the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP). Cho responded that South Korea values its relationship with China and hopes to use the APEC summit to promote high-level exchanges and deepen cooperation. The discussion included maintaining the international trade system.
Summary: At the UN Human Rights Council's 60th session, a resolution on promoting and protecting economic, social, and cultural rights in the context of eliminating inequality, submitted by China on behalf of nearly 70 countries, was adopted by consensus. China's representative Chen Xu stated the resolution aims to bridge differences and strengthen multilateralism and international cooperation. The resolution calls for thematic discussions and interactive dialogues within the Human Rights Council. It also supports the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the UN Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Knowledge Centre to provide technical assistance to countries in need. The United States was not mentioned in the article.
Summary: A Japanese Communist Party Diet member argues that Japan has not adequately atoned for the war crimes of Unit 731, particularly its human experimentation, and is still concealing evidence. The Diet member highlights internal guidelines within the Japanese Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) to obscure information related to Unit 731 and criticizes the JSDF's continued visits to Yasukuni Shrine. They also point out that Japan has been increasing defense spending. The Diet member referenced a former member of Unit 731's "少年隊" (youth corps) who said that the government needs to acknowledge the truth. The author claims Japan has not formally apologized to China for these crimes.
Summary: The China National Machinery Import & Export Corporation (CMC), part of China General Technology (Group) Holding, is constructing the Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway in Bangladesh, a project aimed at improving connectivity and reducing transportation costs in the Dhaka region. Bangladesh Bridge Authority Director, Abdu Rauf, stated that the highway will benefit around 40 million people and usher in a new era of connectivity for Bangladesh. Shafiqul, the project director, praised the Chinese company's technology and equipment and Ma Zhihua, the CMC project manager, stated that the project is over half complete and on track to be completed by 2026. Lu Weijun, Deputy General Manager of China General Technology (Group) Holding said that the company is committed to participating in the construction of transportation infrastructure in countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative.
Summary: During the recent National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays, rural tourism continued to be popular, becoming a new highlight of holiday consumption. Rural areas are integrating agriculture and tourism to open up new spaces for rural industrial development, fostering new business models such as homestays and camping. Traditional rural culture is merging with modern elements, showcasing new vitality in ancient villages and folk customs. The popularity of rural tourism is driven by improved infrastructure and reduced urban-rural disparities. This trend is expanding income channels for farmers and energizing rural revitalization.
Summary: During the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays, China experienced a surge in cultural and tourism integration, boosting consumption and showcasing cultural enrichment through tourism. Innovation has spurred industry changes, with music festivals and upgraded museum exhibitions attracting visitors and driving related spending. The integration extends beyond consumption, empowering urban and rural development through rural tourism, ecological protection, and sports events. Local authorities are enhancing visitor experiences through detailed services and support, exemplified by efforts in Beijing's Shijingshan district for the 2025 WTT China Grand Slam and power supply guarantees in Zhejiang's Hengdian World Studios. The article concludes that advancing cultural and tourism integration will further contribute to high-quality development and enhance people's well-being.
Summary: Please provide the article you would like me to summarize. I need the text of the article to be able to provide a short summary tailored for professional analysts of Chinese politics.
Summary: Yishui County in Shandong Province was selected as a demonstration county for the protection and utilization of concentrated and contiguous traditional villages in 2024. The article highlights three villages: Wangzhuang Village, known for its traditional stone houses with "fish scale" roofs, which are being renovated for tourism. Guan Ding Village features the remains of the Qi Great Wall, where local villagers like Wang Zhiming are employed as patrollers. Finally, Guya Village is nestled at the foot of Mount Jiwang, known for its Spring and Autumn period tombs and is developing tourism focused on the historical site.
Summary: According to an article summarizing an interview with the Director of the Tea Research Institute of Zhejiang University, Chinese tea culture emphasizes drinking different types of tea based on the seasons and time of day for optimal health. Green tea is recommended in summer to dispel heat, while red tea is suggested for winter to warm the body. Oolong tea is suitable for autumn to relieve dryness, and flower tea is recommended in spring to ease stagnation. The article stresses aligning tea consumption with individual constitutions, emphasizing balance and harmony with nature, but makes no mention of the United States.
Summary: The article describes the historical significance and current state of the ancient city of Khara-Khoto (Heishuicheng) in Inner Mongolia. Once a vital Silk Road trading post and military stronghold, Khara-Khoto is now a preserved archaeological site. The discovery of thousands of documents in multiple languages, including the *Pearl in the Palm* dictionary, at a nearby stupa, was pivotal in the formation of the field of Western Xia studies. The article does not mention the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The article discusses the unique underground dwellings called "地坑院" (earth pit courtyards) found in areas like Henan's Sanmenxia and Shanxi's Yuncheng. These structures utilize features like "拦马墙" (retaining walls) to prevent falls and an "外挡内排" (external blocking and internal drainage) system with drainage channels and seepage wells to manage rainwater and protect the earthen structures from erosion. Local communities also compact the earthen roofs annually to enhance water resistance and stability. He Dongge, director of the wisdom center of the Shanzhou Dikengyuan Folk Culture Park, explained these features. No mention is made of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: Please provide the article. I need the text of the article to provide a summary. Once you provide it, I will give you a five-sentence (or less) summary tailored for professional analysts of Chinese politics, focusing on key personnel, statements, and any relevance to U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The article discusses the rise of amateur choral groups in China, highlighting three examples: the Shanghai Rainbow Chamber Singers, the Wuhan Xinghe Chamber Choir, and the Nanning Yueren Choir. The Shanghai Rainbow Chamber Singers, initially a student group, gained popularity for their humorous and relatable songs about urban life. The Wuhan Xinghe Chamber Choir, founded by a music teacher, welcomes members from diverse backgrounds and focuses on performing both classic and original songs with local themes. The Nanning Yueren Choir draws inspiration from local culture and folk songs, incorporating elements like the local dialect and traditional opera into their performances. The article does not discuss or allude to the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The Yinghua Lane cooperative village area in Chongqing, formerly a military factory residential area from the 1950s, has been renovated into a "quality life complex + youth activity center." The area, now known as the Hezuocun (合作村) Youth International Community, has attracted over 30 independent brands focusing on entertainment, leisure, and tourism. The community emphasizes "humanistic care" by referring to businesses as "villagers" and tourists as "neighbors," hosting events like "village galas" and music concerts. The Hezuocun night school, established in 2023, offers courses to young workers, with the local government playing a role in providing resources to ensure low-cost fees. The renovation preserved the original architecture to support the residents' sense of belonging.
Summary: The article discusses the history and popularity of "kuai" (脍), a dish similar to sashimi, in China, particularly during the Tang Dynasty. It details the methods of preparation, ingredients, and cultural significance of the dish, referencing historical texts and poems. While popular, the article notes the historical awareness of potential health risks associated with consuming raw fish. Modern regional variations of raw fish dishes are also mentioned, highlighting the dish's enduring presence in Chinese culinary traditions. There is no discussion of US-China relations in the article.
Summary: Please provide the article you would like me to summarize. Once you provide the text, I will give you a concise, five-sentence summary suitable for professional analysts of Chinese politics, paying attention to official statements, accompanying personnel, and mentions of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
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Summary: This article introduces a series exploring new public spaces in Chinese cities. These spaces, ranging from revitalized rivers and cultural venues to industrial parks and historic districts, aim to enhance urban life. They are designed to reflect the modern era, promote culture, and foster a sense of community. The series will delve into these spaces to understand how they contribute to making cities more beautiful and welcoming. There is no mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations in the provided text.
Summary: The article describes the revitalized Liangma River in Beijing, now a popular destination featuring illuminated waterways, diverse recreational activities, and international visitors. The river, once a neglected drainage ditch, has been transformed into a vibrant space with cafes, bars, and performance areas. The author notes the presence of diverse groups of people, including locals, tourists of various nationalities, and delivery workers, highlighting the river's role as an "international living room" and a symbol of Beijing's inclusive urban culture. No mention of the United States or US-China relations was included in the article.
Summary: The author recounts visiting a local Hangzhou market and the nearby ancient town of Xixing, reflecting on the preservation of traditional crafts and local culture. This led to reflections on the Zhejiang Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum, where the author had given presentations on their book about covered bridges. The author was moved by the dedication of artisans to their crafts, such as the intricate Xianju boneless lanterns and the "cheering ballads" of Changshan. The author concludes that Hangzhou cherishes both its modern growth and its traditional cultural heritage. There is no mention of the United States in this article.
Summary: The newly rebuilt Yuzhang Academy, located on a lake island in Nanchang, has become a new cultural landmark, offering a public space for study, reading, tea, and scholarly exchange, serving as a "citizen university." The academy, originally founded in the Southern Song Dynasty but later converted into a middle school, was rebuilt starting in 2024. The restored architecture includes the main Yuzhang Hall and other structures like Zhongling Pavilion and Longxing Study. The restored academy is open to the public. The article does not mention the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The author recounts their arrival in Dongguan 25 years ago, highlighting its transformation from a "world factory" characterized by manufacturing plants to a modern technology hub exemplified by Songshan Lake Science and Technology Industrial Park. This shift is characterized by the rise of science and technology, as shown by the presence of research institutions such as the China Spallation Neutron Source and the Southern Light Source, as well as the prevalence of advanced technology in everyday life. The author emphasizes the welcoming atmosphere and opportunities for innovation within the community, attracting people from all over China and the world. The rise of the city is attributed to the collective efforts of the two hundred million people who have worked and lived in Dongguan since the reform and opening up. The article does not mention the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The article reflects on the author's personal experiences with bookstores in Shanghai, highlighting their cultural significance. The author reminisces about the proliferation of bookstores near Fudan University and notes their eventual decline, while emphasizing the enduring importance of bookstores as spaces for knowledge and contemplation. The author specifically mentions visiting various branches of the bookstore chain, "Duo Yun Academy," including the one located on the 52nd floor of the Shanghai Tower. The author recounts taking their parents, who rarely read, to the high-altitude bookstore and observing their reaction to the city's landscape.
Summary: The author reflects on their return to Guiyang after 30 years, finding the city unrecognizable until visiting the revitalized Qingyun Night Market. Qingyun, once a simple road, has transformed into a vibrant food and cultural hub, offering a comforting mix of traditional street food and modern creativity. The author finds solace and a renewed appreciation for Guiyang's warmth amidst the bustling atmosphere. A local shop owner shares that "Qingyun is not a place, Qingyun is in your heart," suggesting that the city's appeal lies in its ability to resonate with one's emotions and experiences. There is no mention of the U.S. or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: Please provide the article you would like me to summarize. I need the text of the article to provide an accurate and relevant summary for professional analysts of Chinese politics.
Summary: This text is not an article but rather an editor's note for a section of the People's Daily. It provides the email address for submissions (dadi@peopledaily.cn) and states that submissions should be original and not submitted elsewhere simultaneously. The note also credits Shen Yiling with the page layout design. There is no mention of specific Chinese political figures, policy, or U.S.-China relations.
By: 本报记者 郑海鸥 何思琦 李卓尔
"Upholding the cultural subjectivity of the Chinese nation and safeguarding, promoting, and developing the treasures of Chinese civilization that have survived the vicissitudes of time is the historical responsibility and sacred mission of contemporary Chinese Communists."
Chinese civilization has endured for thousands of years, overcoming numerous adversities and remaining vibrant, composing a magnificent chapter in the eternal cultural heritage.
Great practices require the correct guidance of scientific theories.
In October 2023, Xi Jinping Thought on Culture was formally proposed at the National Conference on Publicity and Ideological and Cultural Work. Xi Jinping (习近平) Thought on Culture embodies a clear understanding of its essence and application, guiding and promoting the continuous development of Chinese cultural heritage, the creative transformation and innovative development of outstanding traditional Chinese culture, and凝聚强大的精神力量 (níng jù qiáng dà de jīng shén lì liàng - "gathering strong spiritual strength") for comprehensively promoting the construction of a strong country and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with Chinese-style modernization.
(I) Source of Thought
To understand the great path, one must first understand history.
"I am very fond of studying history. As a politician, if you are not familiar with history, especially Chinese history, and do not have a sense of historical depth to grasp what you are doing now and formulate our goals, you will not be able to do today's work well," President Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized at the Central Urban Work Conference held in July this year.
Bringing the timeline back to 10 years ago, the same conference clearly defined "continuing the historical and cultural heritage of the city." President Xi Jinping's (习近平) cherishment of historical and cultural heritage is consistent and keeps pace with the times.
All things have their origin, and only wisdom guards its roots. Whether working locally or centrally, President Xi Jinping (习近平) has always had a profound sense of history and responsibility, promoting cultural creation in the continuation of historical and cultural heritage, and protecting the roots of the Chinese nation's continuous spiritual growth.
"Without 5,000 years of Chinese civilization, where would Chinese characteristics come from? If it were not for Chinese characteristics, where would our successful Chinese-style socialist road of today come from?"
On March 22, 2021, while inspecting Fujian Province, President Xi Jinping (习近平) visited Zhu Xi Garden (朱熹园), discussing the past and present, and clarifying the principle that "we must promote the Sinicization of Marxism in order to follow the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics."
In Fujian, he wrote in *Getting Rid of Poverty*: National cultural tradition is the spiritual wealth accumulated by a nation for generations and is the driving force and source of a nation's development.
In Zhejiang, while inspecting Huangdi culture (黄帝文化), he stated: As Communists, we must believe in Marxism. As descendants of Yan and Huang (炎黄子孙), 5,000 years of Chinese civilization prevents us from forgetting our roots.
Seeing thousands of miles and connecting thoughts for thousands of years, President Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized: "The experience of both positive and negative aspects of history shows that the 'two integrations' are our greatest magic weapon for success."
Only by not forgetting the original can we create the future.
This year, while inspecting the Longmen Grottoes (龙门石窟) in Luoyang (洛阳), Henan Province, President Xi Jinping (习近平) recalled an old event. When Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) was working in Zhengding (正定), Hebei Province, he saw a Sui Dynasty stele during a research visit to Longxing Temple (隆兴寺). Because the stele was too old, many places had weathered away. He immediately requested that protective measures be taken, which was later proven to be an important calligraphy relic.
"These are all national treasures! Once they disappear, they will never be seen again. Our protection and restoration of cultural relics is not only a responsibility to our ancestors but also to future generations."
In Zhengding (正定), Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) protected the Sui Dynasty stele, ancient trees, and ancient city walls, led the restoration of Longxing Temple (隆兴寺), and presided over the compilation of *Zhengding Ancient and Modern* and wrote its preface. According to Comrade Xi Jinping's (习近平) requirements, every ancient building, ancient object, and ancient cultural site in Zhengding (正定) was demarcated with a protection area and marked with clear signs.
"Protecting ancient buildings and cultural relics is preserving history, preserving the city's cultural heritage, and preserving the intangible fine traditions of historical and cultural cities." In 2002, when he was the Governor of Fujian Province, Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out in the preface to the book *Ancient Houses of Fuzhou* (*福州古厝*).
Forward-looking thinking and pragmatic practice embody a deep love for historical culture.
"Protecting cultural relics benefits the present and the future," "Over-repairing and over-developing should not be carried out," "These treasures of Chinese culture must be protected, inherited, and disseminated"... Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, President Xi Jinping's (习近平) inspection footprints have spread across cultural and museum units in many provinces across the country, and his earnest entrustment is full of profound thoughts on the continuation of cultural heritage.
The Baoji Bronzeware Museum (宝鸡青铜器博物院) in Baoji (宝鸡), Shaanxi Province, is crowded with tourists. Standing in front of the national treasure He Zun (何尊), President Xi Jinping's (习近平) words are still fresh in his ears: "Five thousand years of Chinese civilization still need to be further explored, deeply studied, and interpreted for its connotation and spirit, and to promote the great wisdom contained therein, so that everyone can respect and love it more, enhance their pride in Chinese civilization, promote the spirit of patriotism, and pass on the excellent traditional Chinese culture from generation to generation."
How to weigh the relationship between cultural heritage protection and economic development?
"Respect history, respect culture, and respect ecology."
At the Central Economic Work Conference held at the end of 2021, President Xi Jinping (习近平) used these three "respects" to warn the comrades attending the meeting: "To improve the ability of leading cadres to lead economic work, it is not enough to only understand a little economics knowledge and scientific knowledge, but also to study historical knowledge, cultivate cultural heritage, and strengthen ecological concepts."
Time is turned back to the 1990s. In the midst of vigorous urban development and construction, the former residence of Lin Juemin (林觉民), located in the northern corner of Sanfang Qixiang (三坊七巷) in Fuzhou (福州), Fujian Province, once faced "demolition." When Xi Jinping (习近平), then Secretary of the Fuzhou Municipal Party Committee, heard the news, he immediately called a halt to the demolition. Half a year later, the renovation project of the former residence quietly started.
Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) said: "To evaluate whether a system or a force is progressive or reactionary, an important point is to look at its attitude towards history and culture."
What attitude and action should be taken? "A system design and supporting policies of 'archaeology first, then transfer' should be formulated, and land that may contain historical and cultural relics shall not be used before the completion of archaeological surveys, explorations, and excavations in accordance with the law." President Xi Jinping's (习近平) words at the 23rd collective study of the Political Bureau of the 19th CPC Central Committee were sonorous and powerful.
Today, a cultural scroll that allows people to climb city walls, see ancient pagodas, and remember their nostalgia is slowly unfolding on the land of China, leaving a profound enlightenment on coordinating economic development and the continuation of cultural heritage: "Party committees and governments at all levels should enhance their reverence for historical relics and establish the scientific concept that protecting cultural relics is also a political achievement."
Archaeological work is an important cultural undertaking and also a work with major social and political significance.
For a long time in the past, the Western archaeological community used the three elements of "bronze ware, writing, and cities" as the standard of civilization, believing that China only had a history of civilization starting from the Yin and Shang dynasties.
"The Liangzhu Site (良渚遗址) is a sacred place to prove the 5,000-year history of Chinese civilization and is a rare and valuable treasure. We must protect it!" In 2003, when he came to Liangzhu Site (良渚遗址) for research, Xi Jinping (习近平), then Secretary of the Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee, keenly pointed out.
In 2016, President Xi Jinping (习近平) made important instructions on the application of the Liangzhu Site (良渚遗址) for World Heritage status.
Three years later, the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City (良渚古城遗址) was included in the *World Heritage List*. Foreign experts commented: "Liangzhu (良渚) allows us to advance our understanding of early Chinese civilization by more than 1,000 years." This also provides sufficient physical evidence and conclusive academic support for the Chinese civilization exploration project.
President Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized: "We should strive to build archaeology with Chinese characteristics, Chinese style, and Chinese spirit, and enhance the influence and voice of Chinese archaeology in the international archaeological community." Based on samples represented by Liangzhu (良渚), the Chinese archaeological community has proposed a Chinese plan for defining civilization and identifying civilized societies, making original contributions to the study of the origin of world civilization.
Continuing the historical and cultural heritage answers the philosophical question of "where do we come from? Where are we going?" Consolidating cultural subjectivity and achieving spiritual independence and autonomy, opening up progress from the continuation of the nation's cultural bloodline, and "taking our own path" is full of confidence.
(II) The Way of Practice
The era is the mother of thought, and practice is the source of theory.
Adhering to Marxism as the soul and the excellent traditional Chinese culture as the root, observing humanity, and understanding the changes of the times, Xi Jinping (习近平) Thought on Culture originates from practice and guides and promotes the continuous development of practice.
Sampans and old houses, strolling through Shaoxing (绍兴), the flowing water is leisurely, the Yue opera is melodious, and there are scenes and stories everywhere.
Looking back more than 20 years ago, the ancient city and ancient blocks of Shaoxing (绍兴), represented by Cangqiao Straight Street (仓桥直街), experienced a test of whether to demolish or retain them.
In January 2003, Xi Jinping (习近平), then Secretary of the Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee, came to Shaoxing (绍兴). "Should we insist on preserving the original appearance of the old street?" local cadres asked their inner doubts.
"We must protect it in its original flavor!" Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) replied affirmatively, "Leaving home young and returning old, my accent has not changed, but my hair has thinned..." He casually recited He Zhizhang's (贺知章) *Returning Home*, and instructed that the protection work should pay attention to the historical authenticity, the integrity of the style, and the continuation of life.
Twenty years later, in June 2023, at the symposium on cultural inheritance and development, President Xi Jinping (习近平) profoundly expounded the prominent characteristics of Chinese civilization, and the first point was the prominent continuity.
When inspecting the National Archives of Publications and Culture (中国国家版本馆), President Xi Jinping (习近平) said: "What I care about most is the most precious thing left by Chinese civilization after experiencing vicissitudes. We must do everything possible to protect and cherish these treasures that are constantly flowing and inherited." He regarded it as "the basic project for building a civilized country" and "benefiting the future," and entrusted with earnest words: "I entrust you!"
Deep cultural feelings and a strong sense of civilizational responsibility run through the journey from history to the future.
With more than 3,000 years of city-building history and more than 870 years of capital-building history, every inch of land in the ancient capital of Beijing (北京) hides the stories of the years.
"Inherit the historical and cultural heritage, properly handle the relationship between urban transformation and development and the protection and utilization of historical and cultural heritage, and earnestly achieve development in protection and protection in development." In 2014, on the banks of the Yu River (玉河) in Beijing (北京), President Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized the correct handling of the relationship between protection and development.
Using the rules of the ancients to create one's own life. President Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized: "We must not only protect the tangible villages, dwellings, and characteristic architectural styles, and inherit the intangible non-material cultural heritage, but also promote their creative transformation and innovative development, so that national characteristics will be more vivid in utilization and constantly radiate new brilliance."
In Suide County (绥德县), Yulin (榆林), Shaanxi Province, cultural and creative products of intangible cultural heritage projects such as stone carving, paper-cutting, and clay sculpture are unique and win the favor of consumers.
"Adhere to creative transformation and innovative development, and find the connection point between traditional culture and modern life," President Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized on September 14, 2021, during his inspection in Yulin (榆林), Shaanxi Province.
Today, in museums, cultural and creative bestsellers represented by "phoenix crown refrigerator magnets" allow visitors to "bring the museum home"; in historical blocks, intangible cultural heritage derivatives are dazzling, combining national charm and contemporary characteristics; on the stage, the dance poetry drama *Only Green*, adapted from *A Panorama of Rivers and Mountains*, unfolds a poetic and picturesque Chinese landscape with the classic colors of oriental aesthetics... Tradition and modernity shake hands, history and the present blend, presenting a prosperous scene of "郁郁乎文哉" (yù yù hū wén zāi - "how rich and elegant is its culture," a flourishing cultural atmosphere).
When cultural "soft power" meets technological "hard support," President Xi Jinping (习近平) has repeatedly emphasized "exploring effective mechanisms for the integration of culture and technology."
Completing the digital collection of more than 30,000 cultural relics and creating a "24-hour online museum" for tens of millions of users; introducing technologies such as virtual seats to allow online audiences to "enter the cloud" in popular variety shows; switching digital scenes in the XR (extended reality) virtual studio to achieve shooting without leaving home... In Malanshan (马栏山), Changsha (长沙), Hunan Province, there is a "test field" focusing on new technologies, new applications, and new industries, and cultivating the integration of culture and technology.
In September 2020, President Xi Jinping (习近平) walked into the Malanshan Video Cultural and Creative Industrial Park (马栏山视频文创产业园) and profoundly pointed out: "The integration of culture and technology has not only spawned new cultural formats and extended the cultural industry chain, but also gathered a large number of innovative talents. It is a sunrise industry with great prospects."
The deep intersection of ancient and modern illuminates the innovation path of thousands of industries with the light of civilization.
In March 2024, President Xi Jinping (习近平) came to Hunan again and pointed out that "we should explore effective mechanisms for the integration of culture and technology, accelerate the development of new cultural formats, and form more new cultural industry growth points."
On today's Chinese land, "culture + technology," an "addition" combination, is bursting out with a "multiplication" effect.
President Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out: "The innovation of Chinese civilization fundamentally determines the progressive spirit of the Chinese nation to uphold principles without being rigid and to respect the past without returning to it, and determines the fearless character of the Chinese nation not to be afraid of new challenges and to be brave in accepting new things."
Looking back at history, the 5,000-year-old brilliant civilization of the Chinese nation has always been surging with an endless wave of innovation.
In contemporary China, the cultural soil of respecting innovation, encouraging innovation, boldly innovating, and being inclusive of innovation is constantly being cultivated, and innovative culture has become a value orientation, a way of life, and an era atmosphere.
(III) The Inevitable Path
China's long and continuous historical and cultural heritage endows Chinese-style modernization with profound cultural heritage.
As the saying goes, "In heaven there is paradise, on earth there are Suzhou and Hangzhou." On July 6, 2023, President Xi Jinping (习近平) inspected Suzhou (苏州), Jiangsu Province, and pointed out that the local area "has done a good job in combining tradition and modernity," and instructed that "we must protect, explore, and utilize it well, not only inherit it in material form, but also inherit it in our hearts."
For the excellent traditional Chinese culture, we must not only inherit its external "form" but also inherit its internal "spirit," so that the philosophical thoughts, humanistic spirit, moral concepts, and governance wisdom contained in the historical and cultural heritage can be transformed into an inexhaustible source of promoting development.
"Why is our socialism different? Why can it be vibrant and full of vitality? The key lies in Chinese characteristics, and the key to Chinese characteristics lies in the 'two integrations'."
At the symposium on cultural inheritance and development, President Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized that opening up and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics on the profound basis of more than 5,000 years of Chinese civilization, and combining the basic principles of Marxism with the specific reality of China and the excellent traditional Chinese culture is the inevitable path.
The "second integration" has given the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics a broader and more far-reaching historical depth and expanded the cultural foundation of the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
In Fengqiao Ancient Town (枫桥古镇), Zhuji (诸暨), Zhejiang Province, an ancient stele from the Qing Dynasty records a story of mediation of contradictions: At that time, Fengqiao's (枫桥) commerce was prosperous, and conflicts arose between porters. The county invited respected villagers to mediate, and the two sides shook hands and made peace.
During his work in Zhejiang, Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) innovatively developed the "Fengqiao Experience" (枫桥经验). Combining the wisdom of traditional Chinese culture with the Marxist mass viewpoint: relying on the masses of the people to solve problems at the grassroots level and resolve them in the bud.
Learning from history and governing the country. President Xi Jinping (习近平) has always organically integrated the essence of excellent traditional Chinese culture into political practice, and cultivated the humanistic background of the Chinese-style modernization path.
The alley of six feet is wide. On October 17, 2024, President Xi Jinping (习近平) came to Tongcheng (桐城), Anhui Province, to learn about the history and inheritance of the Six-Foot Alley (六尺巷).
"The Six-Foot Alley (六尺巷) embodies the historical wisdom of our ancestors in resolving conflicts. It should be used as an educational place to promote the excellent traditional Chinese culture, give full play to the traditional virtues of the Chinese nation in emphasizing courtesy and valuing harmony, and create a harmonious social environment for living and working in peace and contentment."
In the broad dimension of time and space, President Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized that to govern today's China well, we need to have an in-depth understanding of our country's history and traditional culture, and we also need to actively summarize our country's ancient explorations and wisdom in governing the country.
Adhering to a people-centered approach, he repeatedly quotes "The people are the foundation of the state; when the foundation is solid, the state is secure" (民惟邦本，本固邦宁); strengthening discipline, emphasizing "Without rules, there can be no order" (没有规矩，不成方圆); from "The law is the beginning of governance, virtue is the foundation" (法者，治之端也”“德者，本也) to adhering to the rule of law and the rule of virtue; repeatedly calling for "harmony and coexistence" (和合共生) and "a world of great harmony" (天下大同) on international occasions, promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind... The power of culture permeates all aspects of the General Secretary's governance.
"Loving the motherland and loving the hometown is not only manifested in the inseparable attachment to its rivers and mountains, its nation, its history, and its culture, but also in the heartfelt concern for the destiny and future of the motherland and the hometown, and the willingness to dedicate oneself to the liberation and construction of the motherland and the hometown." As early as when he was working in Zhengding (正定), Hebei (河北), Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) expressed his deep love for the country.
"Some time ago, I read some wartime family letters again, and they were indeed deeply moving."
In September 2015, in Zhongnanhai (中南海), Beijing (北京), at the 26th collective study session of the 18th CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) read out the family letter of martyr Zhao Yiman (赵一曼) word by word—
"Mother has resolutely engaged in the anti-Manchu and anti-Japanese struggle, and today is on the eve of her sacrifice... After you grow up, I hope you will not forget that your mother sacrificed for the country..."
Generations of patriotic people sacrificed themselves for the country and the people, their deeds and spirit were earth-shattering, and they are a valuable resource for inspiring unity and progress.
On September 3, Tiananmen Square (天安门广场), the formations were like mountains, and the momentum was like a rainbow. A grand military parade made all Chinese sons and daughters boil with enthusiasm and passion.
From the commemorative meeting for the 100th anniversary of the May Fourth Movement (五四运动), to the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, from the commemorative meeting for the 70th anniversary of the Chinese People's Volunteers' participation in the Korean War, to the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, each commemorative meeting and major event united people's hearts and inspired fighting spirit.
"Proud of the great motherland!" "Revitalize China, it is our generation's responsibility!"... The fervent messages reflect the fervent patriotic hearts of Chinese sons and daughters.
History is the best textbook, and the history of the Chinese revolution is the best nutritional supplement.
On the morning of September 30, a solemn ceremony was held in Tiananmen Square (天安门广场). In 2014, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (全国人大常委会) passed a decision to designate September 30 as Martyrs' Day (烈士纪念日). Since then, every year on this day, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) comes here to lay a flower basket at the Monument to the People's Heroes (人民英雄纪念碑);
Linyi (临沂), Shandong (山东), Gutian (古田), Fujian (福建), Yan'an (延安), Shaanxi (陕西)... Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) has visited revolutionary memorial sites many times during his research and investigation in various places, revisiting the original aspiration and mission of the Party;
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"We must study and summarize the history of the Party well, inherit and carry forward the Party's valuable experience, remember the course of struggle, shoulder the historical mission, and draw strength from the Party's history of struggle." General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized.
On Mount Shi'nao (狮脑山), the Hundred Regiments Offensive (百团大战) Monument stands straight into the clouds. On July 7, the 88th anniversary of the outbreak of the all-out War of Resistance Against Japan, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) visited the Hundred Regiments Offensive (百团大战) Memorial Hall to view the exhibits.
"Learning from the past is the guide for the future. Coming here is to receive a spiritual baptism." The General Secretary said with emotion, "The vast number of young people are born in a great time, and they must continue the red bloodline, establish the lofty ambition of strengthening the country and having me, and be upright and proud Chinese people."
Inheriting the red gene, our Party has always attached importance to using the Party's struggle history and great achievements to inspire fighting spirit, using the Party's glorious traditions and fine work style to strengthen beliefs, and using the Party's historical experience and practical creation to inspire wisdom.
A week after the victorious conclusion of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) led the members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the 19th CPC Central Committee on a special trip from Beijing (北京) to Shanghai (上海) and Jiaxing (嘉兴), Zhejiang (浙江), to pay their respects to the site of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China in Shanghai (上海中共一大会址) and the Red Boat on Nanhu Lake (南湖红船) in Jiaxing (浙江嘉兴). The General Secretary pointed out that no matter how far we go, we must not forget the road we came from.
Any promising nation is known to the world for its unique spirit.
For more than 100 years, the Communist Party of China has promoted the great spirit of Party building, and in the long-term struggle, it has built the spiritual pedigree of Chinese Communists and tempered a distinct political character. These valuable spiritual assets transcend time and space, become more and more new over time, and are deeply integrated into the blood of the Party, the country, the nation, and the people, guiding the direction, uniting strength, and tempering character.
This is the conclusion of history: Why has the Chinese nation been able to survive tenaciously and develop continuously in the long river of thousands of years of history? "A very important reason is that our nation has a consistent spiritual pursuit, spiritual characteristics, and spiritual context."
This is the revelation of the future: Only by adhering to moving from history to the future and pioneering forward from the continuation of the nation's cultural bloodline can we do today's business well.
The great era breeds great thoughts, and great thoughts lead great practice. Under the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era (习近平文化思想), the Chinese nation, which has created more than 5,000 years of brilliant civilization, will surely create new and greater glories on the new era and new journey.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 王 浩 邓剑洋
National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays saw continued popularity in rural tourism, becoming a new highlight of holiday consumption and a new trend in cultural and tourism activities.
Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out: "Developing new industries and new business formats such as rural tourism, leisure agriculture, cultural experiences, health and elderly care, and e-commerce should not only have speed but also high quality to achieve healthy and sustainable development."
Villages are teeming with tourists, and the countryside is full of vitality, reflecting the surging momentum of comprehensive rural revitalization and the vigorous prosperity of the cultural and tourism industry. Since the "14th Five-Year Plan," new industries and new business formats such as rural tourism and leisure agriculture have grown vigorously, with national leisure agriculture revenue reaching about 900 billion yuan last year.
Deep integration of agriculture and tourism opens up new space for rural industrial development.
"Bamboo fences and thatched cottages have beautiful scenery." From farmhouses in North China to water towns in Jiangnan, from wandering in the mountains and rivers to experiencing intangible cultural heritage, the vast fields pin tourists' hopes on "poetry and the distance."
Observing the demand side, "county tours" and "rural tours" are becoming popular, small cities are not niche, and the countryside is even more exciting.
In Zigui County (秭归县), Hubei Province, the Three Gorges family and the hometown of Qu Yuan (屈原) attract a constant stream of tourists.
Amidst the sounds of drums and music, more than 60 actors in flowing costumes danced and sang, as if Qu Yuan (屈原) and other historical figures had stepped out of the poetry scrolls. During the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays, Zigui Jiuge Alley (秭归九歌巷子) was bustling with activity, with ancient music flash mobs and folk acrobatics performances taking turns.
"Jiuge Alley (九歌巷子) takes Qu Yuan's (屈原) 'Nine Songs' as its cultural background to create an immersive experience for tourists," said Zhang Haiyan (张海彦), head of Zigui Sanfeng Culture Communication Co., Ltd. Jiuge Alley (九歌巷子), the Hubei Three Gorges Immigration Museum (湖北三峡移民博物馆), and the Qu Yuan's Hometown Cultural Tourism Area (屈原故里文化旅游区) are strung together to form an all-area tourism route.
In Pingtian Village (坪田村), Tonggu County (铜鼓县), Jiangxi Province, branches are covered with yellow persimmons, and rice waves are layered in the fields.
"The village has newly built a rice field study area and a snow peach picking garden this year, receiving more than 28,000 tourists from October 1st to 7th." These days, Zhang Jihui (张继辉), secretary of the Pingtian Village (坪田村) Party branch, is busy guiding tourists.
"New demands bring new opportunities. The county is based on natural scenery, characteristic industries, and red culture tourism resources to promote the deep integration of agriculture, culture, and tourism, driving the development of transportation, catering, and accommodation," said Xiong Xiaoliang (熊小亮), county head of Tonggu County (铜鼓县). From October 1st to 7th, Tonggu County (铜鼓县) rural leisure tourism received more than 500,000 tourists.
From rushing to check in to experiencing the slow life of the countryside, pastoral scenery, poetic landscapes, rural culture, and folk customs have become new aspirations for tourists. Meituan Travel data shows that the number of pre-orders for county tourism consumption during the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays increased by 51% compared with the same period last year.
Looking at the supply side, the countryside is no longer a place solely engaged in agriculture. The deep integration of the primary, secondary, and tertiary industries has spawned business formats such as the homestay economy, the camping economy, and the starry sky economy.
The desert is boundless, and the stars hang over the night sky. In Guannianfang Village (关碾房村), Dalate Banner (达拉特旗), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the "desert village" is making a living from tourism. "It's close to the Kubuqi Desert here, and the family can camp and stargaze in the desert at night," said Su Yue (苏跃), a tourist from Beijing.
"More than 100 homestays were booked out early," said Ma Qiang (马强), a villager who runs three homestays. From October 1st to 7th, Guannianfang Village (关碾房村) homestays received more than 8,000 tourists.
New demands drive new supply, and new supply creates new demands, releasing the "multiplier effect" of the integration of agriculture, culture, and tourism. During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, China newly identified 597 national key villages and towns for rural tourism, bringing the total to 1,597; in the first half of the year, national rural tourism revenue increased by 35% year-on-year. Rural tourism is paving a comprehensive revitalization road with ecological beauty, industrial prosperity, and people's wealth.
The integration of simplicity and fashion innovates new consumer experiences and new scenarios.
"Very simple and also very fashionable" contains the continuation and rebirth of rural culture, and contains the charm and potential of rural tourism.
The integration of traditional rural culture and modern civilization elements shows new vitality in ancient village tours, folk custom tours, and intangible cultural heritage tours.
Puyuan Fashion Ancient Town (濮院时尚古镇) in Tongxiang City (桐乡市), Zhejiang Province, on the bank of the Grand Canal, has long bluestone roads and the sound of sculling. "Our family made a strategy in advance, just thinking about fully experiencing the traditional culture here," said Wang Junliang (王君梁), a tourist from Hangzhou City (杭州市), who brought his children to make sachets.
"The town has strengthened the protection of traditional features, introduced intangible cultural heritage markets, rural concerts, study tours, and other business formats, and constantly enhanced the fashion sense and attractiveness of the ancient town," said Luo Guoliang (罗国良), secretary of the Puyuan Town (濮院镇) Party Committee. On the first day of the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays, the number of tourists received by Puyuan Fashion Ancient Town (濮院时尚古镇) increased by more than 70% year-on-year.
Traveling to northern Shaanxi to see Yangko dances, and going to Guizhou to listen to Dong ethnic group songs... Behind the increasingly strong "cultural flavor" is the protection, inheritance, and excavation of traditional rural culture. As of now, a total of 8,155 villages in China have been included in the list of Chinese traditional villages for protection and have implemented listing protection; various places have built 12,900 intangible cultural heritage workshops, driving related industries to employ and increase income for more than 1.2 million people.
Cultural revitalization and industrial revitalization work together, and "agricultural" and "village" brands innovate diverse consumption scenarios.
In Zhijin County (织金县), Guizhou Province, the "Village Song" series of activities was launched, where village singers made friends through songs, and tourists from all over watched performances and attended grand gatherings. In Matou Town (码头镇), Nan'an City (南安市), Fujian Province, the National Four Seasons Village Evening (Autumn) demonstration and display activities were launched, with concerts, square dance competitions, and intangible cultural heritage performances filling the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays. Village songs, village evenings, village super leagues, and village BAs are in full swing across the country. Currently, there are more than 470,000 mass-organized literary and artistic groups nationwide.
Rural cultural revitalization empowers the development of rural tourism, allowing farmers to enrich both their "pockets" and their "minds." The 2025 Hubei Rural Creative Life Season event was launched, featuring agricultural product exhibitions, rural food tastings, and agricultural culture experiences. During the National Day Culture and Tourism Consumption Month, various places will hold more than 29,000 cultural and tourism activities around viewing performances, Mid-Autumn Festival reunions, and cultural experiences, distribute more than 480 million yuan in consumption subsidies, and strengthen the linkage and mutual promotion of culture and tourism with catering, accommodation, retail, sports, and other aspects.
The two-way rush between cities and villages activates new momentum for comprehensive rural revitalization.
Tourists stroll along the fields, and farmhouses open their doors to welcome guests. Urban-rural integration opens up new horizons for cultural and tourism development and releases huge potential.
Behind the continued popularity of rural tourism is the interconnection of urban and rural infrastructure and the continuous narrowing of the urban-rural gap.
The autumn scenery is framed in the Taihang Mountains. "It's very pleasant to watch performances during the day and enjoy the night view at night." On the viewing platform of the "Lishangou Inn" in Dawa Village (大洼村), She County (涉县), Hebei Province, Xu Zhiyang (徐志扬), a tourist from Beijing, shared the beautiful scenery with his friends on his mobile phone.
"It only takes ten minutes to get off the highway from the Wangjinzhuang toll station of the Taihang Mountain Expressway, and new energy vehicles can also be charged in the parking lot, so it's very convenient to come here," said Xu Zhiyang (徐志扬).
"The village has built tourism toilets, charging piles, street lights, and other infrastructure, so tourists are willing to come and stay," said Zhang Juyuan (张巨元), secretary of the Dawa Village (大洼村) Party branch. Since this year, Dawa Village (大洼村) has received a cumulative total of about 700,000 tourists relying on the characteristics of the "Taihang Stone Village."
The camera turns to the Yimeng Mountains. "Living in old houses, staying in scenic spots, and hiding in the mountains and forests, tourists can see greenery when they open the windows here," said Zhang Heng (张恒), the head of a homestay in Shangsiyuan Village (上寺院村), Linqu County (临朐县), Shandong Province. The guest rooms were basically fully booked a week before the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays.
Shangsiyuan Village (上寺院村) is located in the Yishan Scenic Area, and tourists who used to come here often "passed by without staying." "We encourage villagers to renovate and upgrade farmyards and develop characteristic homestays and farmhouses, realizing the integration of scenic spots and villages, and promoting scenic spots with villages," said Zhang Chuanliang (张传亮), secretary of the village Party branch.
Looking at beautiful and harmonious villages from rural tourism, since the "14th Five-Year Plan," the rural living environment has been significantly improved, and infrastructure such as water, electricity, roads, gas, and information has continued to cover villages and extend to households. The total mileage of rural roads has exceeded 4.64 million kilometers, and the 5G coverage rate of administrative villages has exceeded 90%. A good environment has been exchanged for good prospects.
Rural tourism continues to be popular, and farmers' income channels are constantly expanding.
At the Shan Li Ji (山李冀)·Shan You Market in Lijiazhuang Village (李家庄村), Huoshui Township (活水乡), Wu'an City (武安市), Hebei Province, tourists buy mountain goods and taste delicacies. "Newly cooked millet cakes, everyone come and taste them." Villager Guo Yanqin (郭彦芹) enthusiastically greeted customers in blue printed cloth work clothes, "I can sell more than 100 bags a day."
This is a new rural cultural tourism scene created by Wu'an City (武安市). The Shan Li Ji (山李冀)·Shan You Market project solves the employment of nearly 100 people, and the "company + collective + villager + merchant" operation model increases farmers' income, and holiday traffic becomes development increment.
"You can see the mountains, see the water, and remember the nostalgia." The good momentum of rural tourism activates new momentum for comprehensive rural revitalization, and a beautiful picture of industrial prosperity, civilized rural customs, and happy life is unfolding in the countryside.
Return to TopXinhua News Agency, Beijing, October 7th. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson announced on the 7th: At the invitation of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Li Qiang (李强), member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Premier of the State Council, will lead a Chinese party and government delegation to attend the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea from October 9th to 11th, and pay an official friendly visit to North Korea.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 李建广
"When you're tired, come here to rest; if you encounter any problems, come here to talk." At 8 p.m. on October 6th, Liu Kuo (刘阔), a SF Express (顺丰) courier who had been busy all day, pushed open the door of the Da栅栏街道 (Da栅栏街道) Party and Mass Service Center in Xicheng District (西城区), Beijing (北京), and pulled the reporter down to chat.
"Look, there are power banks, water dispensers, microwave ovens, medicine kits, and everything else you could need." Liu Kuo (刘阔) led the reporter around, "This space is the 'Warm Heart Station,' that's the 'Little Brother Discussion Room,' and upstairs we can carry out skills training and other activities."
"When I first came, running on the road, there weren't so many places to shelter from the wind and rain. Now, these stations, these resting places, are really great," Liu Kuo (刘阔) said.
While chatting, Liu Kuo (刘阔) walked to an exhibition wall, where a photo of General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) visiting and comforting the courier service point in Shitou Hutong (石头胡同), Qianmen (前门) before the Spring Festival in 2019 caught his eye.
"General Secretary said we are 'like hardworking little bees, the most diligent workers, bringing convenience to everyone's lives.' I always remember that sentence," Liu Kuo (刘阔) said.
80, 100, 355... This is the change in the number of stations in Xicheng District (西城区) since 2021; more than 1,500, this is the current number of "'Riding' Heart Together One Square Meter Service Areas" in the district.
Within the numbers, there is a sense of accomplishment. "Now, it only takes 10 minutes to get to the Warm Heart Station. Walking into the station is like returning to my own home," Liu Kuo (刘阔) said.
Within the numbers, the people-centered development philosophy is highlighted. "The old city has a dense population and insufficient space, so we have utilized Party and Mass Service Centers, banks, supermarkets, security guard posts, and more," said Wang Hongtian (王宏天), Section Chief of the Third Section of the Social Work Department of the Xicheng District (西城区) Party Committee.
People's livelihood is no small matter. The urgent needs and concerns of the 84 million newly employed people have been incorporated into the top-level design of national development. The "14th Five-Year Plan" proposes to "support and regulate the development of new forms of employment," and the "Decision" of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee proposes to "improve the social security system for flexible employment personnel, migrant workers, and new employment form personnel."
Warm care gathers the strength to build dreams together. As a party member, in recent years, Liu Kuo (刘阔) has regarded his delivery route as a "responsibility area," helping residents with errands and pairing up with empty-nest elderly people, becoming a "caring person" for residents.
Like Liu Kuo (刘阔), 51,000 "Xicheng Little Brothers" (西城小哥) have transformed into "urban responders" walking through the streets and alleys, devoting themselves to grassroots governance work such as peace construction and elderly services.
There are many such "mutual奔赴" stories in the past 5 years: in Jiangbei District (江北区), Chongqing (重庆), the "City Guardian" governance brand guides new employment groups to become sentinels for discovering fire hazards, community grid managers, etc.; in Hangzhou (杭州), Zhejiang (浙江), Peng Qinglin's (彭清林) Qinglin Public Welfare Service Center (清林公益服务中心), a Meituan (美团) delivery driver, provides voluntary cleaning, civilized persuasion, and emergency support...
"Now, my wife and children have come to Beijing (北京). The city is home, and home is the city!" Liu Kuo (刘阔) said with a smile.
Under the lights of the station, Liu Kuo's (刘阔) face is young and full of vigor.
Return to TopDuring the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays, many workers in all walks of life stuck to their posts and worked diligently, practicing responsibility and commitment with hard work.
Return to TopBy: 彭 飞
National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays saw many places using online traffic to drive local cultural tourism development, becoming a model of the traffic economy.
"Traffic" is not just online traffic, but also includes various factor flows. Shanghai's proposal to develop a traffic-oriented economy aims to better promote the high-frequency flow and high-energy value-added of factors such as capital flow, cargo flow, technology flow, and talent flow. Different regions have different resource endowments, and the key is to leverage their own advantages to promote the convergence and integration of various factors, releasing new momentum for development.
"Quantity" also means high quality. In Harbin (哈尔滨), Heilongjiang (黑龙江), the government manages the environment, enterprises manage the market, and the people manage the culture, innovating the integration of culture and tourism, breaking the winter limitation of "Harbin Fever." Zibo (淄博), Shandong (山东), transformed the service experience of the "barbecue special team" of that year into pragmatic actions to optimize the business environment. Pushing the quantitative change brought about by traffic to qualitative change will make the momentum for development more sufficient.
Adapting to local conditions, solidifying factor flows, and driving high-quality development with innovation will inevitably further enhance the quality and efficiency of economic development.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 贺 勇 李亚楠
On October 5th, on the Pamir Plateau, in Simhana Village, Jigen Township, Wuqia County, Kizilsu Kirghiz Autonomous Prefecture (新疆克孜勒苏柯尔克孜自治州乌恰县吉根乡斯姆哈纳村), Xinjiang, villager Musa Pulhan (穆萨·普尔汗) went to the village's postal express service station early in the morning to pick up his package: "The snacks and mooncakes for the festival are all bought online, it's so convenient!"
Simhana Village is more than 1,600 kilometers away from Urumqi (乌鲁木齐市) and is the "end of the line" for logistics in Xinjiang. In the past, because there was no express service point in the village, villagers could only fill in the address of their township when shopping online.
The change began with the implementation of the national "Express Delivery to Villages" project. Aiymusa Tohtahun (阿衣木沙·托合塔洪), a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (全国政协委员) and vice chairman of the Wuqia County Political Consultative Conference (乌恰县政协副主席), introduced that express delivery can now be delivered directly to the village, making online shopping more convenient for villagers.
Xinjiang has achieved a village-level express service coverage rate of over 96% by promoting the construction of a three-level county, township, and village postal logistics system. In 2024, Xinjiang's express delivery volume reached 460 million pieces, a year-on-year increase of 39.2%, ranking among the top in the country in terms of growth rate.
Small packages are related to major livelihoods, and small stations leverage great happiness. "Express delivery to villages has improved the quality of life of farmers and herdsmen, especially for those in remote areas. Express delivery has changed their consumption patterns," said Aiymusa Tohtahun (阿衣木沙·托合塔洪).
For a long time, due to the long transportation distances, logistics costs in Xinjiang have remained high, and the problem of "no free shipping" or even "no delivery" has plagued local consumers. How can free shipping be achieved for a product that crosses thousands of kilometers? Reducing transportation costs is key.
Since 2023, Xinjiang has explored a new model of "national distribution to centralized transportation centers, and centralized transportation centers to Xinjiang," while also promoting the establishment of Xinjiang headquarters of 10 major domestic brand express delivery companies in Urumqi (乌鲁木齐市) to build a logistics hub.
Under the traditional logistics model, goods sent by each merchant or customer are transported independently, resulting in dispersed freight volume and increased costs. Kong Xiangying (孔祥莹), vice president of JD.com (京东集团), introduced that under the centralized transportation model, merchants only need to ship goods to centralized transportation warehouses in Hangzhou (杭州), Zhejiang (浙江), Xi'an (西安), Shaanxi (陕西), and other places, and the logistics service providers cooperating with the e-commerce platform will centrally carry out the second-stage transportation, increasing volume and reducing costs.
The "road-to-rail" container train has also significantly reduced logistics costs. In March last year, the country's first express e-commerce "road-to-rail" container train departed from Xi'an (西安市) and arrived in Urumqi (乌鲁木齐市) after 38 hours, shortening the journey by about 5 hours compared to road transportation, improving transportation efficiency by about 12%, and reducing freight costs by about 57%.
With a series of measures taking effect, Xinjiang's social logistics costs are showing a steady downward trend. The latest statistical accounting results show that the ratio of Xinjiang's total social logistics costs to the region's gross domestic product is 14.7%, a cumulative decrease of 7.8 percentage points compared to 2012.
As many online shopping platforms have achieved free shipping to Xinjiang, Xinjiang is accelerating its entry into the "free shipping zone."
"I really didn't expect it to arrive in the afternoon after placing the order in the morning!" said Ismail (伊斯马伊力), an operator of a dried fruit store in Kashgar Ancient City (喀什古城). On March 30 this year, the first day of the trial operation of JD Logistics' Kashgar Warehouse (京东物流喀什仓), Ismail ordered a set of skin care products for his wife in the morning, and the package was delivered to him free of charge at 4 pm that day.
The JD Logistics Kashgar Warehouse (京东物流喀什仓), covering an area of 20,000 square meters, is operating efficiently with fully automated sorting equipment. Small and medium-sized orders have achieved automated sorting, improving processing efficiency by 30% and sorting accuracy by 99.8%, providing strong support for the rapid fulfillment of orders in southern Xinjiang.
With the landing of JD Logistics' Kashgar Warehouse (京东物流喀什仓), the delivery time for express delivery in the four prefectures of southern Xinjiang has been shortened by 2 to 3 days, with the fastest delivery on the same day. "The opening of the Kashgar Warehouse has improved the shopping experience of local consumers," said Yang Jianhua (杨建华), head of JD Logistics in Xinjiang.
"The grapes of Turpan (吐鲁番) and the melons of Hami (哈密), the fragrant pears of Korla (库尔勒) are praised by everyone, and the pomegranates of Yecheng (叶城) are top-notch." With the rapid development of Xinjiang's modern logistics industry, these high-quality agricultural and sideline products that are not easy to preserve can be quickly delivered to consumers across the country.
In June this year, at Shihezi Huayuan Airport (石河子花园机场), a JD Logistics all-cargo aircraft loaded with freshly picked small white apricots took off and flew to Beijing Daxing International Airport (北京大兴国际机场). Relying on a nationwide warehousing and distribution network, the time required for Gashi plums (伽师新梅) to go from the branches to the tables in East China has been shortened from 8 days to 56 hours, the loss rate has been reduced from 9% to 1.8%, and logistics costs have been reduced by 12%.
Standing next to the West Pole Stone Tablet (西极石碑) in Simhana Village, villager Mimanjiang Mamatjuma (米满江·买买提居玛) looked at the road not far away. The postal vehicle was driving towards Kashgar Laining International Airport (喀什徕宁国际机场), and the mutton he sold was loaded in the car. "In 2024, I sold 101 sheep through e-commerce platforms, with sales exceeding 70,000 yuan."
Aiymusa Tohtahun (阿衣木沙·托合塔洪) said: "Last year, the 'Toyun Soda Sheep' (托云苏打羊) and 'Congling Herdsman' (葱岭牧人) brand beef and mutton that we cultivated flew to various places by plane, and sales increased significantly. The late-maturing apricots on the plateau were unknown in the past, but now they are sold all over the country and are becoming more and more famous."
Return to TopThis newspaper reported from Beijing on October 7th (Reporters Gu Yekai (谷业凯) and Yu Sinan (喻思南)) On the 6th, the China National Space Administration (国家航天局) and the China Atomic Energy Authority (国家原子能机构) jointly released the latest research results on the Chang'e-6 (嫦娥六号) lunar far side samples. Chinese scientists, for the first time based on the Chang'e-6 (嫦娥六号) lunar far side samples (lunar soil), discovered that the lunar mantle on the far side of the moon is "colder" than that on the near side, further deepening human understanding of the moon's "dichotomy" phenomenon, providing petrological and geochemical scientific basis for the lunar mantle temperature difference between the near and far sides of the moon, and providing scientific data for the study of lunar evolution and "dichotomy" characteristics.
The lunar mantle, located below the lunar crust, is the largest component of the moon's volume, and the moon's ancient volcanic activity was formed by the upwelling of lunar mantle material. Therefore, the lunar mantle and other internal lunar features are crucial for the study of lunar evolution.
The research team used various methods to analyze the basalt samples brought back by Chang'e-6 (嫦娥六号) from the far side of the moon, and found that the crystallization temperature of the lunar far side samples was about 1100 degrees Celsius, which is about 100 degrees Celsius lower than that of the samples from the near side of the moon. The research team also reconstructed the original magma chemical composition through the whole-rock composition of basalt, and calculated the potential temperature of the lunar mantle, and found that the potential temperature of the lunar mantle on the far side of the moon (about 1400 degrees Celsius) was lower than that on the near side of the moon (about 1500 degrees Celsius). In addition, the team also used lunar remote sensing data to conduct verification analysis on a larger regional scale, and obtained results similar to the sample analysis conclusions, which further enhanced the credibility of the research results.
Scientists call the difference between the near and far sides of the moon the "dichotomy" phenomenon, believing that it may be closely related to the moon's formation and evolution history.
The research results were jointly completed by the Beijing Research Institute of Uranium Geology (核工业北京地质研究院) of China National Nuclear Corporation (中核集团), Peking University (北京大学), and Shandong University (山东大学), and have been published on the official website of the international academic journal *Nature Geoscience*.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 窦瀚洋
"The helicopter is about to start, please hold on to the handrail..." During the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays, the Li Yao family from Hangzhou (杭州) were experiencing "aerial waterfall viewing" at the helicopter flight camp in the Baizhangji (百丈漈) Scenic Area, Wencheng County (文成县), Wenzhou City (温州市), Zhejiang Province (浙江省). The helicopter slowly ascended, revealing verdant mountains and the Baizhangji Waterfall (百丈漈瀑布) cascading down like a silver ribbon.
The "change the altitude to see the scenery" approach is making Wencheng County (文成县) a popular destination during the holidays. In 2024, Wencheng County (文成县) seized the opportunity of low-altitude economy development and launched the "Low-Altitude Tour Wencheng (低空游文成)" event in Baizhangji Town (百丈漈镇), and achieved manned flights with electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. Since then, the development of low-altitude cultural tourism in Wencheng County (文成县) has pressed the "accelerator key": two low-altitude economic enterprises have been established, completing more than 700 demonstration flights, with order amounts exceeding 100 million yuan; relying on tourism scenic spots and other resources, five major low-altitude tourism scenarios have been launched, 10 flight routes have been opened, and multiple experience projects have been developed, driving more than 50,000 person-times of experience.
"We attract young tourists with aerial sightseeing and promote the deep integration of low-altitude economy and cultural tourism," introduced Chen Hui (陈慧), director of the Wencheng County (文成县) Low-Altitude Economic Development Center. Wencheng County (文成县) actively connects with social organizations such as the China Low-Altitude Flight Club (中国低空飞行俱乐部), invites hundreds of tourism experts to conduct live broadcasts on the ground, and continuously attracts traffic for "low-altitude + cultural tourism." During this year's National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays, Wencheng County (文成县) also combined low-altitude elements with ground activities such as the "Baizhangji (百丈漈) Martial Arts Conference," launching helicopter tours and other projects, and enhancing the tourist experience through "air + ground" dual-line linkage.
It is not only Wencheng County (文成县); looking at Zhejiang (浙江), "aerial sightseeing" has become a popular cultural tourism consumption during the holidays.
In Haining City (海宁市), "aerial tide watching" is quite popular. This route, which opened at the end of September, provides tourists with nearly two hours of aerial tide chasing experience. "The helicopter tracks the tide's movement throughout the entire journey, and various forms such as cross tides and one-line tides are fully visible," said Li Tian (李天), founder of Yunyi Aviation (云翊航空).
The popularity of aerial tide chasing has further extended the value chain of the low-altitude economy. "Currently, flight training business has been launched, and supporting service construction is also actively being promoted," introduced Li Tian (李天). Helicopter sightseeing, paragliding, and other business formats have driven the aggregation of upstream and downstream industries such as maintenance and flight training, and are gradually forming a complete low-altitude cultural tourism industry circle.
Fresh experiences and rich business formats, low-altitude tourism is injecting new vitality into Zhejiang's (浙江) cultural tourism consumption.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 王永战
On the evening of October 1st, at the Nanhu Sports Center in Zigong (自贡) City, Sichuan (四川) Province, the "Sichuan Super League" Zigong (自贡) team played against the Neijiang (内江) team at home. Players competed fiercely, and cheers from the stands were constant.
"Not only was the game exciting, but the surprises kept coming one after another!" said Zeng Qianlin (曾茜琳), a tourist from Kunming (昆明), Yunnan (云南) Province, who was watching the game live for the first time. It turned out that the Zigong (自贡) Municipal Culture and Tourism Department had prepared a thoughtful gift package for each spectator: a tourism service manual and discount coupons for popular catering stores.
With a valid ticket for the "Sichuan Super League" Zigong (自贡) home game and their ID card, tourists can visit Zigong (自贡) City's Salt Industry History Museum (自贡市盐业历史博物馆), China Lantern Museum (中国彩灯博物馆), Shenhai Well (燊海井) and other scenic spots for free within 7 days; with any "Sichuan Super League" game ticket stub, they can also ride the Zigong (自贡) Dangdang car for free. On the morning of October 2nd, Zeng Qianlin (曾茜琳) took her game ticket, boarded the Dangdang car, and went to visit the Zigong (自贡) Salt Industry History Museum (自贡市盐业历史博物馆).
Around noon, the aroma of food wafted from the restaurants along the street. Entering a Yanbang cuisine restaurant, Zeng Qianlin (曾茜琳) and her friends ordered signature dishes such as stir-fried yellow throat and spicy diced rabbit. "With the 'Sichuan Super League' ticket stub and discount coupon, get a 20 yuan discount for every 40 yuan spent" - seeing the notice in the store, Zeng Qianlin (曾茜琳) happily took out her ticket stub and enjoyed the discount. "This trip was really worth it!" she said.
During this holiday, "traveling with sports events" has become a new trend. Zigong (自贡) City uses ticket stubs as a link to achieve effective linkage between culture and tourism, commerce, and sports. "Holding a 'Sichuan Super League' ticket stub not only provides free access to some scenic spots and transportation, but also offers discounts on dining, accommodation, and other aspects," said Cheng Jian (程健), Deputy Director of the Zigong (自贡) Municipal Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism Bureau (自贡市文化广播电视和旅游局), adding that nearly 400 hotels and catering businesses in the city participated in the discount activities.
While focusing on the ticket stub economy, Zigong (自贡) City also continues to improve cultural and tourism services. During the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays, the local government released a City Walk route map. "We organized small lantern festivals, folk music festivals and other activities, and coordinated government agencies and institutions to open more than 4,500 free parking spaces, striving to transform the 'traffic' of the games into 'retention'," said Cheng Jian (程健).
As of October 7, Zigong's (自贡) 17 A-level tourist attractions had received a total of 935,400 tourists, an increase of 31.23% year-on-year. Small ticket stubs string together the entire consumption chain of "eating, living, traveling, shopping, and entertainment," continuously bringing new impetus to the cultural and tourism industry.
Return to TopRecently, the renovation and upgrade project of the Wenchang Space Science Popularization Center (文昌航天科普中心) located in Wenchang City (文昌市), Hainan (海南), has entered its final stage and is temporarily open to the public for free to test the venue's operational capabilities and service levels. After the renovation, the center's exhibition content has been upgraded to an immersive experience system covering multi-dimensional themes such as aerospace history, rocket launches, space science, and future exploration.
The photo shows tourists visiting the Wenchang Space Science Popularization Center (文昌航天科普中心) on October 7.
Xinhua News Agency (新华社) reporter Pu Xiaoxu (蒲晓旭) photographed.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 郑海鸥 何思琦 李卓尔
"Upholding the cultural subjectivity of the Chinese nation and taking good care of, promoting, and developing the precious treasures of Chinese civilization left behind through vicissitudes is the historical responsibility and sacred mission of contemporary Chinese Communists."
Chinese civilization has continued for thousands of years, enduring countless hardships and remaining prosperous, composing a magnificent chapter in the eternal cultural heritage.
Great practice requires the correct guidance of scientific theory.
In October 2023, Xi Jinping Thought on Culture was formally proposed at the National Conference on Propaganda and Ideological Work. Xi Jinping (习近平) Thought on Culture clarifies the essence and application, integrating theory and practice, leading and promoting the continuous development of Chinese culture, the creative transformation and innovative development of outstanding traditional Chinese culture, and凝聚强大的精神力量 (níng jù qiáng dà de jīng shén lì liàng - "gathering strong spiritual strength," to consolidate and focus spiritual power) for comprehensively promoting the construction of a strong country and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with Chinese-style modernization.
(I) Source of Thought
To understand the great path, one must first understand history.
"I very much like to study history. As a politician, if you are not familiar with history, especially Chinese history, and do not have a sense of historical depth to grasp what you are doing now and formulate our goals, you will not be able to do today's work well," General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized at the Central Urban Work Conference held in July this year.
Bringing the time back to 10 years ago, the same meeting made it clear to "continue the historical and cultural context of the city." General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) cherishment of historical and cultural context is consistent and keeps pace with the times.
Everything has its origin, and only knowledge can preserve its roots. Whether working locally or centrally, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) has always had a profound sense of history and responsibility, promoting cultural creation in the continuation of historical and cultural context, and protecting the roots of the Chinese nation's continuous spiritual growth.
"Without 5,000 years of Chinese civilization, where would Chinese characteristics come from? If it were not for Chinese characteristics, where would our successful Chinese-style socialism be today?"
On March 22, 2021, when inspecting Fujian Province, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) came to Zhu Xi (朱熹) Garden, discussing the past and present, and explaining the principle that "we must promote the Sinicization of Marxism when we take the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics."
In Fujian, he wrote in *Getting Rid of Poverty*: National cultural tradition is the spiritual wealth accumulated by a nation for generations and is the driving force and source of a nation's development.
In Zhejiang, when inspecting Huangdi (黄帝) culture, he said: As Communists, we must believe in Marxism. As descendants of Yan and Huang (炎黄), 5,000 years of Chinese civilization prevents us from forgetting our roots.
Seeing ten thousand miles and thinking over a thousand years. General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized: "The experience of both positive and negative aspects of history shows that the 'two integrations' are our greatest magic weapon for success."
By not forgetting the original, we can open up the future.
This year, when inspecting the Longmen Grottoes (龙门石窟) in Luoyang (洛阳), Henan Province, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) recalled an old event. When Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) was working in Zhengding (正定), Hebei Province, he saw a Sui Dynasty (隋朝) stele during a visit to Longxing Temple (隆兴寺). Because the era was too long ago, many places had weathered. He immediately requested protective measures, which were later proven to be important calligraphy cultural relics.
"These are all national treasures! Once they disappear, they will never be seen again. Our protection and restoration of cultural relics is not only responsible for our ancestors, but also for future generations."
In Zhengding (正定), Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) protected the Sui Dynasty (隋朝) stele, ancient trees, and ancient city walls, led the restoration of Longxing Temple (隆兴寺), and presided over the compilation of *Zhengding Ancient and Modern* and wrote a preface. According to Comrade Xi Jinping's (习近平) requirements, every ancient building, ancient object, and ancient cultural site in Zhengding (正定) was demarcated with a protection scope and marked with obvious signs.
"Protecting ancient buildings and cultural relics is to preserve history, preserve the cultural context of the city, and preserve the intangible excellent traditions of historical and cultural cities." In 2002, when he was the Governor of Fujian Province, Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out in the preface to the book *Fuzhou Ancient Houses*.
Forward-looking thinking and pragmatic practice entrust a heart of cherishing historical culture.
"Protecting cultural relics benefits the present and benefits the future," "Do not engage in excessive repairs or excessive development," "We must protect, inherit, and disseminate these Chinese cultural treasures"... Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) inspection footprints have spread to cultural and museum units in many provinces across the country, and the earnest entrustment is full of General Secretary's profound thinking on the continuation of cultural context.
Shaanxi Baoji (陕西宝鸡) Bronze Museum, crowded with tourists. Standing in front of the national treasure He Zun (何尊), General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) words are still in his ears: "Five thousand years of Chinese civilization still need to be further explored, deeply studied, and interpreted its connotation and spirit, and promote the great wisdom contained in it, so that everyone will be more respectful and loving, enhance their pride in Chinese civilization, promote patriotism, and pass on the outstanding traditional Chinese culture from generation to generation."
What is the relationship between cultural heritage protection and economic development, and how to weigh it?
"Revere history, revere culture, and revere ecology."
At the Central Economic Work Conference held at the end of 2021, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) warned the participants with these three "reverences": "To improve the ability of leading cadres to lead economic work, it is not enough to only understand a little economics knowledge and scientific knowledge, but also to study historical knowledge, cultivate cultural heritage, and strengthen ecological concepts."
Time goes back to the 1990s. In the vigorous urban development and construction, the former residence of Lin Juemin (林觉民), located in the northern corner of Sanfang Qixiang (三坊七巷) in Fuzhou (福州), Fujian Province, once faced "demolition." When Xi Jinping (习近平), then Secretary of the Fuzhou (福州) Municipal Party Committee, heard the news, he immediately called for the demolition to be stopped. Half a year later, the renovation project of the former residence quietly started.
Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) said: "To evaluate whether a system or a force is progressive or reactionary, an important point is to look at its attitude towards history and culture."
What attitude and action should be taken? "We must formulate a system design and supporting policies of 'archaeology first, then transfer,' and land that may contain historical and cultural relics shall not be used before the archaeological survey, exploration, and excavation are completed in accordance with the law." General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) words at the 23rd collective study of the 19th CPC Central Committee Political Bureau were sonorous and powerful.
Today, a cultural scroll that can climb the city tower, see the ancient pagoda, and remember nostalgia is slowly unfolding on the land of China, leaving a profound enlightenment for coordinating economic development and the continuation of cultural context: "Party committees and governments at all levels must enhance their reverence for historical relics and establish the scientific concept that protecting cultural relics is also a political achievement."
Archaeological work is an important cultural undertaking and also a work with significant social and political significance.
For a long time in the past, the Western archaeological community used the three elements of "bronze ware, writing, and cities" as the standard of civilization, believing that China only had a history of civilization starting from the Yin and Shang Dynasties (殷商).
"The Liangzhu (良渚) site is a sacred place to prove the 5,000-year history of Chinese civilization and is a rare and valuable treasure. We must protect it!" In 2003, when he came to Liangzhu (良渚) site for investigation, Xi Jinping (习近平), then Secretary of the Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee, keenly pointed out.
In 2016, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) made important instructions on the application of the Liangzhu (良渚) site for World Heritage status.
Three years later, the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City (良渚古城遗址) were selected into the *World Heritage List*. Foreign experts commented: "Liangzhu (良渚) allows us to advance our understanding of early Chinese civilization by more than 1,000 years." This also provides sufficient physical evidence and conclusive academic support for the Chinese Civilization Origin Exploration Project.
General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized: "Strive to build archaeology with Chinese characteristics, Chinese style, and Chinese spirit, and enhance the influence and discourse power of Chinese archaeology in the international archaeological community." Based on samples represented by Liangzhu (良渚), the Chinese archaeological community proposed a Chinese plan for the definition of civilization and the identification of entering civilized society, making original contributions to the study of the origin of world civilization.
Continuing the historical and cultural context, answering the philosophical thinking of "where do we come from? Where are we going?"; consolidating cultural subjectivity, achieving spiritual independence and autonomy, and opening up progress from the continuation of the national cultural bloodline, we are full of confidence in "taking our own path."
(II) Practice
The era is the mother of thought, and practice is the source of theory.
Adhering to Marxism as the soul and outstanding traditional Chinese culture as the root, observing humanity and understanding changes in the times, Xi Jinping (习近平) Thought on Culture originates from practice and guides and promotes the continuous development of practice.
Wupeng boats (乌篷船) and old houses, strolling through Shaoxing (绍兴) City, the flowing water is leisurely, the Yue (越) opera is lingering, everywhere is scenery, and everywhere has stories.
Looking back more than 20 years ago, the ancient city and ancient blocks of Shaoxing (绍兴), represented by Cangqiao Zhijie (仓桥直街), experienced a test of whether to demolish or keep.
In January 2003, Xi Jinping (习近平), then Secretary of the Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee, came to Shaoxing (绍兴). "Should we insist on retaining the original appearance of the old street?" Local cadres asked the confusion in their hearts.
"We must protect it in its original flavor!" Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) replied affirmatively, "I left home when I was young and returned when I was old, my accent has not changed, but my hair has thinned..." He casually recited He Zhizhang's (贺知章) *Returning Home*, and instructed that the protection work should pay attention to the historical authenticity, the integrity of the style, and the continuation of life.
Twenty years later, in June 2023, at the symposium on cultural inheritance and development, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) profoundly explained the prominent characteristics of Chinese civilization, and the first one was the prominent continuity.
When inspecting the National Archives of Publications and Culture, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) said: "What I care most about is the most precious thing left by Chinese civilization through vicissitudes. Our culture continues to flow, and then inherit, and these treasures must be carefully protected and cherished in every possible way." He regarded it as "the basic project for the construction of a civilized country" and "benefiting the future," and earnestly entrusted: "I beg you!"
A deep cultural feeling and a strong sense of civilization responsibility run through the journey from history to the future.
With a history of more than 3,000 years of city construction and more than 870 years of capital construction, every inch of land in the ancient capital of Beijing (北京) hides the story of the years.
"Inherit the historical and cultural context, properly handle the relationship between urban renovation and development and the protection and utilization of historical and cultural heritage, and earnestly achieve development in protection and protection in development." In 2014, on the banks of the Yuhe River (玉河) in Beijing (北京), General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized the correct handling of the relationship between protection and development.
Using the rules of the ancients to create our own new face. General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized: "We must not only protect the tangible villages, dwellings, and characteristic architectural styles, inherit the intangible cultural heritage, but also promote its creative transformation and innovative development, so that national characteristics will be more bright in utilization and constantly radiate new brilliance."
Suide County (绥德县), Yulin (榆林), Shaanxi Province, the cultural and creative products of intangible cultural heritage projects such as stone carvings, paper-cuts, and clay sculptures are unique and win the favor of consumers.
"Adhere to creative transformation and innovative development, and find the connection point between traditional culture and modern life," General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized on September 14, 2021, when inspecting Yulin (榆林), Shaanxi Province.
Today, in the museum, cultural and creative popular products represented by "phoenix crown refrigerator magnets" allow visitors to "bring the museum home"; in historical blocks, intangible cultural heritage derivatives are dazzling, with both national charm and contemporary characteristics; on the stage, the dance poem drama *Only Green* deduced from *A Panorama of Rivers and Mountains* unfolds a poetic and picturesque Chinese landscape with the classic colors of oriental aesthetics... Tradition and modernity shake hands, history and the present blend, presenting a prosperous atmosphere of "郁郁乎文哉" (yù yù hū wén zāi - "how rich and elegant is its culture!," a flourishing cultural scene).
When cultural "soft power" meets technological "hard support," General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) has repeatedly emphasized "exploring effective mechanisms for the integration of culture and technology."
Complete the digital collection of more than 30,000 cultural relics and create a "24-hour online museum" for tens of millions of users; introduce technologies such as virtual seats to allow online audiences to "enter the cloud" in popular variety shows; switch digital scenes in the XR (extended reality) virtual studio to achieve shooting without leaving home... In Malanshan (马栏山), Changsha (长沙), Hunan Province, there is a "test field" focusing on new technologies, new applications, and new industries to cultivate the integration of culture and technology.
In September 2020, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) walked into the Malanshan (马栏山) Video Cultural and Creative Industrial Park and profoundly pointed out: "The integration of culture and technology has not only spawned new cultural formats and extended the cultural industry chain, but also gathered a large number of innovative talents. It is a sunrise industry and has great prospects."
The deep intersection of ancient and modern times illuminates the innovation path of thousands of industries with the light of civilization.
In March 2024, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) came to Hunan again and pointed out that "we should explore effective mechanisms for the integration of culture and technology, accelerate the development of new cultural formats, and form more new cultural industry growth points."
On today's Chinese land, "culture + technology," an "addition" combination, is bursting out with a "multiplication" effect.
General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out: "The innovation of Chinese civilization fundamentally determines the progressive spirit of the Chinese nation that adheres to principles without being rigid and respects the ancient without restoring the ancient, and determines the fearless character of the Chinese nation that is not afraid of new challenges and is brave in accepting new things."
Looking back at history, the 5,000-year-old brilliant civilization of the Chinese nation has always been surging with endless waves of innovation.
In contemporary China, the cultural soil that respects innovation, encourages innovation, boldly innovates, and tolerates innovation is constantly cultivated, and innovative culture has become a value orientation, a way of life, and an era atmosphere.
(III) The Inevitable Path
China's long and continuous historical and cultural context endows Chinese-style modernization with a profound cultural heritage.
There is heaven above, and there are Suzhou (苏州) and Hangzhou (杭州) below. On July 6, 2023, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) inspected Suzhou (苏州), Jiangsu Province, pointing out that the local area "has done a good job in combining tradition and modernity," and instructed "to protect, excavate, and utilize it well, not only to inherit it in material form, but also to inherit it in the heart."
For outstanding traditional Chinese culture, we must not only inherit its external "form," but also inherit its internal "spirit," so that the philosophical thoughts, humanistic spirit, moral concepts, and governance wisdom contained in the historical and cultural context can be transformed into an inexhaustible source for promoting development.
"Why is our socialism different? Why can it be full of vitality? The key lies in Chinese characteristics, and the key to Chinese characteristics lies in the 'two integrations.'"
At the symposium on cultural inheritance and development, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized that opening up and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics on the profound foundation of more than 5,000 years of Chinese civilization, and combining the basic principles of Marxism with the specific reality of China and with outstanding traditional Chinese culture is the inevitable path.
The "second integration" has given the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics a broader and more profound historical depth, and expanded the cultural foundation of the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
Fengqiao (枫桥) Ancient Town, Zhuji (诸暨), Zhejiang Province, a Qing Dynasty (清代) ancient stele records a story of mediation of contradictions: At that time, Fengqiao's (枫桥) commerce was prosperous, and contradictions arose between porters. The county invited respected villagers to mediate, and finally both parties shook hands and made peace.
During his work in Zhejiang, Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) innovatively developed the "Fengqiao Experience (枫桥经验)." Combining the wisdom of traditional Chinese culture with the Marxist mass view: relying on the masses of the people to solve problems at the grassroots level and resolve them in the bud.
Learning from history and governing the country. General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) has always organically integrated the essence of outstanding traditional Chinese culture into political practice, and cultivated the humanistic background of the Chinese-style modernization path.
The Six-Foot Lane (六尺巷) has a wide world. On October 17, 2024, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) came to Tongcheng (桐城), Anhui Province, to learn about the history and inheritance of the Six-Foot Lane (六尺巷).
"The Six-Foot Lane (六尺巷) embodies the historical wisdom of our ancestors in resolving conflicts. It should be used as an educational place to promote outstanding traditional Chinese culture, give play to the traditional virtues of the Chinese nation of emphasizing courtesy and valuing harmony, and create a harmonious social environment for living and working in peace and contentment."
In the broad dimension of time and space, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized that to govern today's China well, we need to have an in-depth understanding of our country's history and traditional culture, and we also need to actively summarize our country's ancient explorations and wisdom in governing the country.
Adhering to a people-centered approach, he has repeatedly quoted "The people are the foundation of the state; when the foundation is solid, the state is peaceful" (民惟邦本，本固邦宁); strengthening discipline, emphasizing "Without rules, there can be no order" (没有规矩，不成方圆); from "Law is the beginning of governance, virtue is the root" (法者，治之端也”“德者，本也) to adhering to the rule of law and the rule of virtue; repeatedly calling for "harmony and co-existence" (和合共生) and "a world of great harmony" (天下大同) on international occasions, promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind... The power of culture permeates all aspects of the General Secretary's governance.
"Loving the motherland and loving the hometown is not only expressed as an inseparable attachment to its rivers and mountains, its nation, its history, and its culture, but also as a heartfelt concern for the destiny and future of the motherland and the hometown, and a willingness to dedicate oneself to the liberation and construction of the motherland and the hometown." As early as during his work in Zhengding (正定), Hebei (河北), Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) expressed his deep love for the country.
"Some time ago, I read some war letters again, and they were indeed deeply moving."
In September 2015, in Zhongnanhai (中南海), Beijing (北京), at the 26th collective study session of the 18th CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) read out the letter from martyr Zhao Yiman (赵一曼) word by word -
"Mother has resolutely engaged in the anti-Manchu and anti-Japanese struggle, and today is on the eve of sacrifice... After you grow up, I hope you will not forget that your mother sacrificed for the country..."
Generations of patriotic people sacrificed themselves for the country and the people, their deeds and spirit were earth-shattering, and they are a valuable resource for inspiring unity and progress.
On September 3, Tiananmen Square (天安门广场), the formations were like mountains, and the momentum was like a rainbow. A grand military parade made all Chinese sons and daughters boil with enthusiasm and passion.
From the commemorative meeting for the 100th anniversary of the May Fourth Movement (五四运动), to the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, from the commemorative meeting for the 70th anniversary of the Chinese People's Volunteers' participation in the Korean War, to the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, each commemorative meeting and major event united people's hearts and inspired fighting spirit.
"Proud of the great motherland!" "Revitalize China, it is our generation's responsibility!"... The fervent messages reflect the fervent patriotic hearts of the Chinese sons and daughters.
History is the best textbook, and the history of the Chinese revolution is the best nutrient.
On the morning of September 30, a solemn ceremony was held in Tiananmen Square (天安门广场). In 2014, the National People's Congress Standing Committee passed a resolution to establish September 30 as the Martyrs' Memorial Day. Since then, every year on this day, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) comes here to present flower baskets to the people's heroes;
Linyi (临沂), Shandong (山东), Gutian (古田), Fujian (福建), Yan'an (延安), Shaanxi (陕西)... Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) has visited revolutionary memorial sites many times during his research and inspection tours in various places, revisiting the original aspiration and mission of the Party;
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"We must study and summarize the history of the Party well, inherit and carry forward the Party's valuable experience, remember the course of struggle, shoulder the historical mission, and draw strength for progress from the Party's history of struggle," General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized.
On Mount Shi'nao (狮脑山), the Hundred Regiments Offensive (百团大战) monument stands straight into the clouds. On July 7, the 88th anniversary of the outbreak of the all-out War of Resistance Against Japan, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) visited the Hundred Regiments Offensive Memorial Hall to view the exhibits.
"Learning from the past is the guide for the future. Coming here is to receive a spiritual baptism." The General Secretary said with emotion, "The vast number of young people are born in the right time. They must continue the red bloodline, establish the lofty ambition of strengthening the country and having me, and be upright and proud Chinese people."
Inheriting the red gene, our Party has always attached importance to using the Party's struggle history and great achievements to inspire fighting spirit, using the Party's glorious traditions and fine work style to strengthen beliefs, and using the Party's historical experience and practical creation to inspire wisdom.
On the occasion of the successful conclusion of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) led the members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the 19th CPC Central Committee on a special trip from Beijing (北京) to Shanghai (上海) and Jiaxing (嘉兴), Zhejiang (浙江), to pay their respects to the site of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China in Shanghai (上海) and the Red Boat on Nanhu Lake (南湖红船) in Jiaxing (嘉兴), Zhejiang (浙江). The General Secretary pointed out that no matter how far we go, we must not forget the road we came from.
Any promising nation is known to the world for its unique spirit.
For more than 100 years, the Communist Party of China has carried forward the great spirit of Party building, built the spiritual pedigree of Chinese Communists in the long-term struggle, and tempered a distinct political character. These valuable spiritual assets transcend time and space, become more and more new, and are deeply integrated into the blood of the Party, the country, the nation, and the people, guiding the direction, gathering strength, and tempering character.
This is the conclusion of history: Why has the Chinese nation been able to survive tenaciously and develop continuously in the long river of thousands of years of history? "A very important reason is that our nation has a consistent spiritual pursuit, spiritual characteristics, and spiritual context."
This is the revelation of the future: Only by insisting on moving from history to the future and pioneering forward from the continuation of the national cultural bloodline can we do today's cause well.
The great era breeds great thoughts, and great thoughts lead great practice. Under the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the Chinese nation, which has created a splendid civilization for more than 5,000 years, will surely create new and greater glories on the new journey of the new era.
Return to TopBeijing, October 7th, Xinhua News Agency. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson announced on the 7th: At the invitation of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Li Qiang (李强), a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Premier of the State Council, will lead a Chinese party and government delegation to attend the celebrations for the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea from October 9th to 11th and pay an official friendly visit to North Korea.
A reporter asked: Can the spokesperson introduce the background of Premier Li Qiang's (李强) visit to North Korea and China's expectations?
The spokesperson said that China and North Korea are traditional friendly neighbors. Maintaining, consolidating, and developing good China-North Korea relations has always been the 坚定不移 (jiān dìng bù yí - "firm and unswerving," resolute and unwavering) strategic policy of the Chinese Party and government. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea. China is willing to take this visit as an opportunity to work with North Korea, guided by the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and two countries, to strengthen strategic communication, deepen exchanges and cooperation, and promote the continuous development of traditional friendly and cooperative relations between China and North Korea.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 黄培昭
In the rural fields of the Nile Delta in Egypt, Chinese enterprises are not only bringing high-quality agricultural feed, but also advanced technology, employment opportunities, and hope for development. For more than 10 years, Chinese enterprises have been continuously writing stories of cross-border cooperation with their actions, injecting continuous impetus into Egypt's agricultural revitalization: from women's training in villages to the completion of modern factories, and then to the continuous extension of the industrial chain, "seeds of hope" are taking root and sprouting.
"Allowing women to acquire a reliable livelihood skill will greatly help Egypt's poverty alleviation efforts."
In the Manufiya Province (曼努菲亚省) of Egypt, the fields under the sun exude the fragrance of grass. In the two-story building of the "Family and Agricultural Development Center" in Subak Ahad Village (苏巴克·阿哈德村), a unique training course is underway. This is a public welfare project jointly initiated by the Chinese Embassy in Egypt (中国驻埃及大使馆), New Hope Liuhe Egypt Company (新希望六和埃及公司), and several local social organizations - allowing 100 women to obtain chicks, feed, and tools, and receive training for a complete breeding cycle. The project aims to help poor families master skills, truly rely on their own hands to obtain sustainable income, and gradually master the methods of getting rid of poverty and becoming rich.
In the courtyard, there are newly distributed feed bags, waterers, and Arabic versions of breeding manuals. "For the first time, I feel that I can improve my family's living conditions," 45-year-old villager Amina (阿米娜) told reporters. In the past, her family's income depended entirely on her husband going out to do odd jobs. Now, through the skills she has learned, she can raise chickens to increase income and improve her living standards.
"Every day, we must carefully observe the activities of the chickens, their feeding patterns, etc., and contact us at any time if you encounter any problems." Asma (阿斯玛), deputy manager of the breeding service department of New Hope Liuhe Egypt Company, explained in Arabic while demonstrating the key points of operation. After being taught by Chinese masters, Asma can now stand alone and lead the team to run between villages.
Yehia (叶哈亚), head of rural affairs at the Egyptian Ministry of Social Solidarity, said: "This is not a simple training, but a good deed of 授人以渔 (shòu rén yǐ yú - "teach a man to fish," to teach someone how to do something so they can provide for themselves). Allowing women to acquire a reliable livelihood skill will greatly help Egypt's poverty alleviation efforts. The Chinese side has brought real hope to the villages of Egypt."
"What the wheels are rolling is the future of the breeding industry, and also my happy life tomorrow."
In the past, the development of Egypt's poultry breeding industry was lagging behind, the quality of feed was uneven, the feed-to-meat ratio was high, and the survival rate of poultry was only about 80%. Farmers generally reported high costs and low returns.
In 2011, China's New Hope Group (新希望集团) (hereinafter referred to as "New Hope") entered Egypt and put its first factory into operation there in 2013. Since then, the company has taken root locally and expanded steadily, building factories in many places. It now has 4 feed factories and 1 breeding poultry company. In 2024, New Hope sold 700,000 tons of feed and 25 million chicks in Egypt.
Relying on the biological feed and scientific management technology brought by the Chinese side, the local feed-to-meat ratio has dropped from 1.8 to 1.5 or even 1.4, and each ton of feed can raise more broilers; the survival rate of poultry has also increased to 95%. "Lower costs and increased returns mean an upgrade of the entire industry standard," said Ihsan (伊赫桑), professor of agronomy at Cairo University (开罗大学) in Egypt.
New Hope has more than 1,000 employees in Egypt, with a localization rate of more than 90%, and more than half of the management personnel are Egyptians. Ramadan (拉马丹), 30, was originally a warehouse manager and is now the production manager. He said: "We not only have a stable life, but also learned how to manage and how to innovate. This is what our Chinese friends taught us." In Hosh Eissa Village (胡什·埃西村) in Beheira Province (贝赫拉省), truck driver Ibrahim (易卜拉欣) travels 300 kilometers every day to deliver feed to 3 million chickens. "2/3 of the feed comes from New Hope," he said. "What the wheels are rolling is the future of the breeding industry, and also my happy life tomorrow."
Statistics show that New Hope has directly created more than 1,200 jobs for local employees in Egypt. Today, the monthly income of some employees has increased to about 40,000 Egyptian pounds (1 RMB is about 6.68 Egyptian pounds).
The local media Al-Ahram (金字塔报) commented: "Chinese enterprises have not only helped us increase the output of the breeding industry, but also strongly boosted the confidence of Egyptian breeders." The report said that some breeders have developed from a breeding scale of 3,000 at the beginning to a large-scale breeding of hundreds of thousands now, and have become rich as a result. Egyptian Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Haty (哈提卜) said: "We welcome such investment. Chinese enterprises have created wealth and value for Egypt."
"China, which has successfully achieved poverty alleviation, is a model worthy of Egypt's reference and learning."
Walking on the ridges of Subak Ahad Village (苏巴克·阿哈德村), the sun sets in the west, cattle leisurely stroll, sheep graze on green grass, chicks flap their wings, and laughter comes from the depths of the village. For many women, this is their first opportunity to learn skills to change the fate of their families. For more breeders, the technology and assistance from China have allowed them to experience the power of modern agricultural technology for the first time and be full of hope for life.
Egyptian Minister of Local Development Manal Awad (马纳尔·阿瓦德) said: "Chinese enterprises have not only brought investment and production capacity, but also injected vitality into Egypt's agricultural modernization. China, which has successfully achieved poverty alleviation, is a model worthy of Egypt's reference and learning."
Aya Abdin (阿娅·阿卜丁), technical manager of New Hope Liuhe Egypt Company, said that New Hope not only cultivates deeply in the industry, but also extends technical training and public welfare projects to the grassroots level. "In addition to women's training projects, the company also provides free courses and door-to-door guidance to hundreds of farmers every year to help them master the knowledge of poultry farming, disease prevention and control, and market docking."
For more than 10 years, from the first factory to a network covering the whole country, from the growth of one employee to the employment of thousands of people, from increasing the value of a bag of feed to lighting up the life of a family, the "new hope" sown by Chinese enterprises in Egypt is quietly taking root, sprouting, flowering, and bearing fruit. "Where there are Chinese friends, there are fields of hope," local media commented. This is a cross-border cooperation, and it is also a broad road to get rid of poverty and move towards common development and common prosperity.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 崔 寅
"The Global Civilization Initiative proposed by China is full of wisdom and vision, which is conducive to enhancing mutual understanding between countries and promoting cooperation and common development." Former Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba (姆本巴) said in a recent interview with this reporter, "Only by deepening friendship and understanding can we achieve peace, stability and development. All people have the right to live in peace and enjoy health, education and other well-being."
Pohamba (姆本巴) came to China in July this year to participate in the Ministerial Conference of the Global Civilization Dialogue, and had a deeper understanding of civilization exchanges and mutual learning. "Civilization dialogue is an important path to promote the progress of human civilization and world peace and development. The Global Civilization Initiative advocates mutual respect and 美美与共 (měi měi yǔ gòng - "beauty and shared," each civilization displays its unique beauty, appreciating and coexisting harmoniously with other civilizations) among different civilizations, opposes the clash of civilizations, and emphasizes harmony in diversity, which can promote civilization exchanges and mutual learning to become a powerful force for maintaining world peace. All countries should work together to continue the torch of civilization in mutual learning and create a better future together."
Pohamba (姆本巴) has visited China many times, and China's rapid changes have left a deep impression on him. In July this year, Pohamba (姆本巴) visited Shanghai (上海), not only experiencing the cultural depth and diverse charm of the international metropolis, but also visiting Tesla's Shanghai Super Factory to test drive new cars, experiencing China's latest technological application achievements in the "Model Speed Space" large model innovation ecological community on the Bund (黄浦江畔), visiting the Shanghai Port Yangshan Phase IV Automated Terminal (上海港洋山四期自动化码头), and visiting the Party and Mass Service Center, feeling the vivid practice of Chinese-style modernization. "As an old friend of the Chinese people, I am deeply impressed by China's long history and culture, and I also admire China's speed of scientific and technological innovation and development. I hope to learn from China's national governance experience." Pohamba (姆本巴) said that at present, China is moving towards coordinating the construction of a modern infrastructure system and a high-standard market system, and steadily expanding institutional opening up. The SWAPO Party (人组党) of Namibia admires the development achievements made by the Communist Party of China (中国共产党) in leading the people, and is willing to strengthen inter-party cooperation with China and carry out exchanges on governance experience.
Pohamba (姆本巴) said that China has never colonized any country, and Namibia received strong support from China in its independence struggle. Namibia and China established diplomatic relations the day after Namibia's independence. "Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, no matter how the international situation changes, the two sides have always shared weal and woe and moved forward hand in hand. In recent years, under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, Namibian-Chinese relations and cooperation in various fields have reached a new level. Namibia has received long-term support and assistance from China, and the Namibian government and people will not forget it." Pohamba (姆本巴) said that although Namibia and China are different in size, they have always maintained friendship, unity and cooperation, and have always respected and supported each other. Today, under the framework of the Namibian-Chinese comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, the two sides are promoting cooperation in various fields and have achieved fruitful results.
During the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (中非合作论坛北京峰会) held last year, China and Namibia signed a number of bilateral cooperation documents in the fields of mutton and goat meat export to China, development cooperation, etc. "Agricultural cooperation is a new highlight of our two countries' deepening practical cooperation, and the relevant negotiations are progressing smoothly, and China has provided a lot of convenience." Pohamba (姆本巴) said that Namibia has a long history of growing grapes, dates and other crops, and the sale of these products to a broad consumer market like China will significantly increase the income of local farmers. "Namibia will improve product quality through scientific means. We are full of energy to deliver good products to China."
Return to TopXinhua News Agency, Beijing (北京) October 7th (北京) -- On October 7th, 2025, Wang Yi (王毅), member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, spoke on the phone with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun-dong (赵显).
Wang Yi (王毅) stated that China (中国) and South Korea (韩国) are important close neighbors and close partners. China (中国) always attaches importance to China-South Korea (中韩) relations and is willing to work with South Korea (韩国) to enhance mutual trust, eliminate interference, deepen cooperation, achieve mutual success, and jointly contribute to regional peace, stability, development, and prosperity.
Wang Yi (王毅) pointed out that China (中国) and South Korea (韩国) will successively host the APEC Economic Leaders' Informal Meeting in the next two years. He hopes that the two sides will support each other, further build consensus among all parties, strengthen unity and cooperation, maintain the international trade system, adhere to the concept of multilateralism, promote the FTAAP process, and make positive efforts towards building an Asia-Pacific community.
Cho Hyun-dong (赵显) stated that South Korea (韩国) attaches great importance to and will do its utmost to develop relations with China (中国), and looks forward to taking the opportunity of hosting the APEC Economic Leaders' Informal Meeting to promote high-level exchanges between the two countries and deepen exchanges and cooperation.
Return to TopThis is a dispatch from our Berlin office, October 7th (Reporter Xu Xin (徐馨)) Geneva: The 60th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted by consensus on the 6th the resolution "Promoting and Protecting Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the Context of Eliminating Inequality" submitted by China on behalf of nearly 70 countries including Bolivia, Egypt, Pakistan, and South Africa.
Chen Xu (陈旭), Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva and Other International Organizations in Switzerland, stated at the meeting that on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations and the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the *Beijing Declaration* and the *Platform for Action*, China's proposal of this resolution aims to bridge differences, build consensus, and highlight action-oriented approaches. The resolution calls for strengthening multilateralism and international cooperation, holding thematic discussions and interactive dialogues at the Human Rights Council, supporting the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to strengthen its work in the field of economic, social and cultural rights, and fully leveraging the role of the online platform of the United Nations Knowledge Center for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights established under the resolution to better provide technical assistance and capacity-building support to countries in need.
Return to TopBy: 山添拓
As we approach the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, Japan should more seriously confront and deeply reflect on the war crimes committed by Unit 731 (731部队) and others, and earnestly assume its due war responsibility.
The human experiments and germ warfare conducted by the Japanese Unit 731 (日本731部队) were extremely cruel and inhumane acts. For a long time, although the Japanese government has acknowledged the existence of Unit 731 (731部队), it has consistently refused to acknowledge its crimes, citing "the absence of materials showing details of (the unit's) activities," and has consistently neglected to convey the facts in historical education.
After September 18, 1931, Japan accelerated its invasion and expansion into Northeast China, constructing a large-scale military base in Harbin (哈尔滨), Heilongjiang (黑龙江), specifically for the research and testing of biological weapons. Unit 731 (731部队) illegally arrested large numbers of Chinese, Soviets, and others under the guise of "participating in social activities." These individuals were referred to as "Maruta" (马路大), which in Japanese originally meant logs or timber. They were assigned three- to four-digit numbers, imprisoned in special prisons, and not regarded as human beings at all, but rather treated as living experimental materials. Unit 731 (731部队) forcibly subjected the prisoners to inhumane live experiments, such as infecting them with highly lethal pathogens like plague and anthrax, freezing their limbs, having them inhale poisonous gas, and injecting them with air, openly trampling on basic human rights. Ultimately, more than 3,000 people were killed, and none of the prisoners survived. The aforementioned atrocities are irrefutable, with ample historical evidence to prove them, including Seiichi Morimura's (森村诚一) book *The Devil's Gluttony*, the Khabarovsk War Crime Trials (伯力审判) conducted by the Soviet Union after the war, and historical archives released by China and the United States.
In March of this year, at the Budget Committee of the Japanese House of Councillors, I presented a record of lethal gas human experiments submitted by a member of Unit 731 (731部队) in 1964. The cover of the document was marked "Army Medical Corps Lieutenant Colonel Ikedo Naeo" (陆军军医中佐池田苗夫). The materials showed that during the experiments, victims exhibited symptoms such as neurological disorders and vomiting. The material is stored in the National Institute for Defense Studies (防卫研究所) of the Japanese Ministry of Defense (日本防卫省), and has been stamped and certified by multiple departments, including the War History Office (战史室) of the Japanese Defense Agency (日本防卫厅), indicating that the Japanese government was not only aware of the experiments but also systematically concealed evidence. The National Institute for Defense Studies (防卫研究所) secretly held these materials for 40 years, only making them public in 2004, demonstrating that the Japanese government has long concealed the facts and deceived the Japanese Diet (日本国会) and the public, bearing an undeniable and enormous responsibility.
In April of this year, at the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee of the Japanese House of Councillors, I further pointed out that the National Institute for Defense Studies' (防卫研究所) 1983 "Guidelines for Judging Non-Disclosure of Official Documents" explicitly listed "Personnel materials related to the 731st Epidemic Prevention and Water Supply Unit" (第731防疫给水部相关人事资料) and "Reports on acts violating war-related regulations and situations that may develop into international problems" as content that should be reviewed, as well as review items such as the abuse of foreigners (including prisoners of war) and the use of poisonous gases. These review items were specifically marked "extraction," meaning they were singled out for review and not immediately made public. This shows that the Self-Defense Forces (自卫队) and the former Japanese military are "of the same lineage" (一脉相承 - yī mài xiāng chéng - "one vein inheriting," to be closely related or connected), setting internal standards to cover up war crimes such as human experimentation. Today, high-ranking officials of the Self-Defense Forces (自卫队) still visit Yasukuni Shrine (靖国神社) in droves, which glorifies the history of aggression, reflecting the seriousness of Japanese historical revisionism. While adopting such a political stance, Japan is also significantly increasing its defense spending, and this tendency towards military expansion must not be tolerated.
Even today, some people still bear the immense pain caused by that dark history. In February of this year, I visited Hideo Shimizu (清水英男), a former member of the "Boy Corps" (少年队) of Unit 731 (731部队) in Nagano Prefecture (长野县). In 1945, his school teacher recommended the 14-year-old to go to Harbin (哈尔滨) as a "trainee technician." Without any knowledge of the nature, location, or mission of his military service, he went to Unit 731 (731部队) on the outskirts of Harbin (哈尔滨) and became a "boy soldier." During his time with Unit 731 (731部队), he saw infant specimens preserved in formalin in the specimen display room. On the eve of Japan's surrender in August 1945, he participated in transporting bombs and collecting and burning skeletal remains. Last August, he returned to China to apologize. He told me that that history is a heavy burden that individuals cannot bear, and that "even if we individuals apologize, it is not a true apology; the government must tell the truth."
The war crimes of Unit 731 (731部队) cannot be covered up. However, the Japanese government intentionally distorts the truth about the war of aggression through historical textbook screenings and other means, concealing the facts from its citizens, leading to a widespread understanding among the Japanese public of the history of victimization brought about by the atomic bombings of Hiroshima (广岛) and Nagasaki (长崎), while knowing very little about Japan's history of aggression. To date, the Japanese government has not formally apologized to China. I believe that, as we approach the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, Japan should more seriously confront and deeply reflect on the war crimes committed by Unit 731 (731部队) and others, and earnestly assume its due war responsibility.
(The author is a member of the Japanese Communist Party (日本共产党) and a member of the House of Councillors.)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 孙广勇
"Ashulia is an important textile industrial area in Bangladesh. Now that the highway is open, we can quickly transport our products to Dhaka, Chittagong, and other places. Transportation costs will be reduced significantly, and our income will also increase." What truck driver Khan Xi is eagerly awaiting is the Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway (hereinafter referred to as "Dhaka-Ashulia Expressway") to be completed and open to traffic.
The Dhaka-Ashulia Expressway project includes the construction of a 24-kilometer-long four-lane elevated expressway, the upgrading and renovation of 14.3 kilometers of existing roads, as well as auxiliary projects such as ramps and auxiliary road bridges. The expressway is designed with a maximum speed of 80 kilometers per hour and is being undertaken by China National Machinery Import & Export Corporation (中机公司), a subsidiary of China General Technology (Group) Holding Co., Ltd. (中国通用技术集团). "The project will significantly improve transportation links in northern Dhaka and its industrial areas, alleviate congestion, and benefit approximately 40 million people in Dhaka and its surrounding 30 districts. This expressway will usher in a new era of connectivity for Bangladesh," said Ahsanul Haq (阿卜杜·拉夫), Director of the Bangladesh Bridge Authority (孟加拉国交通部桥梁局).
At the project construction site (see photo, by Sun Guangyong (孙广勇), reporter of this newspaper), a bridge-building machine is slowly advancing, and T-beam erection and bridge superstructure construction are proceeding in an orderly manner. The Dhaka-Ashulia Expressway project is located in a river alluvial plain with complex and variable geological and geomorphological conditions. The reporter saw that local land and water transportation is busy, and the project must not only demolish the original old bridge, but also ensure the passage of vehicles and the navigation of ships during construction. The road and bridge construction technology of Chinese companies fills the Bangladeshi side with confidence. "The project is progressing according to plan. Chinese companies have world-class technology and equipment in road and bridge construction," said Shafiqul Islam (沙菲库), the project director. Ma Zhihua (马智华), project manager of China National Machinery Import & Export Corporation (中机公司), said: "The overall progress of the project is more than half completed, laying a good foundation for its completion and opening to traffic as scheduled in 2026."
Nearly 4,000 local workers are employed at the project site. The project department actively cultivates local talents in the form of master-apprentice "passing on experience, helping, and leading" (传帮带), which not only helps Bangladeshi employees improve their technical level, but also brings the employees of China and Bangladesh closer together. Moran (莫兰), a local young man who is responsible for translation and mechanical dispatching, said: "I have accumulated a lot of work experience and learned a lot of knowledge here. I hope that through my own efforts, I can help the road to be completed smoothly, build bridges and pave smooth roads with my Chinese friends, and open the door to interconnectivity for Bangladesh."
"We are committed to deeply participating in the construction of transportation in countries along the 'Belt and Road' Initiative, and contributing our strength to building a global partnership of interconnectivity and achieving common development and prosperity," said Lu Weijun (陆卫军), Deputy General Manager of China General Technology (Group) Holding Co., Ltd. (中国通用技术集团).
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 王 浩 邓剑洋
National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays saw continued popularity in rural tourism, becoming a new highlight of holiday consumption and a new trend in cultural and tourism activities.
Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out: "Developing new industries and new business formats such as rural tourism, leisure agriculture, cultural experiences, health and elderly care, and e-commerce should not only have speed but also high quality to achieve healthy and sustainable development."
Villages are bustling with tourists, and the countryside is full of vitality, reflecting the surging momentum of comprehensive rural revitalization and the vigorous prosperity of the cultural and tourism industry. Since the "14th Five-Year Plan," new industries and new business formats such as rural tourism and leisure agriculture have grown vigorously. Last year, the national leisure agriculture business revenue reached about 900 billion yuan.
Deep integration of agriculture and tourism opens up new space for rural industrial development.
"Bamboo fences and thatched cottages have beautiful scenery." From farmhouses in North China to water towns in Jiangnan, from wandering in the mountains and rivers to experiencing intangible cultural heritage, the vast fields pin tourists' hopes on "poetry and distance."
Observing the demand side, "traveling to counties" and "rural tourism" are becoming popular, small cities are not niche, and the countryside is even more exciting.
In Zigui County (秭归县), Hubei Province, the Three Gorges family and the hometown of Qu Yuan (屈原) attract a constant stream of tourists.
Amidst the sound of drums and music, more than 60 actors in fluttering costumes walked and sang, as if historical figures such as Qu Yuan (屈原) walked out of the poetry scrolls. During the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays, Zigui Jiuge Alley (秭归九歌巷子) was bustling with activity, with ancient music flash mobs and folk acrobatics performances taking turns.
"Jiuge Alley (九歌巷子) takes Qu Yuan's (屈原) 'Nine Songs' as its cultural background to create an immersive experience for tourists," said Zhang Haiyan (张海彦), head of Zigui Sanfeng Culture Communication Co., Ltd. Jiuge Alley (九歌巷子), the Hubei Three Gorges Immigration Museum (湖北三峡移民博物馆), and the Qu Yuan's Hometown Cultural Tourism Area (屈原故里文化旅游区) are strung together to form an all-for-one tourism route.
In Pingtian Village (坪田村), Tonggu County (铜鼓县), Jiangxi Province, branches are covered with yellow persimmons, and rice waves are layered in the fields.
"The village has newly built a rice field study area and a snow peach picking garden this year, receiving more than 28,000 tourists from October 1st to 7th." These days, Zhang Jihui (张继辉), secretary of the Pingtian Village (坪田村) Party branch, is busy acting as a guide for tourists.
"New demands bring new opportunities. The county is based on natural scenery, characteristic industries, and red culture and other tourism resources to promote the deep integration of agriculture, culture, and tourism, driving the development of transportation, catering, accommodation, and other industries," said Xiong Xiaoliang (熊小亮), the county magistrate of Tonggu County (铜鼓县). From October 1st to 7th, Tonggu County (铜鼓县) rural leisure tourism received more than 500,000 tourists.
From rushing to check in to experiencing the slow life of the countryside, pastoral scenery, poetic landscapes, rural culture, and folk customs have become new aspirations for tourists. Meituan Travel data shows that during the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays, the number of pre-orders for county tourism consumption increased by 51% compared with the same period last year.
Looking at the supply side, the countryside is no longer a place solely engaged in agriculture. The deep integration of the primary, secondary, and tertiary industries has spawned business formats such as the homestay economy, the camping economy, and the starry sky economy.
The desert is boundless, and the stars hang in the night sky. In Guannianfang Village (关碾房村), Dalate Banner (达拉特旗), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the "desert village" is making a living from tourism. "It is close to the Kubuqi Desert (库布其沙漠) here, and the whole family can camp and stargaze in the desert at night," said Su Yue (苏跃), a tourist from Beijing.
"More than 100 homestays were booked out early," said Ma Qiang (马强), a villager who runs three homestays. From October 1st to 7th, Guannianfang Village (关碾房村) homestays received more than 8,000 tourists.
New demands drive new supplies, new supplies create new demands, and release the "multiplier effect" of the integration of agriculture, culture, and tourism. During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, my country newly identified 597 national key villages and towns for rural tourism, bringing the total to 1,597; in the first half of the year, the national rural tourism income increased by 35% year-on-year. Rural tourism is paving a comprehensive revitalization road with ecological beauty, industrial prosperity, and people's affluence.
The integration of ancient and fashionable creates new consumer experiences and new scenarios.
"Very simple and also very fashionable" contains the continuation and rebirth of local culture and the charm and potential of rural tourism.
The integration of traditional local culture and modern civilization elements, ancient village tours, folk custom tours, intangible cultural heritage tours, etc., show new vitality.
Puyuan Fashion Ancient Town (濮院时尚古镇) in Tongxiang City (桐乡市), Zhejiang Province, on the bank of the Grand Canal, has long bluestone roads and the sound of oars. "Our family made a strategy in advance, just thinking about being able to fully feel the traditional culture here," said Wang Junliang (王君梁), a tourist from Hangzhou (杭州), who brought his children to make sachets.
"The town has strengthened the protection of traditional features and introduced business formats such as intangible cultural heritage markets, rural concerts, and study tours to continuously enhance the fashion sense and attractiveness of the ancient town," said Luo Guoliang (罗国良), secretary of the Puyuan Town (濮院镇) Party Committee. On the first day of the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays, the number of tourists received by Puyuan Fashion Ancient Town (濮院时尚古镇) increased by more than 70% year-on-year.
Traveling to northern Shaanxi to see Yangko, and going to Guizhou to listen to Dong folk songs... Behind the increasingly strong "cultural flavor" is the protection, inheritance, and excavation of traditional local culture. As of now, a total of 8,155 villages in my country have been included in the list of Chinese traditional villages for protection and have implemented brand protection; various places have built 12,900 intangible cultural heritage workshops, driving related industries to employ and increase income for more than 1.2 million people.
Cultural revitalization and industrial revitalization are coordinated, and "agricultural" and "village" brands innovate diversified consumption scenarios.
In Zhijin County (织金县), Guizhou Province, the "Village Song" series of activities was launched, with village singers making friends through songs, and tourists from all directions watching performances and rushing to the market. In Matou Town (码头镇), Nan'an City (南安市), Fujian Province, the national Four Seasons Village Evening (Autumn) demonstration and display activities were launched, and concerts, square dance competitions, and intangible cultural heritage performances were scheduled for the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays. Village songs, village evenings, village super leagues, and village BAs are in full swing across the country. At present, there are more than 470,000 mass-organized literary and artistic groups in the country.
Rural cultural revitalization empowers the development of rural tourism, allowing farmers to enrich both their "pockets" and their "minds." The 2025 Hubei Rural Creative Life Season event was launched, launching agricultural product exhibitions, rural food tasting, agricultural culture experience, etc. During the National Day Culture and Tourism Consumption Month, various places will hold more than 29,000 cultural and tourism activities around viewing and appreciating dramas, Mid-Autumn Festival reunions, and cultural experiences, distribute more than 480 million yuan in consumption subsidies, and strengthen the linkage and mutual promotion of culture and tourism with catering, accommodation, retail, sports, and other aspects.
A two-way rush between cities and villages activates new momentum for comprehensive rural revitalization.
Tourists stroll along the fields, and farmers open their doors to welcome guests. Urban-rural integration opens up new horizons for cultural and tourism development and releases huge potential.
Behind the continued popularity of rural tourism is the interconnection of urban and rural infrastructure and the continuous narrowing of the urban-rural gap.
The autumn scenery is fixed in the Taihang people's homes. "It's very pleasant to watch performances during the day and enjoy the night view at night." On the viewing platform of the "Lishangou Inn" in Dawa Village (大洼村), Shexian County (涉县), Hebei Province, Xu Zhiyang (徐志扬), a tourist from Beijing, shared the beautiful scenery with his friends on his mobile phone.
"It only takes more than ten minutes to get off the highway from the Wangjinzhuang toll station of the Taihang Mountain Expressway (太行山高速王金庄收费站), and new energy vehicles can also be charged in the parking lot, so it's very convenient to come here," said Xu Zhiyang (徐志扬).
"The village has built tourism toilets, charging piles, street lights, and other infrastructure, so tourists are willing to come and stay," said Zhang Juyuan (张巨元), secretary of the Dawa Village (大洼村) Party branch. Since this year, Dawa Village (大洼村) has relied on the characteristics of the "Taihang Stone Village" to receive a total of about 700,000 tourists.
The camera turns to the Yimeng Mountains. "Living in old houses, staying in scenic spots, and hiding in the mountains and forests, tourists can see the green when they open the windows here," said Zhang Heng (张恒), the head of a homestay in Shangsiyuan Village (上寺院村), Linqu County (临朐县), Shandong Province. The guest rooms were basically fully booked in the week before the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays.
Shangsiyuan Village (上寺院村) is located in the Yishan Scenic Area (沂山风景区). In the past, tourists who came here to play often "passed by without staying." "We encourage villagers to renovate and upgrade farmyards and develop characteristic homestays and farmhouses, realizing the integration of scenic spots and villages, and promoting scenic spots with villages," said Zhang Chuanliang (张传亮), secretary of the village Party branch.
Looking at the beautiful countryside from rural tourism, since the "14th Five-Year Plan," the rural living environment has been significantly improved, and infrastructure such as water, electricity, roads, gas, and information has continued to cover villages and extend to households. The total mileage of rural roads has exceeded 4.64 million kilometers, and the 5G coverage rate of administrative villages has exceeded 90%. A good environment has been exchanged for good prospects.
Rural tourism continues to be popular, and farmers' income channels continue to expand.
At the Shanliji (山李冀)·Shanyou Market in Lijiazhuang Village (李家庄村), Huoshui Township (活水乡), Wu'an City (武安市), Hebei Province, tourists buy mountain goods and taste delicacies. "Come and taste the newly cooked millet cakes." Villager Guo Yanqin (郭彦芹) enthusiastically greeted customers in blue printed cloth work clothes, "I can sell more than 100 bags a day."
This is a new rural cultural and tourism scene created by Wu'an City (武安市). The Shanliji (山李冀)·Shanyou Market project has solved the employment of nearly 100 people. The "company + collective + villager + merchant" operation model has increased farmers' income, and holiday traffic has become a development increment.
"You can see the mountains, see the water, and remember the nostalgia." The good momentum of rural tourism activates new momentum for comprehensive rural revitalization, and a beautiful picture of industrial prosperity, rural civilization, and happy life is unfolding in the countryside.
Return to TopDuring the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays, the land of China saw a surge in the integration of culture and tourism: visiting memorial halls to trace red footprints, experiencing the charm of outstanding traditional culture from intangible cultural heritage, watching sports events in another city... The deep integration of culture and tourism has enriched holiday choices, stimulated consumption vitality, and demonstrated the vivid practice of "using culture to shape tourism, and using tourism to highlight culture."
Innovation has spurred industrial transformation and scene upgrades. Performance activities such as music festivals have attracted a large number of cross-city audiences, driving the synchronous growth of surrounding accommodation and catering consumption. Many museums have upgraded their exhibition methods and are welcomed by tourists.
The value of cultural and tourism integration is not only to promote consumption, but also to empower urban and rural development. In many places, rural tourism is deeply integrated with ecological protection and characteristic agriculture, driving income growth for villagers; sports events combine the passion of sports with the enthusiasm of travel, driving rapid growth in comprehensive tourism revenue. From the production of cultural and creative products in the manufacturing industry to the capacity upgrade in the transportation industry, the strong correlation of the cultural and tourism industry allows the industrial chain to continue to extend.
For the 2025 World Table Tennis (WTT) Grand Smash China, Shijingshan District (石景山区) in Beijing (北京), in order to improve the viewing experience of the audience, provided meticulous services in volunteer guidance, transportation connections, and other aspects; the Hengdian World Studios (横店影视城) in Zhejiang (浙江) saw a surge in passenger flow, and the single-day power load of the scenic spot exceeded the peak value. Yu Xianghong (虞向红), the captain of the service team of the State Grid Jinhua Power Supply Company (国网金华供电公司), led the team to fully guarantee the power supply... Local authorities and departments at all levels have provided attentive services and full guarantees, enhancing the cultural and tourism experience of tourists.
The wonderful answer sheet of cultural and tourism integration is a vivid footnote to continuously meeting the people's yearning for a better life. Promoting cultural and tourism integration to a larger scope and higher level, continuously exploring cultural connotations, innovating product supply, and extending industrial value will surely add new impetus to high-quality development and make the people more satisfied and happier.
(People's Daily reporter Wang Ke (王珂))
Return to TopLayout design: Cai Huawei (蔡华伟)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 王 者
The Yi River meanders, and the Yimeng Mountains stand tall and majestic... Yishui County (沂水县), located in the south-central part of Shandong Province (山东省) and the hinterland of the Yimeng Mountains (沂蒙山), serves as the northern gateway to Linyi City (临沂市) and is named after the Yi River (沂河) that flows through it. Traveling along the winding mountain roads, traditional villages are scattered among the towering mountains, and traditional residences are densely arranged.
Currently, Yishui County (沂水县) has 6 Chinese traditional villages, including Wangzhuang Village (王庄村), Guanding Village (关顶村), and Guya Village (崮崖村), 12 provincial-level traditional villages, and 43 provincial-level pilot projects for the protection and utilization of traditional residences. In 2024, Yishui County (沂水县) was selected as a demonstration county for the concentrated and contiguous protection and utilization of traditional villages.
Wangzhuang Village (王庄村): New Stories Under Fish-Scale Tiles
Starting from Yishui County (沂水县), driving into the Yimeng Mountain (沂蒙山) area, and after traversing winding mountain roads, one finally arrives at Wangzhuang Village (王庄村) in Xiawei Town (夏蔚镇). The village is nestled against the mountains and beside the water, with crisscrossing streets and lanes, and rows of stone houses stacked upon each other. Within the village, stone slab lanes, stone mills, ancient wells, ancient springs, and ancient trees create a quaint and antique atmosphere. In the Tongxin Street (同心街) within the village, villagers are enjoying the cool air under thatched pavilions, resembling a tranquil and timeless Yimeng Mountain (沂蒙山) dwelling scene.
The "dry-stacked stone houses," a common type of traditional residence in the village, are quite distinctive.
"Dry-stacking" means constructing house walls without using mortar or adhesives, but relying on the shape, weight, and friction of the stones, interlocking them in staggered patterns, stacking them layer upon layer, and filling the gaps with gravel for reinforcement.
Some of the residences in the village use the time-honored thin slate "fish-scale tile" roofs. This type of roof uses local shale and limestone thin slate, which are laid overlapping each other along the slope of the roof, forming an arrangement similar to fish scales, hence the name "fish-scale tiles." The ridge is then fixed with whole long strips of slate or stone blocks.
Walking into a "dry-stacked stone house" in the village, the exterior is simple and grand, the interior is clean and comfortable, and the homeowner Wang Benhua (王本华) warmly greets visitors: "My house is warm in winter and cool in summer, and it's so comfortable to live in."
Wang Benhua's (王本华) house was built shortly after the founding of the People's Republic of China (新中国), with stone used for the walls, wood for the lintels, and yellow earth mixed with wheat straw, wheat husks, and mud plaster for the interior.
After Yishui County (沂水县) launched the traditional residential protection and renovation project, it invested more than 30 million yuan, and on the basis of retaining the traditional village style, implemented policies according to the village's conditions and precise measures, renovated nearly 100 traditional residences, hardened roads, installed solar street lights, and renovated sewage pipes to improve the village's infrastructure and public service level. The residences where Wang Benhua (王本华) and others live have been repaired and reinforced, and the appearance follows the original architectural form and characteristics, and the internal living conditions have been significantly improved.
After saying goodbye to Wang Benhua (王本华), one walks deeper into the village. A homestay transformed from a traditional residence is located here. The homestay has 6 courtyards and 10 guest rooms, which relatively completely preserves the architectural style of "dry-stacked stone houses" and the village culture of the Yimeng Mountain (沂蒙山) area.
In 2024, Wangzhuang Village (王庄村) transformed idle residences into homestays to promote tourism development. During the renovation process, Wangzhuang Village (王庄村) hired an expert team from Shandong Urban Construction Vocational College (山东城市建设职业学院) to conduct design demonstrations, and also invited homeowners to participate in the design process. In order to preserve the traditional residential style as much as possible, no large machinery was used in the construction process, but a construction team composed of more than 100 workers with an average age of over 60 was used. For the walls to be repaired, the construction team first implemented in-situ coding for each stone on the wall, so that it could be returned to its original position later. For the missing stones, they shuttled through the surrounding mountains and forests and abandoned old houses, and after finding suitable stones, they manually chiseled them into matching shapes according to traditional techniques. After more than a year of meticulous carving, the renovation was finally completed.
"These traditional residences are not all the same, and we conduct targeted designs according to different house types, and maintain their original style during the restoration process to achieve restoration as before," introduced Liu Jingfeng (刘京锋), Secretary of the Party Committee of Xiawei Town (夏蔚镇).
In the twilight, the silhouettes of stone houses dance with the curling smoke, and this "stone museum" carrying the wisdom of construction is continuing to write a new chapter in the Yimeng Mountain (沂蒙山) dwelling with a blend of ancient and modern styles.
Guanding Village (关顶村): Overlooking Qilu (齐鲁) from Muling Pass (穆陵关)
Guanding Village (关顶村) in Mazhan Town (马站镇) is named because it is located on the Muling Pass (穆陵关) of the Great Wall of Qi (齐长城), and about 5 kilometers of the Great Wall of Qi (齐长城) ruins are preserved within the village. Climbing the small hill on the east side of Guanding Village (关顶村), the Great Wall of Qi (齐长城) ruins are like a lying dragon stretching across the land of Qilu (齐鲁), winding into the distance.
The Great Wall of Qi (齐长城) was built in the Spring and Autumn Period (春秋时期) and completed in the Warring States Period (战国时期), taking more than 170 years to build, and it is more than 2,000 years old. One of the characteristics of the Great Wall of Qi (齐长城) is that it adapts to local conditions and makes full use of the terrain features, and the building materials are taken from local sources.
Muling Pass (穆陵关) is an important pass of the Great Wall of Qi (齐长城) and has long served as a military fortress and transportation hub. The Muling Pass (穆陵关) ruins are located in the north of Guanding Village (关顶村). Climbing the Muling Pass (穆陵关) ruins, overlooking the distance, the green mountains are covered with greenery, and the fruit forests are fragrant. In a quaint pavilion nearby, there is also a stone tablet erected, and the inscription tells the story of the Ming Dynasty's (明代) reconstruction of the Muling Pass (穆陵关) of the Great Wall of Qi (齐长城).
"It rained last night, and I have to go to patrol early." After eating breakfast, Wang Zhiming (王志明) slung his kettle, put on his straw hat, and started a new day of patrol work on the Great Wall of Qi (齐长城) ruins, facing the rising sun.
Wang Zhiming (王志明) is 63 years old this year and has lived in Guanding Village (关顶村) since he was a child. In 2023, the village wanted to select a group of Great Wall of Qi (齐长城) patrollers, and he signed up as soon as possible, "I will also do my part to protect the cultural heritage in the village." Wang Zhiming (王志明) is responsible for patrolling nearly one kilometer of the Great Wall of Qi (齐长城) ruins, and he has to walk it every morning.
During the patrol, Wang Zhiming (王志明) talked about the new changes along the Great Wall of Qi (齐长城) ruins. In 2023, according to the "Ten Major Projects" Implementation Plan for the Protection and Utilization of Cultural Relics in Shandong Province (山东省《文物保护利用“十大工程”实施方案》), Yishui County (沂水县) carried out protective repairs on the Great Wall of Qi (齐长城) ruins in Guanding Village (关顶村) and installed a monitoring system in key sections. "Relevant departments have planted dwarf pines along the buffer zone of the ruins, and the Great Wall of Qi (齐长城) has another protective barrier."
Guya Village (崮崖村): Exploring the Spring and Autumn Period (春秋) on the Top of Jiwang Mountain (纪王崮)
Driving to Guya Village (崮崖村) in Quanzhuang Town (泉庄镇), the village is located at the foot of one of the seventy-two mountains (七十二崮) in the Yimeng Mountain (沂蒙山) area - "Jiwang Mountain (纪王崮)".
"Mountain (崮)" is a geological landscape in the Yimeng Mountain (沂蒙山) area, with a flat and open top, but the surrounding walls are like cuts. Guya Village (崮崖村) is hidden in the embrace of the mountains, like a gem inlaid in the verdant folds.
Walking into Guya Village (崮崖村), the ancient locust tree in the village, which is more than 500 years old, is still tall and straight, the red-tiled stone houses are arranged in a winding order, and the stone road twists and turns upwards. When the morning light first appears, a thin mist lingers on the top of the mountain, and the edge of the mountain is a circle of city walls built of huge stones, which still stand tall despite thousands of years of wind and rain, making people intoxicated in the beautiful artistic conception of "one mountain, one world (一崮一世界)".
The name of Jiwang Mountain (纪王崮) is said to have originated from the monarch of the Ji State (纪国) in the Spring and Autumn Period (春秋时期). In order to avoid foreign enemies, he led his troops to move here, using the terrain of the mountain top to build city walls as a refuge.
In 2012, a large ancient tomb dating back 2,600 years was discovered on Jiwang Mountain (纪王崮). Subsequently, the Shandong Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology (山东省文物考古研究所) sent an archaeological team to conduct a rescue excavation of the tomb, and a large number of cultural relics such as bronze ritual vessels and musical instruments were unearthed. The Spring and Autumn Period (春秋) tomb of Jiwang Mountain (纪王崮) in Yishui (沂水), Shandong (山东) was selected as one of the top ten new archaeological discoveries in China in 2013.
Today, Guya Village (崮崖村) relies on the resource endowment of Jiwang Mountain (纪王崮) to improve infrastructure, revitalize and utilize the traditional residences on the mountain top, and create rich tourism projects.
Above the mountain top, it is flat and open, and the ancient architectural relics are clearly visible, like an aerial garden carefully carved by nature. Here, tourists enjoy immersive performances, as if they are in the golden horse of more than 2,000 years ago; walking into the snack bar, tasting a bite of Yishui (沂水) tofu, which carries the memory of nostalgia, the taste is delicate and the aftertaste is endless; strolling on the mountain top, surrounded by mountains, the smoke is misty, and the heart is happy...
Walking into Guya Village (崮崖村) and exploring Jiwang Mountain (纪王崮) is like flipping through pages of history, feeling the passage of time, and savoring the precipitation of years.
Return to TopBy: 王岳飞
"Tea, is the essence of heaven and earth." Drinking tea is not only a sensory enjoyment, but also a life wisdom that conforms to nature and harmonizes body and mind. China's tea culture is profound and extensive, with six major tea categories each possessing unique characteristics. Scientifically drinking tea according to the seasonal order and the day and night rhythms not only allows one to savor the fragrance of tea, but also protects one's well-being.
Drinking tea according to the four seasons emphasizes following the natural order.
In spring, drink flower tea to regulate stagnant Qi. In spring, the human body is easily disturbed by "spring fatigue," and the liver meridian becomes congested. At this time, it is advisable to drink fragrant flower teas, such as jasmine tea, or lightly fermented Tieguanyin (铁观音), or mild Pu-erh (普洱) ripe tea. Flower tea soothes the liver and relieves stagnation, Tieguanyin refreshes the mind, and Pu-erh ripe tea warms and protects the stomach, helping Yang Qi to rise and dispel cold.
In summer, drink green tea to dispel summer heat and dampness. In the hot summer, summer heat and dampness trap the spleen. It is advisable to drink green tea (such as West Lake Longjing (西湖龙井), Huangshan Maofeng (黄山毛峰), etc.), white tea (such as Baihao Yinzhen (白毫银针), Bai Mudan (白牡丹), etc.), or lightly fermented oolong tea such as Taiwan Dong Ding Oolong. Green tea is rich in tea polyphenols, which clear heat and relieve summer heat, promote body fluids and quench thirst; white tea is cool in nature and sweet in taste, clearing heat and reducing inflammation; Taiwan Dong Ding Oolong combines the freshness of green tea with the mellowness of black tea, which can relieve the irritability caused by summer heat.
In autumn, savor oolong tea to relieve dryness and heat. In autumn, it is easy to develop "autumn dryness." At this time, semi-fermented oolong teas such as Wuyi Rock Tea (武夷岩茶), Phoenix Dancong (凤凰单枞), and Tieguanyin (铁观音) are the first choice. They are mild in nature, neither cold nor hot, with a golden and bright tea soup and a high aroma. They can clear the remaining summer heat, moisten autumn dryness, and nourish lung Qi, and are known as the "sweet dew of autumn."
In winter, drink black tea to warm the spleen and stomach. In the cold winter months, Yang Qi is restrained internally, so it is advisable to drink black tea (such as Qimen black tea (祁门红茶), Lapsang Souchong (正山小种)) or dark tea (such as ripe Pu-erh (熟普洱), Liubao tea (六堡茶), Anhua dark tea (安化黑茶)). Black tea is warm in nature and rich in thearubigins and theaflavins, which can warm the body and dispel cold, nourish the stomach and protect the intestines; dark tea is mellow and sweet, aids digestion, relieves greasiness, and its aged aroma can soothe winter emotions. "Boiling tea around the stove warms the body and warms the heart."
Having discussed the four seasons, let's talk about different times of the day. Drinking tea throughout the day also needs to vary according to the time.
After getting up, after a night of metabolism, the body is in a state of relative water shortage. It is advisable to drink light green tea or light white tea, which can dilute the blood, replenish water, clear the head and improve eyesight, moisten the lungs and internal organs, and avoid strong tea on an empty stomach stimulating the stomach and intestines.
From after breakfast to noon, it is advisable to drink green tea. At this time, the human body's Yang Qi rises, and the caffeine and theanine in green tea work together to refresh the mind and enhance thinking vitality, which is especially suitable for mental workers.
After lunch, it is advisable to drink oolong tea, whose rich aromatic substances can eliminate food and remove greasiness, freshen breath, help regulate fat metabolism, and help the body recover from the "laziness" after meals.
Black tea is recommended for afternoon tea, and can also be mixed with milk, honey, etc. to make "milk tea," which has a mild taste. The theaflavins in black tea can regulate the spleen and stomach and soothe emotions.
However, it should also be noted that it is forbidden to take sedatives and enzyme preparations with tea, so as not to affect the efficacy of the medicine; be careful when drinking strong tea after drinking alcohol, so as not to increase the burden on the heart.
Tea is like life, and the key is balance. The wisdom of drinking tea scientifically lies in understanding one's own body: those with Yang deficiency use black tea to warm the body, those with Yin deficiency use green tea to reduce fire, those with phlegm and dampness use oolong to remove turbidity, and those with Qi stagnation use floral fragrance to relieve stagnation. Every cup of tea can become a "harmonizing agent" for balancing body and mind.
Scientific tea drinking emphasizes "following" - following the seasons, following the constitution, and following the needs of body and mind. From the floral fragrance of spring, the freshness of summer, the mellowness of autumn to the warmth of winter, using tea as a medium, drinking according to the seasons, and returning with "tea" - this is the Chinese way of tea life.
(The author is the director of the Tea Research Institute of Zhejiang University (浙江大学), interviewed and compiled by Dou Hanyang (窦瀚洋), a reporter from this newspaper)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 吴 勇
The morning sun shines through the thin clouds, scattering across the vast desert of Ejin Banner (额济纳旗) in Inner Mongolia, casting a golden hue over the ancient Blackwater City (黑水城).
In literary works, from the adventures in "Ghost Blows Out the Light" to the legends of "Flying Swords of Dragon Gate," Blackwater City, with its "mystery," has become a battlefield in the world of martial arts. Historically, Blackwater City was not only an important station on the Silk Road but also a military stronghold controlling the Hexi Corridor (河西走廊). The documents unearthed here also laid the foundation for the formation of Xixia studies.
The Blackwater City Ruins are in a regular rectangular shape, 421 meters long from east to west and 374 meters long from north to south. The east and west city walls have gates and additional barbicans. Entering the ruins, the first thing that catches the eye is the city wall, about 10 meters high, built of rammed yellow earth. Although it has been eroded by wind and sand, it remains solid.
Walking in the city, the land underfoot seems to retain the hustle and bustle of the past. The original streets and main buildings are still faintly discernible, as if one can still feel the busy scene of merchants gathering and camel bells ringing in those years. Blackwater City once witnessed the exchange of trade between the East and the West. Hundreds of years ago, caravans traveled here in an endless stream, bringing exotic treasures from the Western Regions and spreading silk and tea from the Central Plains to distant lands.
In the early 20th century, several hundred meters west of Blackwater City, a pagoda buried under sand dunes was excavated. When the pagoda's underground palace was opened, nearly 8,000 Xixia, Chinese, and Tibetan documents and silk paintings of Buddhist images were revealed, including the "Pearl in the Palm" (《番汉合时掌中珠》), a popular vocabulary dictionary with both Xixia and Chinese explanations, causing a shock in international academic circles.
In 2001, the Blackwater City Ruins were listed as the fifth batch of national key cultural relics protection units, forming a unique cultural landscape belt together with the Euphrates Poplar Forests (胡杨林) of Ejin Banner (额济纳旗). Every autumn, the golden color of the Euphrates Poplar Forests and the solidity of Blackwater City complement each other, becoming a popular location for photography.
Standing on the city wall of Blackwater City, the ancient river courses and traces of fields around still maintain their former outlines. Looking out at the boundless desert and the vast sky, one cannot help but feel a myriad of emotions. Although thousands of years of wind and sand have buried many traces, the story of Blackwater City still flows in the long river of history. Every visitor who comes here seems to be in dialogue with the history of thousands of years ago, feeling the distant years and the sound of camel bells on the Silk Road.
Return to TopIn the traditional villages of Sanmenxia (三门峡) in Henan (河南), Yuncheng (运城) in Shanxi (山西), and Longdong (陇东) in Gansu (甘肃), a unique type of underground dwelling is distributed: the pit courtyard. Pit courtyards are scientifically constructed, comfortable to live in, and an important part of Chinese traditional architectural culture. Recently, a reader wrote to inquire: Pit courtyards are built underground, how to prevent pedestrians from falling in? How to drain water in case of heavy rain?
In Miaoshang Village (庙上村), Qucun Village (曲村), and other traditional villages in Shanzhou District (陕州区), Sanmenxia (三门峡), Henan (河南), many pit courtyards are distributed. After the opening of the Shanzhou Pit Courtyard Folk Culture Park (陕州地坑院民俗文化园) in 2016, tourists can more directly understand this residential wonder hidden in the loess plateau. Approaching those square courtyards, one can get a glimpse of the true face of the "underground quadrangle courtyard."
Pit courtyards are built underground, how to prevent pedestrians from falling in?
"The construction of pit courtyards is scientific, and there are also ingenious designs in terms of safety protection," said He Dongge (何东阁), director of the Wisdom Center of Shanzhou Pit Courtyard Folk Culture Park (陕州地坑院民俗文化园) and a folk custom researcher.
Walking along the bluestone into the village, a circle of low walls about 80 centimeters high around the square courtyard of the pit courtyard comes into view. "This is called the horse-stopping wall, also known as the parapet," said He Dongge (何东阁). The height of about 80 centimeters can not only prevent adults from falling, but also effectively guide sunlight into the kiln. Building a horse-stopping wall at a certain distance from the pit entrance can also effectively prevent livestock from approaching the edge and avoid trampling and collapse.
In the early years, the horse-stopping wall was piled up with earth, then built with adobe, and now mostly built with bricks, which is both beautiful and practical.
In the Shanzhou (陕州) area of western Henan (豫西), the sudden rain in July-September poses a great threat to loess buildings. The loess is prone to wet collapse under its own weight after being soaked in water. How to waterproof and drain water tests the wisdom of the pit courtyard builders.
"After a long period of evolution, the pit courtyard has developed a set of 'external blocking and internal drainage' system," said He Dongge (何东阁).
Following the direction of He Dongge's (何东阁) finger, at the edge of the kiln roof, a water guiding trough composed of several layers of blue tiles can guide rainwater into the courtyard, avoiding direct scouring of the outer wall of the kiln; a seepage well as deep as 7 meters is dug in a corner of the courtyard to slowly seep rainwater into the stratum, avoiding water accumulation and erosion of the foundation; the horse-stopping wall can also intercept rainwater. The "external blocking and internal drainage" protection system can also realize the collection and utilization of rainwater.
The local area also rolls the kiln roof of the pit courtyard every year. The compacted loess can form a dense layer to resist rainwater penetration, reduce soil erosion, and enhance the load-bearing capacity of the kiln roof. It is precisely because of the persistent multi-faceted maintenance that the pit courtyard can stand for a hundred years.
Strolling through the Shanzhou Pit Courtyard Folk Culture Park (陕州地坑院民俗文化园), 22 interconnected pit courtyards with different themes show tourists the historical evolution, village style, and folk skills. Overlooking from a high altitude, the courtyards are like earth seals, together with the horse-stopping walls and seepage wells, indicating the architectural wisdom of the ancients.
(Interview and compilation by Zhang Wenhao (张文豪), reporter of this newspaper)
Return to TopLayout Design: Zhang Fangman (张芳曼)
Return to TopAll along, choral music has been regarded as an art form with a "high threshold" – highly professional and requiring long-term training. However, in recent years, stereotypes about choirs are being broken, and non-professional choirs organized and participated in by young people in various places have sprung up like mushrooms after a rain, adding a different color to their amateur cultural life.
In the performances of the Shanghai Rainbow Chamber Singers (上海彩虹室内合唱团), the interpretation of "situation dramas" gives choral music a new "opening method"; on the stage of the Hubei Wuhan Galaxy Chamber Choir (湖北武汉星河室内合唱团), the resonance of hearts rings like harmony, illuminating the "highlight moments" of ordinary people; in the works of the Guangxi Nanning Yueren Choir (广西南宁越人合唱团), local culture and life scenes are cleverly integrated, allowing the movements of "nameless people" to "break the circle" again and again... Songs carry memories, notes record life. In the hurried urban life, young people pass through the evening rush hour traffic to embrace their fresh love – this may be the power that choral music brings us.
-- Editor
Shanghai Rainbow Chamber Singers (上海彩虹室内合唱团) –
"Singing the 'Mental State of Urbanites'"
By Cao Lingjuan (曹玲娟), reporter of this newspaper
"I sing for many reasons, for farewell, for reunion..." Not long ago, Xiao Liu (小柳), an audience member from Beijing (北京), listened to this song, "I Sing for Many Reasons," live at the concert hall by the Shanghai Rainbow Chamber Singers (上海彩虹室内合唱团). After the concert, Xiao Liu (小柳) and friends sang many songs together on the way home. "Thank you 'Rainbow' for helping me find the singing self that I will always have," Xiao Liu (小柳) said emotionally.
The Shanghai Rainbow Chamber Singers (上海彩虹室内合唱团) was founded in 2010, initially as an "interest group" composed of students from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music (上海音乐学院). Later, the choir became popular with a song created from life's embarrassing events, "Zhang Shichao, Where Did You Put My Key?" (张士超你到底把我家钥匙放在哪里了).
"It was 'Rainbow's' luck to gain public attention within a few years of its establishment," said Gao Ning (高宁), the head of the choir. In 2017, he resigned from his job at an investment company and joined the newly established Rainbow Operation Studio (彩虹运营工作室), responsible for the choir's daily rehearsals, performances, and work distribution, turning his hobby into a career. Interestingly, most of the people in the studio are also members of the choir. For more than 10 years, this choir, which has nearly 100 members, has continued to maintain its strong vitality and competitiveness. The reasons for this, in addition to the pursuit of professional singing, also include a relatively continuous and high output of original works.
From the nostalgic and warm "Travels in Baima Village" (白马村游记), the rather story-like "Galaxy Hotel" (星河旅馆), to the bizarre "Chronicles of Rakshasa Country: Mountain Chapter" (罗刹国纪·山之篇), "Chronicles of Rakshasa Country: Sea Chapter" (罗刹国纪·海之篇), and the "Chronicles of Rakshasa Country: Sky Chapter" (罗刹国纪·空之篇) in the works... These choral works, whether sung in dialects or connected by large sections of narration, all explore emotionally those distant places never visited and unrealized dreams. "Many of the choir's works break people's stereotypes of choral music, using serious musical forms, coupled with humorous and lifelike lyrics, to sing the 'mental state of urbanites,' which resonates widely," said Gao Ning (高宁).
"The endless yellow sand covers the sky, the cold wind rustles the cold iron sword, the hometown is in a very, very distant place..." Chen Xuwen (陈许汶), a tenor member, especially likes the choir's work "Yumen Pass" (玉门关). He said that the work uses the pure human voice of a cappella to outline a magnificent historical picture, and each note seems to tell a story in one historical cycle after another. "Beside the road, there is a banyan tree, and the lush leaves dye the spider weaving the net green..." Gu Ming (顾鸣), a mezzo-soprano member, loves "Travels in Baima Village" (白马村游记) the most. She believes that it retains traditional choral elements and allows people to feel the infinite charm of choral sound.
Why fall in love with choral music? In "I Sing for Many Reasons," the 10th-anniversary song of "Rainbow" (彩虹), the choir members give various reasons for singing: "Because I always say the wrong things," "I am often shy and seek recognition"... For the choir members, choral music is a way of life, a wonderful fulcrum in the fleeting years.
From Monday to Friday, the choir members have their own roles: programmers, teachers, bank employees... But on Saturday night, when they arrive at the rehearsal hall, everyone gathers together to polish the details of each work. It is singing that brings these young people from all walks of life and from all over the world together – the farthest member even needs to fly from Xi'an (西安), Shaanxi (陕西), to Shanghai (上海) every week for rehearsals. "We are a group of people who are always sincere about music," said Gao Ning (高宁).
Hubei Wuhan Galaxy Chamber Choir (湖北武汉星河室内合唱团) –
"Gathering Together Because of Common Hobbies"
By Fan Haotian (范昊天), reporter of this newspaper
As the lights come on, the Qintai Concert Hall (琴台音乐厅) in Wuhan (武汉), Hubei (湖北), is packed. With a gesture from Li Zhen (李朕), the conductor of the Wuhan Galaxy Chamber Choir (武汉星河室内合唱团), more than 80 singers on stage wearing black performance costumes simultaneously stroked their palms, making a "peng peng" sound from their mouths, similar to the sound of raindrops gently patting the eaves. After a soothing piano sound, the bass, tenor, mezzo-soprano, and soprano sections sang one after another, coupled with the lyrics and narration in Wuhan (武汉) dialect, a song with local Wuhan (武汉) characteristics, "Hanyangmen Garden" (汉阳门花园), brought bursts of applause from the audience.
The Galaxy Chamber Choir (星河室内合唱团) has been established for just over two years. Its members include music industry practitioners, as well as teachers, doctors, and other professions. They come from different regions in Hubei Province (湖北省), such as Wuhan (武汉) and Huanggang (黄冈). How was such a choir, whose members come from multiple cities and have a wide variety of occupations, formed?
Li Zhen (李朕), a choral conducting teacher at the Wuhan Conservatory of Music (武汉音乐学院), is one of the founders of the choir. In January 2023, he and a few friends gathered and talked about their experiences in choral rehearsals during college. Everyone missed it very much. "Call back the friends who rehearsed in the choir together back then and continue singing!" Li Zhen (李朕) suggested.
In this way, the 8 people at the dinner table that day became the "founders" of the choir. They posted recruitment announcements through social platforms. "We welcome all friends who love music and choral music to join. We have not set very high mandatory requirements for registration conditions," said Li Zhen (李朕).
At first, they planned to recruit 30 people to form a group. Unexpectedly, more than 230 people signed up, and 80 people were selected in the first phase. "Everyone gathered together because of common hobbies," said Li Zhen (李朕). Although it is a non-professional choir, they also follow the usual practice of choirs and clarify specific regulations for rehearsals, performances, etc. "Every Saturday night from 7-10 pm is the fixed rehearsal time. Even if everyone is busy with work and lives far away, they will try their best to come and participate," said Li Zhen (李朕).
At the end of 2023, the choir made its debut performance at the Xiaogan Grand Theater (孝感大剧院). The last rehearsal a week before the performance happened to be during a heavy rain. Cai Mengqi (蔡梦琪) and 2 other members who lived in Huangshi (黄石) still insisted on coming to participate. "I am the lead singer of a song and cannot be absent. We drove off at 2 pm and did not arrive until 8:30 pm," said Cai Mengqi (蔡梦琪). With everyone's joint efforts, the premiere went very smoothly, and some of the songs performed have been played tens of millions of times online.
For each performance, the choir not only adapts and covers some classic songs, but also performs original songs. "Galaxy" (星河), a group song created by Li Zhen (李朕), is one of them. "There is a galaxy flowing in the sky, and lovers are waiting on the ground," this lyric touches the softness in many people's hearts.
"During a trip, I saw the galaxy and thought of a choir member asking 'When will we rehearse? I'm already looking forward to it.' My mother also asked before we parted, 'When will you come back? I'll prepare a meal for you.' That moment made me think of this lyric," said Li Zhen (李朕). "Galaxy" is a beautiful image. In addition to being busy, looking up at the starry sky makes people feel a lot of inner peace; music is also like a galaxy, shining brightly and giving people strength. In the future, he hopes to lead the choir to create more works that showcase Jingchu (荆楚) culture and are close to the lives of the masses, so that everyone can hear more moving songs.
Guangxi Nanning Yueren Choir (广西南宁越人合唱团) –
"Everyone is the Master of 'Work Output'"
By Zhang Yunhe (张云河), reporter of this newspaper
"Dàng dàng (氹) turns, chrysanthemum garden, Mom carries me to see the dragon boat..." The singing of the Yueren Choir (越人合唱团) came from the choir classroom of Xinghu Primary School (星湖小学) in Nanning (南宁), Guangxi (广西). The Nanning (南宁) nursery rhyme "Dàng Dàng Turns" (氹氹转) was adapted by them into the chorus "Take Me Home" (带我回家), which was widely spread on the Internet.
"This song is dedicated to children and adults," said Lan Zhuangqing (蓝壮青), artistic director and conductor of the Yueren Choir (越人合唱团). "Our choir's creative concept is to be rooted in local culture and sing the new voices of the times that come from life."
The "Yueren" (越人) in the group name represents the ancestors of the Zhuang-Dong (壮侗) language family in the ancient southern region. The choir uses this name in the hope that everyone will find the emotional resonance between the ancient and the modern together. "Folk songs contain wisdom and are a source of vivid works. I often step on the field ridges and follow the grandmothers and grandfathers to learn to sing folk songs," said Lan Zhuangqing (蓝壮青).
How are the works of the Yueren Choir (越人合唱团) created?
Accumulating materials, brewing, and composing are "first-degree" creations. "Taking 'Take Me Home' (带我回家) as an example, putting the nursery rhyme 'Dàng Dàng Turns' (氹氹转) that accompanied us growing up into a choral work is something we have always wanted to achieve," said Xu Shuai (徐帅), arranger of the Yueren Choir (越人合唱团).
Arrangement is a "second-degree" creation. "Creation is inclusive of our personalities, and everyone is the master of 'work output'," said Hu Manli (胡曼莉), a member of the choir. Everyone in the choir actively shares creative inspiration. "Some people suggested adding the sound of train whistles to the work, and some people think that nursery rhymes can also be used as a backdrop in other sections..."
Stage performance is a "third-degree" creation. Lan Zhuangqing (蓝壮青) said: "For this song, we specially filmed a music video in Nanning (南宁) and tried to use a synchronized visual expression on the LED screen on the stage, so that when the audience hears this song, they can feel the familiar atmosphere of the old streets of Nanning (南宁), coupled with the progressive layers of live percussion, making the work more diverse in terms of audio-visual experience."
Since 2015, the Yueren Choir (越人合唱团) has performed more than 100 works. They integrate the tunes of Yong (邕) opera to sing "Beautiful Yong River" (美邕江), take materials from the ancient Nuo opera of Nanning (南宁) to sing "Great Reward Thunder" (大酬雷), and adapt the choral version of "Black Cat Detective" (黑猫警长), which netizens jokingly call "a mudslide in the choral world."
The members of the Yueren Choir (越人合唱团) come from all walks of life, and this "non-professional" composure lays the foundation for creative works. Ouyang Yiwen (欧阳宜文), deputy dean of the School of Arts of Guangxi University (广西大学), said: "'Non-professional' does not mean low quality; on the contrary, the choir members consciously and spontaneously pursue high standards, allowing the audience to feel their enthusiasm." In the singing, the choir will continue to tell the story of notes and walk in the love of music.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 沈靖然
Located in the Yinghua Lane Hezuo Village (莺花巷合作村) area of Wulidian Subdistrict (五里店街道), Jiangbei District (江北区), Chongqing (重庆), the area was originally the site of the old Chang'an Machinery Factory (长安机器厂) building complex, with most of the buildings dating back to the 1950s. Yinghua Lane (莺花巷) was once famous for the nearby Yinghua Qi (莺花碛) (qì). When the flowers were in full bloom, the sandbar was crowded with tourists, full of interest; turning into Yinghua Lane (莺花巷), one could see towering banyan trees with swaying branches and leaves, capturing the tranquility and leisure of the mountain city people.
However, as time went by, the buildings and landscapes in the Hezuo Village (合作村) area suffered varying degrees of damage, with weeds growing everywhere and the exterior walls of the buildings mottled. In 2021, based on extensive consultation with community residents, the renovation and upgrading of the Hezuo Village (合作村) area was put on the agenda.
Today, Yinghua Lane (莺花巷), while preserving the original appearance of the military family area from the 1950s, has created the Hezuo Village Youth International Community (合作村青年国际社区) with the operating theme of "Quality Life Complex + Youth Activity Center." The community has introduced more than 30 independent brands, combining local location, architectural style, cultural characteristics and other factors, giving full play to entertainment, leisure, tourism and other functions, attracting more and more merchants to join. The buildings in Hezuo Village (合作村), located on the hillside, are arranged in a terraced layout, with the first floor of this row of buildings facing the second floor of the previous row, forming a natural physical separation. In order to better connect the community space and promote the interaction of residents and tourists, the designer connected the two platforms with metal ladders, making it more convenient for people to come and go in the alley.
"We call all the merchants 'villagers' and all the tourists 'neighbors'." Deng Shiyao (邓世尧), the head of the Hezuo Village (合作村) operating company, emphasized the humanistic care reflected in the community transformation process when introducing Yinghua Lane (莺花巷). In order to enrich the cultural life of the masses, the community has successfully held many "Village Evenings", attracting a large number of "villagers" and "neighbors" to participate; in addition, concerts under the trees, folk garden parties and other activities will also put the community operation concept of "serving one kilometer around" into practice.
In this modern community humanistic space, the Hezuo Village Night School (合作村夜校), founded in 2023, has made a name for itself and become one of the earliest adult night schools in Chongqing (重庆), attracting a large number of young people to come and study after work. "The Youth Night School is jointly built by the Hezuo Village (合作村) Civilization Practice Point and the Hezuo Village (合作村) Operating Company." Wang Chao (王朝), the head of the Hezuo Village Night School (合作村夜校), introduced, "In October 2023, Wulidian Subdistrict (五里店街道) opened the night school in the form of 'government-led, social participation, and diversified investment'. At present, more than 100 courses such as baking and tea art have been opened, attracting thousands of students to 'work during the day and learn skills at night'." It is understood that Wulidian Subdistrict (五里店街道) purchases services through the government, on the one hand, organizes 3 to 5 free public welfare classes every month, and on the other hand, ensures low-cost fees by providing teachers and venue guarantees.
Young merchants have settled in the community, trendy activities have flowed into the old streets, and Yinghua Lane (莺花巷) has been renewed in the fireworks atmosphere of the mountain city. "Yinghua Lane (莺花巷) has become more beautiful!" Auntie Liu (刘阿姨), a resident, marveled at the poetic and picturesque new look of Yinghua Lane (莺花巷), and also praised the preservation of the old city memory during the renovation process. Yinghua Lane (莺花巷) retains the characteristics of the mountain city, with winding trails and a different scene at every step; while renovating the old community, the preservation of buildings such as tunnels, bathhouses, and community buildings supports the residents' sense of belonging. "This is still the home we are familiar with and love," said Auntie Liu (刘阿姨).
Return to TopBy: 田龙过
In the popular TV series, there is a scene of people in the Tang Dynasty eating sashimi. Some viewers thoughtfully explained in the bullet comments: in ancient times, this was called "fish kuai (鱼脍)."
A reader asked: What is "kuai (脍)?" Are fish kuai (鱼脍) and sashimi the same thing? How popular was eating kuai (脍) in ancient times? In response to these questions, the reporter interviewed experts in related fields and asked them to provide answers.
The Tang Dynasty was an era of emerging delicacies. Li Bai (李白) was fascinated by the pleasure of "cooking sheep and slaughtering cattle," Du Fu (杜甫) advised his friends to taste cold noodles that were "cold on the teeth like snow," and Bai Juyi (白居易) never forgot the "crisp and oily" hubing (胡饼)... There was also a delicacy that was popular for a long time, and that was fish kuai (鱼脍).
What is "kuai (脍)?" "Shuowen Jiezi (说文解字)" says: "Kuai (脍) means finely sliced meat." The "Analects (论语)" mentions "Food should be refined, and kuai (脍) should be finely sliced." The 成语 脍炙人口 (kuài zhì rén kǒu - "kuai and zhi please the mouth," widely loved and praised) uses the two delicacies "kuai (脍)" and "zhi (炙)" to describe good poems or things that are praised and spread by everyone.
Are fish kuai (鱼脍) and sashimi the same thing? The answer is yes. "Kuai (脍)" includes lamb kuai (羊脍), beef kuai (牛脍), etc., some raw and some cooked, but when it comes to fish kuai (鱼脍), it refers to fresh fish and shellfish sliced raw into pieces or shreds. This food is also called "kuai (鲙)."
How popular was fish kuai (鱼脍) in the Tang Dynasty? Someone has counted that there are more than 80 poems in "Quan Tang Shi (全唐诗)" that mention fish kuai (鱼脍), and Bai Juyi (白居易) alone wrote more than 30.
The popularity of eating kuai (脍) in the Tang Dynasty is also reflected in the exquisite skills of chopping (zhuó) kuai (脍). The Tang Dynasty notebook novel collection "Youyang Zazu (酉阳杂俎)" records the scene of a master cutting kuai (脍): "Thin as gauze, light enough to be blown up, the knife is quick and rhythmic." Some people even systematically compiled this skill into "Kan Kuai Shu (砍脍书)."
In the Tang Dynasty, many kuai (脍)-making masters emerged. "Old Book of Tang: Biography of Li Gang (旧唐书·李纲传)" records that many officials at that time could "fly a knife to slice carp." It is even rumored that Emperor Xuanzong of Tang (唐玄宗) was also a master of making kuai (脍).
Although fish kuai (鱼脍) was popular in the Tang Dynasty, it actually has a long history.
As early as the pre-Qin period, there were records of eating sashimi in China. "Classic of Poetry: Xiaoya: June (诗经·小雅·六月)" records: "Drinking with friends, stewing turtles and slicing carp." Among them, "kuai carp (脍鲤)" refers to carp meat sliced into thin pieces.
According to "Daye Shiyi Ji (大业拾遗记)," in the Sui Dynasty, Emperor Yang of Sui (隋炀帝) ordered local officials to contribute local delicacies, and officials from Wu (吴) presented "Lu Fish Kuai (鲈鱼脍)." This "Lu Fish Kuai (鲈鱼脍)" still used perch meat as the main ingredient, but was cooked with golden oranges or fragrant soft flower leaves. Because the perch slices were as white as jade and the orange peel shreds or fragrant soft flower leaves were as yellow as gold, this dish was also named "Jinji Yukuai (金齑玉脍)." After Emperor Yang of Sui (隋炀帝) ate it, he praised it greatly, saying: "Jinji Yukuai (金齑玉脍) is a delicacy of the southeast."
In the Tang Dynasty, because "carp (鲤)" and "Li (李)" sounded the same, carp kuai (鲤鱼脍) was once banned. The Tang Dynasty cooking book "Shanfu Jingshou Lu (膳夫经手录)" listed crucian carp as the first choice for fish kuai (鱼脍). Crucian carp has many bones, but its meat is tender and delicious, especially suitable for finely slicing into kuai (脍).
The Song Dynasty people's love for fish kuai (鱼脍) was even greater. According to "Tokyo Menghua Lu (东京梦华录)," thousands of dan (担) of raw fish were transported into Bianliang (汴梁), the capital of the Northern Song Dynasty, every morning, "and shallow buckets were used to sell raw fish." Tourists often "bought it at double the price," and then "sliced it by the water to offer to the fragrant wine," using freshly sliced fish kuai (鱼脍) as a good dish to accompany the wine.
Fish kuai (鱼脍) is not only delicious, but also exquisite in seasoning. "Book of Rites (礼记)" records that when making fish kuai (鱼脍), scallions are used in spring and mustard sauce is used in autumn, emphasizing following the seasons and harmonizing the fishy taste. Since the Tang and Song Dynasties, in addition to continuing the tradition, the seasoning of fish kuai (鱼脍) has also paid special attention to the color matching between the fish kuai (鱼脍) and the ingredients, emphasizing the dual pursuit of color and taste, such as "Kuai (鲙) is served on a jade plate with fine red threads, and the wine is opened in a golden urn with rich green lees."
It should be noted that although sashimi is delicious, there is a risk of foodborne parasites. "Records of the Three Kingdoms: Book of Wei (三国志·魏书)" tells the tragedy of Chen Deng (陈登), the prefect of Guangling (广陵), who was eventually infected with parasites due to excessive consumption of fish kuai (鱼脍). In addition, medical books such as "Zhubing Yuanhou Lun (诸病源候论)" in the Sui Dynasty and "Qianjin Fang (千金方)" in the Tang Dynasty recorded cases of illness caused by eating fish kuai (鱼脍).
Today, some parts of China still retain the tradition of eating sashimi. In Wusuli Town (乌苏镇), Fuyuan (抚远), Heilongjiang (黑龙江), where the Hezhen (赫哲族) people live, "Sha Sheng Yu (刹生鱼)" is a local traditional dish - fresh carp is boned and sliced, mixed with wild chives, mountain peppers and other ingredients, which always attracts diners to pick up their chopsticks; while in Shunde District (顺德区), Foshan (佛山), Guangdong (广东), the taste of fish is particularly rich due to the unconventional ingredients - oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, spicy, sour and sweet are all available, with ginger shreds, carrot shreds, green pepper shreds, lemon shreds, peanuts, sesame seeds, garlic slices, mustard, etc. The characteristics of Cantonese cuisine "clear, fresh, crisp, and smooth" can be tasted in a dish of fish.
From court delicacies to folk delicacies, fish kuai (鱼脍), which has lasted for thousands of years, has always carried people's taste memories, accumulating into the fireworks of the years and the melodious civilization in time.
(The author is a professor at the School of Design and Art of Shaanxi University of Science and Technology (陕西科技大学), and this article was compiled and organized by Gong Shijian (龚仕建), a reporter from this newspaper)
Return to TopLayout Design: Zhang Danfeng (张丹峰)
Return to TopIn recent years, many new public spaces have emerged in numerous cities. Some are clear rivers, some are cultural venues, some are industrial parks, some are historic old streets, and some are open academies. They demonstrate a sense of the times, exude cultural flavor, and are full of everyday life, becoming a brand new landscape for the city, making the city more and more beautiful and moving, and more and more friendly and warm. In this issue of Dadi Supplement, let us walk into city after city, into the depths of those landscapes.
-- Editor
Return to TopBy: 杜卫东
A friend came from afar and asked, is there a new internet-famous spot in Beijing (北京) called Liangma River (亮马河)?
Indeed. I told him that the original name of Liangma River (亮马河) was Liangma River (晾马河). Back then, Kublai Khan's (忽必烈) cavalry used to water their horses here. The grass was lush, the water sparkled, and the spirited horses neighed after drinking. After Emperor Chengzu Zhu Di (明成祖朱棣) moved the capital to Beijing (北京), this place became the Royal Horse Pasture. Horses to be presented to the palace had to be washed and dried here first, hence the name Liangma River (晾马河). Later, it was renamed Liangma River (亮马河). After that, it gradually became a desolate drainage ditch, infested with mosquitoes and overgrown with weeds.
But today, the Liangma River (亮马河), after being managed and renovated, has transformed magnificently, truly deserving of the word "bright."
The Liangma River (亮马河) cruise route, newly opened in recent years, runs 6 kilometers from Yansha Pier (燕莎码头) to Honglingjin Pier (红领巾码头). No matter which point you enter from, the beautiful waterfront scenery is intoxicating. The dazzling lights at night, the uniquely shaped bridges, the multi-tiered waterfront boardwalks, the underwater viewing platforms, and the cafes and bars "embedded" along the way, all make people linger.
Some elderly people are fishing on the bank, but their buckets for holding fish are empty. They are not in a hurry, either gazing at the river in contemplation or watching birds writing poetic lines in the sky. Perhaps, feeling the rhythm of the city is the original intention of fishing. Otherwise, why not choose a quiet place, but instead bait the hook under this noisy river surface? Behind them, there are teenagers speeding by on skateboards and livestreamers singing and dancing in front of their mobile phone screens. A band composed of middle-aged and elderly people has also set up, with trombones, clarinets, saxophones... playing music in the conductor's elegant gestures - ah, it's "Me and My Motherland."
On the water, small boats and kayaks drift, echoing with bursts of laughter. Young people who love paddleboarding, either kneeling or standing in the middle of the board, propel themselves with a single-bladed paddle, their postures graceful and movements skilled. This sport has become popular quickly on the Liangma River (亮马河) recently. Being on the water, you can listen to the sounds of the wind, water, and birds, focus on the balance of your body, the changes in the water flow, and the direction of the wind, enjoying your own time alone, which is wonderful. Unfortunately, I am too old, otherwise I would really like to try it.
Coming towards me is a young couple pushing a stroller, with yellow skin and black hair. I thought they were compatriots, but when we passed by, I heard Korean. The outdoor seating area of the riverside cafes is filled with tourists of all colors. Young bartenders are mixing drinks, and with the movement of their arms, a moving symphony is played in the shaker.
Passing an outdoor bar, my friend and I looked at the menu on the bar. A blond, blue-eyed guy came over to order, and we smiled and handed him the menu. Unexpectedly, he greeted us in fluent Chinese: "Thank you. Friends, can I buy you a beer?" Several young people of different skin colors were at the same table with him. My friend heard that they were casually switching languages while chatting, as if the boundaries of language had blurred here. However, the topic must be about this charming river, and you can hear the Chinese word "Liangma River (亮马河)" popping up from their mouths from time to time. This ten-mile waterfront promenade, known as the "International Reception Room," perhaps the sound of the water is the best "simultaneous interpretation."
Tired from walking, my friend and I sat down for a rest. At the other end of the bench was a fashionable girl, staring intently at the computer on her lap. I secretly speculated about her identity: a computer programmer, a creative designer, or a white-collar worker preparing materials for business negotiations? I wanted to ask, but I didn't, for fear of interrupting her thoughts.
A scooter sped up and stopped by the road. The rider quickly stepped off, walked down the steps, and handed a takeout order to the girl. The girl took out two bottles of mineral water and gave one to the rider. The rider declined, but the girl insisted. This heartwarming scene was reflected in the clear river water. The rider took off his helmet, and gray hair could be seen at his temples. His phone screen lit up from time to time, was it newly popped-up order information? He didn't look, just staring blankly at the colorful riverbank.
The most touching thing about Liangma River (亮马河) is these fleeting moments. The quietly flowing river knows everyone's secrets, but never reveals them; strolling along the Liangma River (亮马河), you can feel its warmth, breath, and soul. The preciousness of a city lies in its tolerance of diverse lifestyles, empathizing with everyone's poetry and distant places. In this sense, Liangma River (亮马河) is like a gap in time, retaining people here to stop their hurried steps and accumulate the courage to continue moving forward - this is the heartfelt message that Liangma River (亮马河) wants to tell us!
Return to TopBy: 周华诚
I went to the Dama Lane (大马弄) in Hangzhou (杭州) to visit the morning market. It is considered the old city area. The morning market was bustling with noise and densely packed with stalls, displaying a dazzling array of seasonal goods. Osmanthus flowers were sold branch by branch, emitting a faint fragrance. Buddha's hands, golden and bright, were piled up like small mountains. I bought a few Buddha's hands, as well as water caltrop and peanuts. Walnuts were just coming into season, so I bought some to try. Before long, I had gained quite a haul.
At a corner in the alley, I encountered an old woman selling bamboo baskets. Upon closer inspection, the bamboo strips were smoothly shaved and the weaving was meticulous, revealing the work of an experienced artisan. I bought a few, which were just right for holding the Buddha's hands, water caltrop, and peanuts. Chatting with the old woman, I learned that her family were bamboo craftsmen, relying on this craft for a lifetime. Now she lives in the Xixing Ancient Town (西兴古镇) in Binjiang (滨江).
I have been to Xixing (西兴). It is an ancient town on the south bank of the Qiantang River (钱塘江), and an important port on the Grand Canal (京杭大运河). For thousands of years, men of letters, officials, merchants, and traders have gathered here, passing through or staying, and Xixing (西兴) has therefore been prosperous for a time. The old street in the town is close to the waterway, and there are many small shops on the street, selling soy sauce duck, making tin cans, and mending wooden buckets and foot basins; there are also many noodle restaurants and snack shops, and the alley is filled with fragrance all year round. There is also a craft on the old street called "Xiaoshan Lace" (萧山花边), which is a craft of knitting and embroidering lace with yarn. Many people used to do it, but now there are very few people who still know this craft.
One good thing about the city of Hangzhou (杭州) is that even as the city develops, it still harbors places of great interest such as Dama Lane (大马弄) and Xixing Ancient Town (西兴古镇). This reminds me of the Zhejiang Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum (浙江省非物质文化遗产馆) (hereinafter referred to as the "Intangible Heritage Museum") – a place that also treasures the memories of craftsmanship and the life of ordinary people. The Zhijiang Cultural Center (之江文化中心), where the Intangible Heritage Museum is located, is a newly emerging urban cultural landmark in Hangzhou (杭州), where the Zhejiang Library (浙江图书馆), Zhejiang Literature Museum (浙江文学馆), and Zhejiang Provincial Museum (浙江省博物馆) are gathered.
I have done two sharing sessions at the Intangible Heritage Museum, both related to the books I have written. I once went to southern Zhejiang (浙南) and northern Fujian (闽北) to visit covered bridges, and was intoxicated by the beauty of the covered bridges between the mountains and rivers. I was also touched by the craftsmanship of the artisans who built the covered bridges, and wrote a book called "Flowing Water Words" (流水辞). Teacher Xue (薛老师) from the Intangible Heritage Museum is from Taishun (泰顺) in southern Zhejiang (浙南), where there are many covered bridges. Teacher Xue (薛老师) had done research on covered bridges, and when she learned that I had written a book about covered bridges, she invited me to do a sharing session. When I talked about the typhoons and rainstorms that destroyed the covered bridges, and the surrounding people spontaneously salvaged and rescued the wooden components of the covered bridges along the river, many listeners had tears in their eyes. When I talked about the elderly carpenter who repaired the covered bridges leading his apprentices, together with covered bridge experts and ordinary people, finally successfully restoring the covered bridges, everyone was both moved and happy, and applauded.
In the Intangible Heritage Museum, I saw the affection and cherishment behind every craft. The boneless lanterns of Xianju (仙居) are pricked out of paper by craftsmen, stitch by stitch. The fine and dense millions of pinholes on the paper form the patterns, and the light of the lanterns shines through these pinholes. Although the lanterns are small, the production of one lantern takes a person more than half a year.
I also saw the national intangible cultural heritage project "Hecai Ballads" (喝彩歌谣) from my hometown of Changshan (常山). On the days of weddings, house beam raisings, moving into new homes, business openings, birthday celebrations, and harvest festivals, people invite Hecai masters to come out and loudly shout out blessings for a better life. "Blessings ah--" "Good ah--" The Hecai master and the crowd sing in response to each other, the sound shaking the heavens and the earth. In the loud and enthusiastic Hecai sounds, there are hidden hopes of ordinary people and expectations for a better life.
Strolling through the Intangible Heritage Museum, I saw bamboo weaving, and I thought of the old woman selling bamboo baskets in Dama Lane (大马弄); seeing Xiaoshan Lace (萧山花边), I thought of the old residents of Xixing Ancient Street (西兴古街); seeing covered bridges, I thought of the many bridge repair craftsmen I had interviewed who dedicated their lives to their craft; seeing Hecai Ballads (喝彩歌谣), boneless lanterns, West Lake silk umbrellas (西湖绸伞), and Tianzhu chopsticks (天竺筷), I thought of countless everyday lives and endless life interests. The city of Hangzhou (杭州) has been growing, and has always treasured people's love for life and respect for culture, collecting them in tangible buildings and in intangible memories.
Return to TopBy: 王晓莉
Visiting Yuzhang Academy (豫章书院), any time is a good time. Yuzhang Academy (豫章书院) is a newly established landmark of Nanchang (南昌) culture. The academy is located on the central island of Xianghu Lake (象湖), an excellent location in Nanchang (南昌) city. The island is like an emerald embedded in the clear lake.
I like to go to that area in the evening. The twilight there is much more magnificent than in the high-rise city center. Two or three people stand on the pontoon bridge leading to the academy, gazing into the distance. The pontoon bridge, composed of many steel floating boats, evokes people's yearning for the distance.
With Yuzhang Academy (豫章书院) present, the air on the central island is filled with the fragrance of books. The newly built buildings of the academy have walls of a deep ocher red. The main building, "Yuzhang Hall (豫章堂)," is three stories high, and there are also buildings such as "Zhongling Pavilion (钟陵轩)," "Longxing Study (隆兴斋)," "Hongdu Hall (洪都厅)," and "Yawang Pavilion (雅望亭)." The stone tablet is engraved with the words "Zhangshui Wenyuan (章水文渊)," which were personally bestowed by Emperor Kangxi (康熙) in 1719 to commend the Yuzhang Academy (豫章书院) of that time.
There are many historical sites of academies of various sizes within Jiangxi (江西). The most famous are Bailudong Academy (白鹿洞书院), Ehu Academy (鹅湖书院), Bailuzhou Academy (白鹭洲书院), and Yuzhang Academy (豫章书院). Among the four academies, the other three are well preserved, but Yuzhang Academy (豫章书院), which was founded in the Southern Song Dynasty, was converted into a middle school in 1962 and disappeared over the years. In Nanchang (南昌), there is an old street called "Shuyuan Street (书院街)," where I used to play as a child. The Nanchang No. 18 Middle School (南昌第十八中学) on the street is the former site of Yuzhang Academy (豫章书院). The street is still there, but the academy is gone.
From 2024 onwards, good news came about the reconstruction of Yuzhang Academy (豫章书院). Soon, a large number of construction workers, as well as steel, cement boards, cranes, etc., began to appear on the road on the west bank of Xianghu Lake (象湖). Walking here, you can see boats transporting materials back and forth across the lake.
The rebuilt Yuzhang Academy (豫章书院) is open to the public. On the way to the academy, you can always encounter people who come here admiringly: there are teenagers holding kites; there are neatly dressed old people sitting in wheelchairs; and there are children, crying on their parents' shoulders, but smiling as soon as they see the academy. Such an academy is so down-to-earth. The changes of the times can be seen in the layout and functional changes of the academy. Historically, those who entered and exited the academy were mostly great scholars and great literati, but the Yuzhang Academy (豫章书院) in front of us has become a part of public life. It will become a place for citizens to study, read, drink tea, and for experts to conduct research and exchange ideas. Like a community college, today's Yuzhang Academy (豫章书院) provides an open public cultural space for local residents.
A city with an academy is like a deep red seal falling on a long scroll of cultural rice paper. It is not grand, but it is clear and solemn. Seeing that mark, one can understand the characteristics and details of the source of culture. Historically, Tengwang Pavilion (滕王阁) was destroyed 28 times, but it was rebuilt time and time again, and it still stands on the bank of the Gan River (赣水). Yuzhang Academy (豫章书院) is also like this. From the repeated reconstructions of these cultural landmarks, you will understand a certain code of the continuous prosperity and extension of the cultural context. That code, in the depths of time and space, shines brightly.
Return to TopBy: 周 一
25 years ago, after graduating from university, I left my hometown and took a green train for more than 30 hours to Dongguan (东莞). Along the way, I was swept along by the crowd, getting off the train, leaving the station, and getting on the bus. A high heel that had fallen off by the roadside, a broken suitcase wheel, were ignored – the thought that "falling behind by one step means being left behind" lingered in everyone's mind.
I got off the bus in a place called Yuanling (元岭), carrying large and small bags, standing on a dusty gravel road, looking at the endless wilderness and scattered villages on both sides. After waiting for a long time, a fellow villager came over on an old motorcycle, picked me up, and then drove into one nameless industrial zone after another.
I joined a foreign-owned factory with ten thousand employees. Dongguan (东莞) accepted me.
Three years later, my younger brother graduated from university and, with aspirations for the future, also came to this vibrant city. Through a friend's introduction, I arranged for him to join a foreign-owned factory in Yuanling (元岭). We, the millions of strangers who flocked here, were like seeds transplanted from our hometowns, carrying boundless vitality and resilience, starting from assembly lines, gradually taking root and sprouting on this fertile land.
Now, this place is no longer called Yuanling (元岭); instead, it is the Dongguan University Innovation City (东莞大学创新城), covering an area of approximately 397 mu. People call this area by a more resounding name – Songshan Lake (松山湖).
With the eight-lane New City Road (新城路) as the main artery, crisscrossed by University Road (大学路), Huanhu Road (环湖路)... stepping through these garden-like roads, and then circling around the majestic Wei'e Mountain (巍峨山) or the large and small lakes with the Songmushan Reservoir (松木山水库) as the main body, you will see buildings surrounded by green trees and flowers, bearing the prominent signs of Huawei (华为) and the China Spallation Neutron Source (中国散裂中子源), Southern Light Source (南方光源), CAS Cloud Computing Center (中科云计算研究院), and others. What is surprising is that you can't see the iconic factories, walls, and towering chimneys of the "world factory."
The vast lake in front of you connects all directions and embraces everything. When you gaze at Songshan Lake (松山湖), you will understand that it is more than just a lake.
Many years ago, when people said Dongguan (东莞) was the "world factory," handbags, textiles, and toys were its landmark factories, undoubtedly in terms of factory scale, number of employees, or the length of the queues of waiting vehicles. But now, those former "giants" can only be found in museums with a few traces. However, this does not represent the decline of this land, but rather that generations of Dongguan (东莞) people have, through their efforts, shaken off the invisible shackles that have been stuck on their necks for many years, allowing the "world factory" to finally present itself in another form.
This presentation is the quiet rise of the Songshan Lake Science and Technology Industrial Park (松山湖科技产业园区). This rise is silent and invisible – it is not bounded by factory walls, but permeates all aspects of daily life.
Here, every ordinary citizen can make an appointment on their mobile phone to visit the China Spallation Neutron Source (中国散裂中子源), Southern Light Source (南方光源), CAS Cloud Computing Center (中科云计算研究院), etc., and listen to explanations while riding a small train. The explainer may be a physics expert or a senior engineer. If you are confused by those esoteric terms, you can go to the Science Park (科学公园) and the Children-Friendly Neutron Park (儿童友好中子乐园), and intuitively experience the linear and circular acceleration of particles, proton beam bombardment, and neutron detection with the children in games, or go to the hospital to learn from doctors how these cutting-edge technologies are overcoming medical problems.
Walking in the park, you can see unmanned vehicles delivering meals to office buildings at any time. They can not only accurately identify traffic lights and zebra crossings, but also identify floors and room numbers. If you take out your mobile phone, you will find that the signal is always full, and perhaps the street light pole next to you is equipped with a 6G signal device. Even on the subway or in a coffee shop, you will often hear people around you talking about terms such as "code" and "architecture," and even some incomprehensible terms, and the speakers may have different skin colors.
If you are lucky enough, you may also encounter thousands of drones on your balcony on a night with a bright moon. They hover over Songshan Lake (松山湖), changing different colors, forming patterns of "I love Dongguan (东莞)," "I love Songhu (松湖)," and "I love you."
Songshan Lake (松山湖) has no doors; everywhere is a door. Once the weekend arrives, it is even more of a camping paradise. People come from Guangzhou (广州), Shenzhen (深圳), and other places, unloading the hustle and bustle of the city, and embracing nature between these mountains and rivers, with the sky as the curtain and the earth as the seat. Everyone here, every building, every landscape, witnesses the rise of Songshan Lake (松山湖), becoming a footnote to this new landmark of the era.
It is said that since the reform and opening up, 200 million people have come to Dongguan (东莞) to work or live.
How great is the power of 200 million people?!
Return to TopBy: 甫跃辉
Now it is 2025, and books have long been ubiquitous in human society. So, when did "books" begin? In ancient China, there were first oracle bone inscriptions and bronze inscriptions, then bamboo slips and silk books. By the Han Dynasty, papermaking became widespread, and books gradually became popular. By this calculation, the appearance of books has a history of several thousand years.
Book after book has shaped our character, interests, and aesthetics on a spiritual level, and has also decorated our living space on a practical level. I have been in Shanghai (上海) for 22 years, during which I have moved as many as 10 times, and almost every time I have been burdened by books. Most of these books were purchased from bookstores, and many were gifts from friends. Moving back and forth, I have given up many things, but rarely books.
I remember when I was studying at Fudan University (复旦大学), there were more than 20 bookstores of all sizes around. After going there often, I became familiar with some of the owners, and when I asked about a certain book, they could find it in the blink of an eye. When I left Fudan (复旦), there were fewer bookstores around. But no matter how the times develop, we always need bookstores. No matter how crowded the world is, it can accommodate a bookstore; no matter how hurried the pace, it will occasionally stop for a bookstore.
Not far from the Shanghai Writers Association (上海市作家协会) are several bookstores, Sinan Books (思南书局), Tofun Western Bookstore (韬奋西文书局), Dayin Bookshop (大隐书局), Joint Publishing (三联书店), etc., all of which I have visited. A few years ago, a coffee shop next to the Writers Association transformed into a "Writer's Bookstore," and I even signed some of my published books there. I don't remember the specific year or month, but I accidentally went to a bookstore not far from the Writers Association, which was a branch of Duoyun Bookstore (朵云书院). At that time, I didn't expect that Duoyun Bookstore (朵云书院) would later become a must-visit spot for many readers in Shanghai (上海).
I don't remember how many times I've been to Duoyun Bookstore (朵云书院), I've been to one near the Writers Association, one in Guangfulin (广富林) in Songjiang (松江), and I even cycled from Songjiang (松江) to the Dishui Lake (滴水湖) store. The most impressive, of course, is the one located on the 52nd floor of the Shanghai Tower (上海中心大厦). I remember once, I was there in a dialogue with Professor Zhang Xinying (张新颖) from Fudan University (复旦大学). And then there was the time in the autumn of 2023 when I went with my parents.
We took a ferry from Shiliupu Wharf (十六铺码头) to Lujiazui (陆家嘴). The Huangpu River (黄浦江) flowed quietly, and skyscrapers stood before us. My parents rarely leave their hometown in Yunnan (云南), and at this time, seeing such a different landscape from their hometown, they laughed and talked uncontrollably, with surprise and joy. The light of dusk floated on the glass curtain walls of the tall buildings, floated on the river, and also floated on their faces. After landing, we wandered around and walked to the foot of the Shanghai Tower (上海中心大厦). Then I remembered, why not go up and take a look? I sent a message to a senior classmate who works here, and she quickly met us downstairs. We went upstairs smoothly, bought a cup of coffee each, and stood next to the huge glass curtain wall, 239 meters above the ground. The setting sun was approaching the distant skyline, and the great river, roads, and buildings we had just been in were all shrouded in the light of the setting sun that spread across the earth.
My parents rarely read books except for occasionally reading the books I write, and even the characters they recognize have many errors. But at this moment, surrounded by 60,000 books, they cannot help but be slightly affected. Moreover, isn't life itself a big book? They have been reading this big book for more than 60 years.
That day, after leaving Duoyun Bookstore (朵云书院), we went to eat nearby. Looking up, we couldn't see the stars, because the lights on the ground were too bright. But we could see that on the high floors above, near the sky and surrounded by darkness, there was a place to read.
Return to TopBy: 肖 勤
We all walk through many cities, large and small, in our lives. They are like leaves, falling on the long journey of life, eventually turning into poems of varying lengths and emotions of varying depths. I also enjoy searching in unfamiliar or familiar cities, as a small comfort left behind after the river of time sweeps away youth or dreams.
Until I walked into Guiyang (贵阳), this hobby suddenly disappeared. Standing on the bustling Zhongshan West Road (中山西路), I had a sense of bewilderment, as if time had reversed, but I couldn't find where I had been washed away. Thirty years ago, I spent four years of university life here. At that time, besides going to class, I would run to the Shixi Road (市西路) wholesale market to wholesale various small ornaments. Then, every weekend, I would carry a bulging backpack and desperately squeeze onto the bus to promote sales to various universities. I made a lot of money in those four years. But until graduation, I had never been to Guiyang's famous Golden Avenue. I think I must have lost something, so that after 30 years, standing on the overpass, I couldn't even tell which direction Yan'an East Road (延安东路), which I used to walk so often, was in.
Until a friend said, "Let's go to Qingyun Market (青云市集), it's the late-night canteen that everyone who comes to Guiyang goes to. It has the most prosperous worldly atmosphere and can comfort all hearts." I became interested and asked where Qingyun Market was. My friend laughed, "Qingyun Market is of course on Qingyun Road (青云路)."
I know Qingyun Road. It is the earliest road for cars in old Guiyang. Built in the 1920s, Qingyun Road starts from Qingshan Slope (青山坡) and goes directly to the well-known Tuyun Pass (图云关), so it is named Qingyun Road. Although it is only 1 kilometer long, it is very important because it connects the Xiangqian Highway (湘黔公路). In the 1940s, a monument to the martyrs of the Anti-Japanese War was built at the entrance of Qingyun Road. Later, in the 1980s and 1990s, Qingyun Road became a famous street market in Guiyang, with houses tightly packed on both sides of the road, narrow alleys, and dense power lines.
Logically speaking, this old street has nothing to do with splendor. Unexpectedly, it has now become a new landmark in Guiyang and a must-visit place for tourists.
The night at Qingyun Road is more lively than I imagined. Under the tall Qingyun Gate (青云门), people are crowded. I walked forward through the crowded crowd and saw that the former knitting factory had been renovated, with neon lights flashing the four characters "Qingyun Market" on it, which was amazing. It was already 11 p.m., but Qingyun Market was still brightly lit. The dazzling array of delicacies on both sides of the road was like a riot of flowers, hot pot, grilled fish, ice pulp, barbecue... It was indeed a paradise for food. While walking, I had a feeling of being in a dream. The high and low creative doorplates flashed colorful lights, and all kinds of delicacies were like a feast in a fairy tale world, blessing everyone who was lonely or happy. No wonder people flock to Qingyun Road. It has the ancient worldly atmosphere of Guiyang, as well as modern creative trends. Immersed in it, I gradually forgot the time and troubles. In just 1000 meters, all I saw were renovated surprises, and all I tasted were the bursting spicy flavors. The taste buds enriched the emotions. Through the "bubbling" heat of the hot pot, I suddenly found that this city had become warm and affectionate, like a stove fire in winter night, or like a spring evening breeze, making people's hearts more and more soft.
After the feast, I was a little happy and oxygen-deprived, unable to walk. So I simply sat in front of a batik shop in a daze, with a trace of happy fatigue, watching the crowds on the road like flowing clouds, accompanied by a dazzling array of colors. The owner of the shop was a Miao (苗族) girl, who looked over with a smile, without saying a word, and handed me a glass of rice wine. I drank it all in one gulp and continued to watch the tourists wandering around. They raised their smiling faces, the young people had clear eyebrows and stories in their eyes, and the old people had gone through half their lives with calm and composed eyes.
I asked the girl, "Why did you come to this place to open such a small shop, and give wine to people for free?" She smiled and raised her hand, and the blue indigo of the dyed cloth drew a faint blue shimmer between her fingers. She said, "Qingyun is not a place, Qingyun is in your heart."
Return to TopChinese painting "Rising Tide of Liangma River" (partial view), by Duan Jinshi (段金拾), Guo Haichao (郭海潮), and Mo Rui (莫睿).
Return to TopThis edition's email: dadi@peopledaily.cn
Layout design: Shen Yiling (沈亦伶)
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