Summary: The All-China Women's Federation published the second volume of "Xi Jinping Walks Among the People," focusing on the relationship between family and nation in the context of Chinese-style modernization. The book compiles 32 interviews with families and communities, recounting Xi Jinping's visits to households during his inspection tours since the 18th Party Congress. It aims to illustrate Xi's concern for the people and the transformations in Chinese families. The publication intends to inspire women and families to contribute to the next five-year plan and a new journey of development. The book does not explicitly discuss the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: During the Spring Festival travel season, China's railway system introduced services catering to specific demographics, such as phone lines for seniors and assistance for visually impaired passengers. Many individuals opted for "reverse reunions," with younger generations bringing their parents to live with them in bigger cities like Shanghai. Other trends included increased tourism during the extended holiday and the use of technology for virtual New Year's greetings. Local governments also provided support, such as free housing in Shenzhen and subsidies in Nantong, for those working through the holiday. Overall, the article highlights new trends in how Chinese people are celebrating the Spring Festival.
Summary: During the Spring Festival holiday, construction workers across China continued work on major infrastructure projects, including the Dali-Ruili Railway, the Pinglu Canal, the Gu Xian Yellow River Water Conservancy Project, the Foxiang Reservoir, the Fengshan Pumped Storage Power Station, the Yebatan Hydropower Station, and the Tibet-Guangdong DC Project. These projects focus on transportation infrastructure, water conservancy, and green energy, aiming to boost economic development and improve people's livelihoods. Technologies, such as AI and digital platforms, are being employed to enhance construction efficiency and quality. The Tibet-Guangdong DC project aims to transmit clean energy from Tibet to the Greater Bay Area.
Summary: The article depicts a performance of traditional fish lanterns in the ancient city of Haizhou, Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province on February 21st. The event showcased a non-material cultural heritage tradition, drawing spectators to the city. The photograph captures the vibrant cultural scene. There are no reported statements or actions of officials mentioned. The article does not allude to or discuss the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: China's Spring Festival travel season (chunyun) reached its halfway point on February 21st, with the first 20 days seeing a record 5.08 billion cross-regional trips. The peak single-day flow of travelers is projected to reach 376.63 million on February 22nd. This represents a daily average of 250 million trips, setting a new high for the period. No statements or actions by specific officials, nor mentions of the U.S. or U.S.-China relations, were included in the article.
Summary: Shi Jintong, party secretary of Shibadong Village in Hunan Province, convened a meeting with leaders from surrounding villages to discuss coordinated rural revitalization efforts in the "Shibadong Area." The focus was on regional collaboration for shared prosperity, with each village leveraging its unique resources like tourism, cultural heritage (intangible cultural heritage), and the Miao embroidery industry. Leaders emphasized the importance of unified planning, resource sharing, and complementary industries, referencing President Xi Jinping's directives. The goal is to ensure no one lags behind on the road to common prosperity, with Shibadong Village leading the way as the birthplace of "targeted poverty alleviation."
Summary: The "Xiaofeng" bookstore in Fuzhou, Fujian, has reopened after closing in 2018 due to challenges faced by physical bookstores. Supported by the Fujian Provincial Party Committee Propaganda Department and other departments, the bookstore is now operated by Fujian Education Press's "Dameng Bookstore" brand, with the original team involved in book selection. The bookstore aims to evolve into a multi-functional platform offering cultural events, a cafe, and interactive features to attract readers, especially younger ones. "Xiaofeng" hopes to thrive under new policies supporting physical bookstores and will launch activities to promote the circulation of books among readers and the Fuzhou Library. There is no discussion or allusion to the United States or U.S.-China relations in the article.
Summary: Chinese athletes Gu Ailing and Li Fanghui won gold and silver respectively in the women's freestyle skiing halfpipe final at the Milan Winter Olympics. Gu Ailing won 1 gold and 2 silver medals at this Winter Olympics. Team China won a total of 5 gold, 4 silver, and 6 bronze medals. Zhang Kexin and Liu Yisun, also from Team China, finished sixth and ninth respectively.
Summary: This article discusses the increasing popularity of movie-going during the Chinese New Year holiday. It argues that watching films has become a new Spring Festival tradition, reflecting a growing demand for quality cultural content and the industry's improved offerings. The article highlights how movie-going contributes to both consumer spending and cultural confidence, with cinemas becoming more accessible even in rural areas. The author anticipates that increased movie-going will enhance the joy of family gatherings and enrich the national cultural life. The article makes no explicit mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: Wang Jingchen, a 77-year-old volunteer guide, recounts the history of Zhu Village to visitors, focusing on a "Wheat Production Award" earned by the village's production team. He emphasizes the spirit of hard work and self-reliance that drove the village to increase grain production despite difficult conditions. In 2013, Xi Jinping visited Zhu Village and viewed the village's history exhibition, which documents its past as a model support village during the early days of the war against Japan. The village leverages its "red resources" to develop tourism, attracting over 600,000 visitors annually since 2021. Locals emphasize the importance of remembering history and appreciating the hard-won gains of the present.
Summary: A propaganda caravan from the Meilan District of Haikou, Hainan Province, is conducting community outreach events to promote local policies. The events include performances by community art troupes and policy explanations by academics, like Hainan University Associate Professor Wang Ping, who explained how the Hainan Free Trade Port will affect residents' access to imported goods. The caravan also provides practical services such as free calligraphy, anti-drug education, and fire safety demonstrations. Local officials emphasize bringing information and services directly to the people in accessible ways.
Summary: A Spring Festival gala was held in Jiajiazhuang Village, Shanxi Province, featuring performances by villagers of all ages. The event, running since 1991, included diverse acts showcasing local talent and reflecting the village's strong cultural traditions. Jiajiazhuang, recognized as a "National Civilized Village," has seen significant economic growth, with collective assets reaching 1.413 billion yuan and per capita income at 38,000 yuan. According to the deputy secretary of Jiajiazhuang village party committee, these performances bring people together and strengthen the village. There is no mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations in this article.
Summary: During the Spring Festival holiday, Hao cheng, Anhui province, saw increased traffic and returning residents. A museum showcasing the ancient battleground of Gaixia and the Dawenkou culture opened in 2025, becoming a local attraction. The local government has integrated cultural tourism with rural revitalization, developing supporting industries like restaurants, B&Bs, and cultural performances. This has created employment opportunities for local residents, boosting tourism and revenue in Guzhen County. The article did not mention The United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The Beijing Public Security Bureau's Xicheng Traffic Brigade female motorcycle police unit, established in December 2024, is managing traffic congestion around the Gulou area during the Spring Festival. Deputy Captain Gong Wenrui and her team, known for their speed and flexibility, are addressing issues like blocked intersections and pedestrian congestion through direct intervention. The officers' presence is noted to de-escalate potentially tense situations with drivers. The article focuses on their work during the holiday period, where they balance duty with limited family interaction. There is no mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The article discusses the establishment of "Common Prosperity Markets" (共富集市) in Huagai Town, Anzhou District, Mianyang, Sichuan, as a means to provide stable income opportunities for low-income residents. Specifically, it highlights the case of Liu Zuqiong, a low-income resident who benefited from a free stall in the market, increasing her monthly income by more than 2,000 yuan. These markets, managed by community enterprises, offer designated stalls, parking, and maintenance, addressing previous issues of unregulated street vending. The initiative provided 100 free stalls that helped 82 low-income families increase their annual income by more than 8,000 yuan. The community enterprises also assisted with promotion and customer outreach.
Summary: According to the article, Keno Mountain in Yunnan Province is leveraging its high forest coverage to develop ecotourism, including rainforest hiking and cultural study tours. Keno Mountain Party Committee Deputy Secretary and Township Head Ceng Song reported that this shift, initiated in 2021, aims to move away from reliance on single industries like tea and rubber. By 2025, rainforest hiking has directly increased farmers' income by more than 20 million yuan. Local guides receive government training on topics ranging from photography and videography to interactive plant and animal科普. The Keno people are also developing new projects such as bamboo rafting, zip lining and high-altitude swings to improve the tourism experience.
Summary: The Chinese delegation concluded its competition at the Milan Winter Olympics with a record of 5 gold, 4 silver, and 6 bronze medals. Vice-leader of the delegation佟立新 stated that China medaled in eight events, solidifying gains made at the Beijing Olympics and creating balanced development between ice and snow sports. Chinese athletes achieved 49 top-eight finishes and improved in 18 events, marking a shift from mere participation to active competition in more sports. The article emphasizes the spirit of perseverance and sportsmanship displayed by Chinese athletes, both veterans and newcomers, as they strived for excellence. No direct mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: Hong Kong celebrated the Lunar New Year with various festive activities, including lantern displays, traditional temple fairs, and modern shopping mall installations. The "Year of the Horse" was marked with special events such as Lunar New Year horse races. From February 15th to 20th, Hong Kong saw over 1.16 million tourist arrivals, with mainland Chinese visitors accounting for approximately 84% of the total.
Summary: During the Spring Festival holiday, construction workers across China continued working on major infrastructure projects, including railways, waterways, water conservancy projects, and power stations. Projects mentioned include the Dali-Ruili Railway's Gaoligong Mountain Tunnel, the Pinglu Canal, the Gu Xian Yellow River Water Conservancy Project, the Foxiang Reservoir, the Ganxian Pumped Storage Power Station, and the Yeba Beach Hydropower Station. The construction of the Tibet-Guangdong DC project is underway in Shenzhen, which will transmit clean energy from Tibet to the Greater Bay Area, taking only 9 milliseconds. These projects are aimed at boosting regional development and strengthening the nation's infrastructure.
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Summary: During the Chinese New Year, Chinese peacekeeping forces in Lebanon, Abyei, and South Sudan remain dedicated to their missions. In Lebanon, the 24th contingent completed mine-clearing operations, transferring responsibility to the Lebanese military. In Abyei, the 2nd Rapid Response detachment was praised by the UN for its combat readiness after a successful assessment. The 12th Infantry Battalion in South Sudan maintained security at the UNMISS camp and conducted live-fire drills, providing security to the local population. The peacekeepers also engaged in cultural exchange, sharing Chinese New Year traditions with locals and fellow peacekeepers, promoting friendship and understanding.
Summary: During the Chinese New Year, the Chinese Embassy in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) held celebrations with local Congolese and Chinese expatriates, emphasizing the strong and growing bilateral relationship. The Chinese Ambassador to the DRC highlighted the elevation of relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership and the success of practical cooperation in various fields, noting China's support for the DRC in the UN Security Council and provision of humanitarian aid. He mentioned his local Lingala name meaning "the same boat" to emphasize solidarity. The DRC Ambassador to China expressed the country's desire to learn from China's development model. The article concludes by anticipating further cooperation and cultural exchange in the context of the "China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges."
Summary: The "Golden Horse Welcomes Auspiciousness" Chinese New Year gala, co-hosted by the Hauts-de-France region and the Chinese Embassy in France, was held at the Great Stables of the Château de Chantilly. Chinese Ambassador to France Deng Li stated that the horse has special significance in both Chinese and French cultures and expressed hope that the Year of the Horse will consolidate traditional friendship and strengthen future cooperation between China and France. The Château de Chantilly signed a friendly agreement with the Prince Kung’s Mansion Museum in Beijing last November, and the Prince Kung’s Mansion Museum is preparing an exhibition on horses, some of which will come from the Château de Chantilly. Participants noted the blend of Chinese and French cultures and expressed optimism for further Franco-Chinese cooperation.
Summary: Festivals in Germany, Mexico, and Kenya showcased Chinese culture through performances, folk experiences, and interactive activities, fostering cultural exchange. In Berlin, the "Happy Chinese New Year" celebration marked its twelfth year at the City Hall, with attendees expressing appreciation for the cultural exchange and immersive performances. Mexico City's fifth "Chinese New Year Cultural Festival" featured joint performances by Chinese and Mexican artists, promoting mutual understanding. Nairobi's Spring Festival temple fair included various cultural performances and folk experiences, attracting thousands of Chinese and Kenyan attendees. The events emphasized cultural exchange and appreciation, but there was no mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The article discusses new trends in Chinese New Year celebrations, highlighting railway services for the elderly, including a dedicated phone line for ticket booking, and assistance for disabled passengers. It also mentions the increasing trend of "reverse reunions," where younger generations invite their parents to spend the holiday in their adopted cities like Shanghai. Furthermore, the piece notes the use of technology, such as AI-generated videos and personalized digital greetings, to enhance the holiday experience for those unable to travel.
Summary: This article discusses the evolving nature of Chinese New Year traditions and their reflection of broader socio-economic changes. It highlights how technological advancements and shifts in societal norms are reshaping travel, family gatherings, and expressions of cultural identity during the Spring Festival. The piece emphasizes the increasing accessibility for various groups during the Chunyun travel season and the adaptation of traditional customs through digital means. The article frames the New Year as a lens through which to observe the integration of humanistic values with economic development.
Summary: A song and dance troupe from Nagqu, Tibet Autonomous Region, China, performed in Hanau and Frankfurt, Germany on February 21st. The performers, wearing colorful Tibetan clothing, performed Lingzhuo dance and showcased Bazha clothing, both designated as intangible cultural heritage. The performances were intended to bring New Year blessings to the local German population. The article makes no mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
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Summary: During the Spring Festival, many unsung heroes are continuing to work in their respective positions to ensure the operation of society during the holidays. These include medical staff in emergency rooms, border guards, transportation workers, sanitation workers, deliverymen, energy and communications personnel, and construction workers. Their dedication ensures the well-being of the population. The article emphasizes the importance of these roles, and pays tribute to those who dedicate themselves to their work.
Summary: Please provide the article you would like me to summarize. I need the text of the article to provide an accurate and concise summary for professional analysts of Chinese politics.
Summary: This article discusses the popularity of domestic tourism in China during the Spring Festival holiday, highlighting "red tourism," rural tourism, ice and snow tourism, and self-driving tours. Red tourism involves visiting historical sites like the former site of the Guangzhou Peasant Movement Institute, where visitors learn about revolutionary history. Rural tourism showcases villages like Yuzishan Village, which are developing facilities for visitors who want to pick fresh produce. Ice and snow tourism focuses on destinations like the Jinshanling Galaxy Ski Resort and the "Linchang Time 1962" in Miaozigou Village, offering skiing and cultural experiences. Self-driving tours allow tourists to explore scenic areas like the Three Gorges, exemplified by one family's journey to Badong.
Summary: This article discusses the rising trend of Chinese families choosing travel and cultural experiences over traditional home-based celebrations during the Spring Festival. It highlights the popularity of rural tourism, where families can reconnect with traditional customs, and "north-south" travel patterns, with northerners traveling south and vice versa. The article emphasizes that while the form of celebration evolves, the core theme of family reunion remains central. This trend boosts local economies and fosters cultural preservation. The author concludes that these new experiences bring hope and anticipation for the future.
Summary: Please provide the article you would like me to summarize. I need the text of the article to accurately provide a summary relevant to professional analysts of Chinese politics and within the specified parameters.
Summary: A joint tourism initiative launched in June 2025 by Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei province allows tourists access to over 200 attractions in the region for a single fee. The initiative, guided by the respective tourism authorities and operated by Beijing Cultural Creative Board Development Co., has reportedly sold over 80,000 tickets, generating 300 million yuan in direct and indirect spending. Officials from Beijing and Tianjin suggest future development of the program to include more diverse offerings, such as specialized tickets for different demographics and integration with local dining and cultural experiences. The initiative is framed as a practical measure to implement the coordinated development strategy for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.
Summary: A recent "joint ticket" program for tourist attractions in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (Jingjinji) area has sold over 80,000 tickets, generating 300 million yuan in direct and indirect consumption, reflecting a shift from selling tickets to selling experiences. The program, which bundles access to over 200 attractions for a single price, has stimulated local and regional tourism by lowering costs and directing traffic to lesser-known sites. This model is being adopted nationwide, with the State Council supporting regional cooperation through joint ticket programs to boost consumption. Shandong and the Chengdu-Chongqing area have launched similar initiatives, linking train tickets to tourist attractions and bundling attraction passes, respectively. The goal is to further integrate the Jingjinji area by converting tourism traffic into regional economic growth.
Summary: The article discusses the revitalization of the ancient Niuling Mashigou trade route in Nanchang, Jiangxi province, which historically served as a vital trade link and pilgrimage route. Once a key part of the Gan merchant trade network connecting Anyi County to Nanchang and the Xishan Wanshou Palace, the route has been repurposed for tourism, with local villagers now benefiting from increased visitor traffic. The Niuling village party secretary, Chen Liangping, stated that the local government plans to further develop the area for tourism, including seasonal activities and study tours. The ancient route now helps the villagers become rich, and forms a cultural bridge connecting the past and future. The article does not make any mention of the United States, or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: Archaeological findings at the tomb of the Nanyue King in Guangzhou reveal that barbecue was a popular cuisine in the Nanyue kingdom during the Western Han Dynasty over 2,000 years ago. The tomb contained three sets of bronze barbecue stoves, indicating a sophisticated grilling process involving ingredient preparation, marination (often with ginger), and the use of skewers. The stoves, made of materials like iron, copper, and pottery, included portable and hanging designs, suggesting the versatility of barbecue settings, with the largest stove featuring wheels and handles. One unique stove design includes owl-shaped legs and small pigs on the sides, while another features hoof-shaped legs and animal-shaped handles. The article does not discuss the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: This article discusses a rare Northern Song Dynasty Ding ware white porcelain "ao" (griddle) housed in the Dingzhou Museum. While shaped like a griddle, its porcelain material suggests it was a *mingqi* (burial object) mimicking iron cookware, likely custom-made for a tomb occupant who appreciated pancakes. The ao's high-quality craftsmanship reflects Ding ware's advanced techniques and provides insight into Song Dynasty social classes, economic conditions, and cultural beliefs. The article further highlights the ritualistic role of pancakes during Song Dynasty festivals, enriching the cultural significance of the artifact.
Summary: This article discusses a "loukong bi" (镂空匕), an ornate, silver-inlaid bronze spoon from the Warring States period (战国时期) in the collection of the Jingzhou Museum. The artifact, excavated from a Chu tomb (楚墓), features dragon and phoenix motifs reflecting Chu culture and craftsmanship. Originally used as a serving utensil, the "bi" evolved into a deeper spoon (匙) and later, in the Yuan and Ming dynasties, functioned as a tea spoon. The article traces the utensil's evolution from the Neolithic period to its later uses.
Summary: Please provide the article you would like me to summarize. I need the text of the article to provide an accurate and concise summary for professional analysts of Chinese politics. Once you provide the article, I will follow your instructions regarding length, focus, and the inclusion of information about the US or US-China relations.
Summary: A recent article discusses efforts in Haiyan County, Qinghai Province, to promote patriotic education centered on the legacy of China's first nuclear weapons research and development base (221基地). The area has been transformed into an immersive "ideological and political education" (思政课) site, integrating revolutionary history, national defense education, and ecological awareness. Local officials have focused on preserving and restoring the 221 base, creating a "three-color" curriculum incorporating "red" revolutionary history, "green" ecological themes from local desertification reversal projects, and "ethnic unity" lessons from the diverse workforce that built the base. The effort includes digital preservation and immersive experiences to engage younger generations, with traveling propaganda teams giving lectures at schools and universities nationwide to promote the "Two Bombs, One Satellite" (两弹一星) spirit. The article does not mention the United States or any aspect of U.S.-China relations.
Summary: This article discusses the residences of writer Mao Dun in both his birthplace, Wuzhen, Zhejiang, and his final home in Beijing. The Wuzhen residence, where Mao Dun spent his childhood, features a restored home school and study, highlighting the writer's early influences. In Beijing, his residence on Houyuanensi Hutong served as a gathering place for fellow writers, including Ba Jin and Ding Ling, after their return to the city. The Beijing residence, now a museum, displays his study and personal effects, preserving his literary legacy. The article does not discuss the United States or U.S.-China relations.
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Summary: This brief introductory note reflects on the warmth, stories, and emotions associated with the Chinese New Year. It highlights the grand celebrations of traditional customs and the subtle reflections within the passage of time. The author anticipates that the experiences of the New Year will be cherished and remembered. The note frames the following content as a collection of "New Year's notes" intended to resonate with the reader's own experiences of the holiday. There is no mention of Chinese politics, specific officials, or U.S.-China relations in this short passage.
Summary: The author, a native of Chaozhou, recounts a visit to his hometown during Chinese New Year, highlighting the unexpectedly captivating "Buma Dance" (布马舞) of Huanggang. He describes the dance's origins, evolution, and artistic elements, emphasizing its blend of grace and martial spirit embodied by the young female performers. He contrasts the Buma Dance with the more famous Yingge Dance, suggesting both reflect a unique regional expression of heroism. He notes that it was filmed by CCTV. The author suggests the dance provides an interesting example of regional culture to outsiders.
Summary: This article examines the rich symbolism and cultural significance of the Chinese character "马" (horse) and other characters with the "马" radical, exploring the various attributes and metaphors associated with different types and colors of horses. It emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and finding one's unique strengths, drawing parallels between the characteristics of different horses and the pursuit of individual excellence. The author encourages readers to embrace change and overcome challenges, embodying the spirit of the horse and striving for personal growth. Ultimately, the piece celebrates the enduring cultural legacy associated with the horse in Chinese language and culture. There is no mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: Please provide the article you would like me to summarize. I need the text of the article to be able to provide a summary for professional analysts of Chinese politics.
Summary: This article is a nostalgic reflection on past Spring Festival celebrations. It evokes imagery of returning home on green trains, snowy landscapes, and homemade decorations. The author reminisces about family activities centered around the kitchen and simple acts of kindness, such as feeding birds. The piece emphasizes the unreserved sharing of joy and traditions during those times. There is no mention of United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: This article recounts the author's childhood memories of celebrating the Chinese New Year in a rural riverside village. It describes the anticipation of wearing new clothes, the traditions surrounding the holiday, and the excitement of welcoming a bride to the village via a decorated "轿子船 (轿子船)." A humorous anecdote details the author's experience as a child "媒人 (matchmaker)," and the jokes made at his expense during the wedding feast. The piece focuses on the customs and joys associated with the "簇新 (brand new)" feeling of the New Year. There is no mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The article recounts a soldier's experience during the 1991 Chinese New Year, spent in the military reading letters from family and friends. His father's letter conveyed familial expectations and the impact of his military service on the family. His brother wrote of his blossoming love life. A local newspaper editor sent published works and encouragement. Lastly, he received a letter from a female classmate expressing her dissatisfaction with school and a desire to work instead.
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Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, February 22nd (Xinhua) On the Spring Festival, a time for family reunion, "Xi Jinping Visits Ordinary People's Homes" (Volume II), compiled by the All-China Women's Federation (全国妇联), has been published and distributed by China Women's Publishing House (中国妇女出版社).
Building upon the first volume, this book focuses on the home and the nation in the process of Chinese-style modernization. Through interview records of 32 families and villages (communities), it vividly narrates the touching stories of General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) visiting local areas for inspection and research since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, opening doors to homes, asking about people's conditions, warming people's hearts, observing changes, and discussing development. It records the happy transformations of Chinese families in the new era, showcases General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) deep affection for the people, reflecting the profound friendship of "the people's leader loves the people, and the people's leader is loved by the people," and encourages women and families to strive forward in the "15th Five-Year Plan" and make contributions to the new journey. The book reflects Xi Jinping's (习近平) 枝叶关情 (zhī yè guān qíng - "caring for branches and leaves," showing concern for even the smallest details of people's lives).
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"Hello, this is the elderly ticket booking hotline, how can I help you?"
On the third day of the Lunar New Year, the telephone rang incessantly in the office hall of the Nanchang Railway Customer Service Center (南昌铁路客户服务中心). Customer service representative Chen Yuanyuan (陈媛园) carefully listened to the elderly caller's Northern Fujian dialect. After confirming the information was correct, she slowed down her speech: "Ticket booked successfully, you can go to the ticket window to collect your ticket."
With just a phone call, Grandpa Li (李爷爷) booked a ticket from Jian'ou (建瓯), Fujian (福建) to Xiamen (厦门). He exclaimed on the other end of the line, "This girl is so kind!"
Before the Spring Festival travel season, the railway department launched a telephone ticket booking service for elderly passengers. This scene outlines a new picture of this year's Spring Festival.
New services, new business formats, new fashions, reverse reunions, travel for the New Year, and technological New Year customs – the pulse of China's economy is resonating in sync with the lights of family reunions.
Spring Festival Travel Season "Unusual"
A Spring Festival travel season relay makes a person's journey less lonely.
Visually impaired passenger Zhang Ting (张婷) lives in Baotou (包头), Inner Mongolia (内蒙古), and was preparing to take the high-speed train to Langfang (廊坊), Hebei (河北), with a transfer in Beijing (北京).
From the drop-off point for online car-hailing to the platform, staff at Baotou Station escorted her all the way. Hu Weili (胡伟丽), the conductor of train G2482, took her luggage and led her to an accessible seat to settle down. About 4 hours later, Xu Qing (许晴) from the Dexin Service Group (德馨服务组) at Beijing North Station (北京北站) helped her off the train, through the ticket gate, and onto the elevator. Every part of Beijing Subway Line 4 (北京地铁四号线) provided assistance. "The train is here, let's take the fast lane straight on!" Han Wenwen (韩文文), the leader of the Jingtie Loving-Heart Service Group (京铁爱心服务组) at Beijing South Station (北京南站), completed the final link.
At Qingdao North Station (青岛北站) in Shandong (山东), a "slow" motion is hidden among the fast-paced crowd.
At 7 a.m., at the "Warm Silver Hair Slow Window" of the Comprehensive Service Center, 64-year-old Li Xiuyun (李秀云) put on her reading glasses, handed over her ID card, and changed her ticket to Chengdu (成都), Sichuan (四川).
"Auntie, there's another high-speed train at almost 10 o'clock, but it won't arrive in Chengdu until after 9 p.m. Will someone be there to pick you up so late?" Ticket seller Liu Jingjie (刘晶杰) leaned forward slightly, patiently asking about travel details, and then handed over the itinerary and a red "Loving-Heart Relay Card" (爱心接力卡) together, "Wherever you go, staff will come over to take care of you when they see it."
While offline windows offer heartwarming protection, online services are also quietly upgrading. China State Railway Group (国铁集团) has introduced new measures for the Spring Festival travel season: If passengers mistakenly purchase tickets on the 12306 client due to time constraints, not seeing clearly, misoperation, or other reasons, no refund fee will be charged for ticket refunds within 30 minutes of successful payment and more than 4 hours before departure.
"New Year's Eve Dinner" in a Foreign Land
"Look! It's hard to get a ticket back to my hometown, but it's no problem to get a ticket to Shanghai." Wang Mei (王梅), a girl from Gansu (甘肃) who has been living in Shanghai (上海) for many years, did not "bother" to return home this Spring Festival, but instead booked tickets for her parents to come to Shanghai.
When Northwest specialties from the suitcase and Shanghai local dishes from her own refrigerator "meet" at the New Year's Eve dinner, thousands of miles of homesickness turn into a table of steaming reunion flavor.
Wang Mei's family is not an isolated case. Data shows that during the 2026 Spring Festival, air ticket bookings for passengers over 60 years old increased by more than 35% year-on-year, with destinations mainly concentrated in first-tier and new first-tier cities. Train ticket bookings for reverse travel have also shown a significant increase.
"Reverse reunion" allows the location of home to no longer be limited to geographical coordinates. The new trend is constantly expanding the radius of reunion.
During the 9-day Spring Festival holiday, many people travel off-peak.
Early on the first day of the Lunar New Year, Chen Yue (陈玥), who lives in Shanghai, avoided the travel peak of the previous few days and took a high-speed train with her parents to Quanzhou (泉州), Fujian.
At sunset, Chen Yue's family followed the aroma to Quanzhou Fuwen Temple Square (泉州府文庙广场). Radish cake was sweet and delicious, bowl cakes were decorated with a touch of red, and ginger duck sizzled in the pot. The "reunion dinner" in a foreign land was filled with Southern Fujian flavors.
From the first to the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, the family also experienced free bus shuttle lines. This year, Quanzhou City (泉州市) is themed "Quanzhou Intangible Cultural Heritage New Year · Life Add a Little Sweetness" (泉州非遗年·生活加点甜), preparing over 1,000 featured cultural tourism activities.
While Quanzhou treats guests from all directions with "sweetness" among the red brick ancient houses, more cities are embracing those who stay with "warmth."
In order to allow city builders who stick to their posts to have a good New Year, Shenzhen (深圳), Guangdong (广东) provides 500 sets of free reunion housing for newly employed groups, etc.; Nantong (南通), Jiangsu (江苏) provides "New Year Warmth Gift Packages" including transportation and accommodation subsidies for out-of-town employees.
"Cloud New Year Greetings" at Your Fingertips
On the second day of the Lunar New Year, during lunch break, hearty laughter came from the suburban border police station in Tongjiang City (同江市), Heilongjiang (黑龙江).
Police officer Li Lingbo (李玲波) used smart software to create Errenzhuan (二人转) emoji packs of her and her husband. The "fancy New Year greetings" made her parents, thousands of miles away, laugh heartily.
The family had a "cloud reunion" across the screen, but the warmth increased rather than decreased.
This Spring Festival, Yin Shizhuo (尹世茁), a student majoring in accounting at the University of Southampton (南安普顿大学) in the United Kingdom, was unable to return to China.
In the past, his New Year greetings were always mass-sent messages. This time, he decided to change his approach and use algorithms to "tailor-make" them: "May your spirit be as vigorous as a horse, and may you enjoy happiness and longevity" to elders, and "Let's have a drink across the time difference" to old classmates. Each was unique and full of sincerity.
"Technology hasn't diluted the New Year's flavor, but has made it more humane, helping me say what's in my heart," Yin Shizhuo exclaimed repeatedly.
Digital intelligence builds bridges and conveys emotions in the cloud, making longing within reach.
Song Jingyun (宋静云), a social worker from Xinghua Street (兴华街道) in Wanbailin District (万柏林区), Taiyuan (太原), Shanxi (山西), missed the family reunion dinner due to being on duty. After finishing her work, she pulled out her phone and used AI (artificial intelligence) tools to generate a virtual video.
In the picture, she was wearing red clothes and sitting among her family, with a copper hot pot steaming on the table.
After sending it to the family group, her mother was the first to reply: "This daughter is just like she's really back!"
Song Jingyun couldn't help but curl up the corners of her mouth: "This also makes up for my regret. With the help of AI, absence can also be a reunion."
(Reporters from this newspaper: Kuang Xixi (邝西曦), Zhang Yikai (张艺开), Cheng Yuanzhou (程远州), Zhu Dawei (祝大伟), Li Xinping (李心萍), Shen Wenmin (沈文敏), Pan Junqiang (潘俊强), Zhang Tengyang (张腾扬), Liu Xiaoyu (刘晓宇), Li Rui (李蕊), Zheng Yangyang (郑洋洋))
Return to TopBy: 本报记者
The new year begins, and we start with practical work. During the Spring Festival holiday, major engineering projects seized the construction period and continued to tackle key problems. The sound of machinery played an inspiring "New Year overture." From east, west, north, south, and center, builders stuck to their posts, using their passionate footprints to outline a vivid picture of a striving China.
Roads extend in all directions, and transportation arteries accelerate their expansion.
On the sixth day of the first lunar month, in Longling County (龙陵县), Baoshan (保山), Yunnan (云南) Province, 640 meters underground, the construction of the No. 2 vertical shaft of the Gaoligong Mountain Tunnel (高黎贡山隧道), a key control project of the Dali-Ruili Railway (大瑞铁路), was in full swing. More than 200 builders worked in shifts day and night, striving to excavate.
At the bottom of the shaft, secondary lining trolleys, rock drilling trolleys, and arch frame installation machines were lined up in a row. Two working faces were conducting advanced geological drilling. The drill rods penetrated the surrounding rock inch by inch, and the arch frame installation machine steadily sent steel arch frames into predetermined positions.
The Dali-Ruili Railway is 330 kilometers long, and the Gaoligong Mountain Tunnel accounts for about 1/10 of the total length. It crosses 19 fault fracture zones and has complex geological conditions, and is known as "one of the most difficult railway tunnels to build."
"All working faces are operating normally during the Spring Festival holiday to ensure the smooth progress of the construction period." Ding Guopeng (丁国鹏), manager of the No. 2 vertical shaft working area of China Railway Tunnel Group (中铁隧道局), chose to stay in the working area for the New Year again this year. "Every inch forward is a step closer to the full opening of the line."
From railway tunnels buried deep underground to golden waterways connecting rivers and seas, builders are racing against time to accelerate the construction of major projects.
On the sixth day of the first lunar month, in Jiuzhou Town (旧州镇), Lingshan County (灵山县), Qinzhou (钦州), Guangxi (广西) Province, steelworker Wang Jie (王杰) was busy at the construction site of the Madu Hub (马道枢纽) of the Pinglu Canal (平陆运河). The huge "skeleton" of the world-class inland river water-saving ship lock stood tall. Wang Jie followed the safety ladder all the way down to the construction area more than 60 meters from the ground, where steel bars were densely packed.
Wang Jie squatted halfway, and the welding gun "zila" ignited, and the arc of light suddenly lit up. "Welding more than 100 steel bars every day is my main job during this period." Wang Jie said, "I feel a great responsibility and glorious mission to weld 'bones' for this super project."
During the Spring Festival holiday, the number of people participating in the duty at the Pinglu Canal construction site increased from the initially planned 3,000 to more than 4,000. "After this 'golden waterway' is opened to navigation, goods will be transported in all directions!" said Cheng Yaofei (程耀飞), chairman of Guangxi Pinglu Canal Construction Co., Ltd. (广西平陆运河建设有限公司), of Pinglu Canal Group (平陆运河集团).
Water nourishes thousands of homes, and the foundation of people's livelihood is consolidated.
Along the Yellow River (黄河), there is full of energy.
On the sixth day of the first lunar month, at the construction site of the Yellow River Gu Xian Water Conservancy Hub Project (黄河古贤水利枢纽工程) in Guxian Village (古贤村), Wencheng Township (文城乡), Jixian County (吉县), Shanxi (山西) Province, in the huge cave deep in the diversion tunnel, welding sparks flashed and machinery roared.
"This year, the project has entered a new stage of comprehensive construction, and the construction period before interception is very tight." Lai Liang (来亮), an engineer from the Engineering and Construction Department of Yellow River Gu Xian Water Conservancy Hub Co., Ltd. (黄河古贤水利枢纽有限公司), introduced that in order to seize the key node of the capping of the intake tower of the diversion tunnel at the end of this year, the progress must be accelerated during this Spring Festival.
Artificial intelligence cameras, positioning base stations and other sensor equipment are arranged on both sides of the tunnel. "The data collected on site is directly input into the 'Digital Gu Xian' intelligent hub, and analyzed and detected by large models to build a data base for intelligent tunnels and intelligent dams." said Liu Qingliang (刘庆亮), chief engineer of Yellow River Gu Xian Water Conservancy Hub Co., Ltd.
After the project is completed, it will provide 10.53 million mu of farmland irrigation water for Shanxi (晋) and Shaanxi (陕) provinces, and also undertake important functions such as flood control and silt reduction, water resources regulation and storage, and power generation, and exert huge comprehensive benefits.
In the Qiantang River (钱塘江) Basin, the battle is in full swing.
On the evening of the fifth day of the first lunar month, the Foxiang Reservoir (佛乡水库) construction site in Longyou County (龙游县), Quzhou (衢州), Zhejiang (浙江) Province, was brightly lit by searchlights. Excavator tracks rolled over gravel, and the tower crane in the distance turned back and forth, constantly flashing lights.
"The project faces triple tests of land consolidation, ecological and cultural protection balance, and earth and stone disposal." Project manager Fu Zhihai (付志海) said that the team innovatively adopted a dynamic balance plan of "moving excavation for filling and layered backfilling." "Reservoir construction and basic farmland protection are designed and constructed simultaneously, and the area of grain planting is guaranteed by implementing land raising in the reservoir inundation area."
The diversion tunnel of Foxiang Reservoir is planned to have water crossing conditions before the flood season in April this year. "The sooner the dam is completed, the more protection the people will have." Fu Zhihai said.
Green electricity surges, and development momentum accumulates.
On the sixth day of the first lunar month, the lanterns hanging at the construction site of the Ganxian Pumped Storage Power Station (赣县抽水蓄能电站) in Ganzhou (赣州), Jiangxi (江西) Province, were filled with joy. In the flood discharge and emptying tunnel of the lower reservoir, workers are carrying out foundation cleaning and lining on the excavated working surface.
"During the Spring Festival holiday, we formed a party member commando team, and more than 170 builders stuck to their posts, laying a solid foundation for the subsequent construction of the project." Hua Guo (华国), member of the Party General Branch Committee and Deputy General Manager of Jiangxi Fengshan Pumped Storage Co., Ltd. (江西峰山抽水蓄能有限公司), introduced.
Peng Wei (彭伟) from Anyue County (安岳县), Ziyang (资阳), Sichuan (四川) Province, is the project manager of China Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering Bureau No. 5 Co., Ltd. (中国水利水电第五工程局有限公司). This year, he specially brought his family to the project for the New Year. "The flood discharge and emptying tunnel of this lower reservoir has now been completed by 90%. It is planned to be connected in early March this year. In order to ensure the smooth implementation of interception and dam filling after the year, we must stick to our posts during the Spring Festival." Peng Wei said.
Dedication, responsibility, and perseverance paint the background color of major engineering construction.
On the sixth day of the first lunar month, on the Yebatan Hydropower Station (叶巴滩水电站) dam on the main stream of the Jinsha River (金沙江) at the junction of Baiyu County (白玉县), Sichuan (四川) and Gongjue County (贡觉县), Tibet (西藏), Liu Dongsheng (刘东生), deputy director of the engineering department, orderly directed the preparation of the concrete for the surface hole pier. "The on-site supervisor of the formwork installation must keep an eye on it and pay attention to safety; pay attention to the spacing of the steel bar binding and the thickness of the protective layer to meet the design requirements."
As the highest double-curvature arch dam power station under construction in China, the project innovatively built the "Ye Dian Yun" digital management platform, constructed an intelligent control system covering the entire construction process, and realized uninterrupted pouring of dam concrete throughout the year in high-altitude cold regions.
"Since 2018, builders have stayed behind every Spring Festival. This Spring Festival, more than 150 staff members are making the final sprint to complete the dam." Liu Dongsheng said.
The perspective turns to the southeast. On the fifth day of the first lunar month, at the junction of Longhua District (龙华区) and Longgang District (龙岗区) in Shenzhen (深圳), Guangdong (广东) Province, the construction site of the Shenzhen Central Converter Station of the Tibet-Guangdong DC Project (藏粤直流工程深圳中部换流站) was seizing the window before the rainy season to accelerate earthwork operations and sprint for the subsequent main construction.
The Tibet-Guangdong DC Project is the world's first four-terminal ultra-high voltage flexible DC project, and also China's first ultra-high voltage power transmission project spanning the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, and the South China Hills. After completion, it will transmit more than 43 billion kilowatt-hours of clean electricity annually, and the green electricity in Tibet can reach the Greater Bay Area in just 9 milliseconds.
This is the second time Chen Qiao (陈乔), a specialist from the Guangzhou Bureau Project Department of China Southern Power Grid Ultra High Voltage Company (南网超高压公司广州局项目部), has spent the Spring Festival on the construction site. After eating New Year's Eve dinner, he returned to work early on the first day of the new year. "My parents feel particularly proud that I am building a major national project." Chen Qiao said.
(Reporters Ye Chuanzeng (叶传增), Zhang Yunhe (张云河), Zheng Yangyang (郑洋洋), Dou Hanyang (窦瀚洋), Yang Yanfei (杨颜菲), Xu Yuyao (徐驭尧), Jiang Xiaodan (姜晓丹), Han Chunyao (韩春瑶), Yu Xuan (余璇) of this newspaper)
Return to TopOn the evening of February 21st, people watched the intangible cultural heritage fish lantern performance in Haizhou Ancient City (海州古城), Lianyungang (连云港) City, Jiangsu (江苏) Province.
Photo by Si Wei (司伟) (Image China)
Return to TopThis newspaper Beijing (北京) February 22nd dispatch (Reporter Han Xin (韩鑫)) On the 22nd, the total cross-regional personnel flow in the whole society is expected to reach 376.63 million person-times, reaching the peak of passenger flow during this year's Spring Festival travel season. The Spring Festival travel season started on February 2nd and reached its halfway point on February 21st. In the first 20 days of the Spring Festival travel season, the total cross-regional personnel flow in the whole society reached 5.08 billion person-times, with an average daily flow of 250 million person-times, a new high for the same period in history.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 颜 珂 孙 超
"Let's cut the fluff and talk about the issues. How will the area promote comprehensive rural revitalization this year?" Shi Jintong (施金通) asked directly as everyone took their seats.
Shi Jintong (施金通) is the Party Branch Secretary of Shibadong Village (十八洞村), Shuanglong Town (双龙镇), Huayuan County (花垣县), Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture (湘西土家族苗族自治州), Hunan Province (湖南省). Taking advantage of the Spring Festival holiday when everyone was together, he hurriedly organized this area's joint meeting.
In the past two years, Shibadong (十八洞) has "grown up." In 2023, the "Shibadong Area Rural Revitalization Plan (2023-2035)" was introduced. With Shibadong Village (十八洞村) as the leader, the surrounding 7 villages (later merged into 5 villages) that are geographically adjacent and have close relationships are developing in an integrated manner, with joint planning, resource sharing, and industrial co-prosperity.
How to move from a single point to a broader area and achieve regional coordinated prosperity is a new challenge for Shibadong (十八洞) after it has "grown up." The area's joint meeting was held to "solve" this problem.
"Our Shuanglong Village (双龙村) is a beneficiary. Last year, the road into the village was widened, and the tourism service complex was capped. We accomplished many major things that we had wanted to do for years," said Shi Changyong (施长勇), Party Branch Secretary of Shuanglong Village (双龙村), before changing the subject. "We can't just rely on Shibadong Village (十八洞村) to give us a hand. We also need to improve our own skills and turn our green mountains and clear waters into gold and silver mountains."
"Cooperation leads to win-win results," Shi Jintong (施金通) responded, adding that Shibadong Village (十八洞村) also needs to expand its routes and enrich its experiences.
"Introduce tourists, share the profits, and then carefully calculate the accounts." The two secretaries quickly agreed.
"Shuanglong Village (双龙村) relies on its 'mountain and water resources,' while we play the 'intangible cultural heritage card.' The 11 intangible cultural heritage inheritors in our village are a unique resource," said Shi Xiangwu (石湘伍), Party Branch Secretary of Paibi Chestnut Village (排碧板栗村), taking over the conversation. "In the past two years, we have formed an intangible cultural heritage performance team and developed evening courses. This year, we will build a performance square and parking lot to develop training and study programs."
"Secretary Shi (石书记) has hit the nail on the head!" said Lu Chuntao (卢春涛), the First Secretary of the Xiangxi Prefecture Party Committee (湘西州委) stationed in Shibadong Village (十八洞村), as he spread out the planning map. "The plan requires highlighting key points and implementing policies according to different categories. We must not only do a good job of 'one product per village' but also pay attention to industrial complementarity."
Following this line of thought, Long Xianbing (隆贤兵), Party Branch Secretary of Dongliantai Mountain Village (东连台山村), also spoke about the new atmosphere in his village: the new base of the Shibadong Miao Embroidery Industry Company (十八洞苗绣产业公司) has been established, and the automated production line in the Miao embroidery factory is operating at full speed.
Previously, the Miao embroidery industry in Shibadong Village (十八洞村) lacked space for development. Huayuan County (花垣县) revitalized the idle assets of Dongliantai Mountain Village (东连台山村), opening up new horizons for development. "If we improve the supporting facilities this year, the industry's prospects will be even better," Long Xianbing (隆贤兵) said with confidence.
"We must keep in mind General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) instructions, proceed from reality, adapt to local conditions, and both integrate and give full play to our strengths";
"We must figure out what to plant, what to raise, and where to increase income";
…………
The heads of each village spoke one after another, and the ideas for coordinated development in the Shibadong area became clearer.
"Stars" gather into a "fire," and the "grown-up" Shibadong (十八洞) is integrating its industries, and the villages are becoming more closely connected. During this Spring Festival holiday, Shibadong Village (十八洞村) organized Miao New Year activities, and people from all the villages came. Everyone held hands, sang together, and danced together, looking forward to a good year.
"Shibadong Village (十八洞村) is the first place to propose 'targeted poverty alleviation,' and comprehensive rural revitalization must be at the forefront," said Shi Jintong (施金通). "On the road to common prosperity, no one can be left behind."
"Branches full of fruit all over the mountain, everyone working together to carefully pick..." Outside the venue, the Miao New Year activities in Shibadong Village (十八洞村) reached a climax, and songs echoed in the depths of the Wuling Mountains (武陵山).
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 廖文根
"Xiaofeng Bookstore is back!" Xiaofeng Bookstore, which reopened at its original location at 153 Guping Road (鼓屏路) in Fuzhou (福州), Fujian (福建) Province before the Spring Festival, has become the latest check-in point for citizens during the New Year.
On the fifth day of the first lunar month, the reporter visited this bookstore, drawn by its reputation.
"This bookstore is small, but it is my spiritual home," said Zheng Hui (郑辉), a retired employee of a university. "I heard that 'Xiaofeng' is back, so I came here specifically to see it."
Since the 1980s, Xiaofeng Bookstore, with its motto of "promoting academics and serving scholars," has opened up a world for many humanities and social science book lovers, and has also allowed "Xiaofeng" to stand out among many private bookstores, attracting many fans.
Later, with the rise of online reading and online book purchases, physical bookstores encountered a common predicament, and "Xiaofeng" was not spared. One evening in May 2018, after seeing off the last customer, "Xiaofeng" closed its doors.
Missing "Xiaofeng" and looking forward to the return of "Xiaofeng" has become the wish of many readers.
With the efforts of relevant departments such as the Fujian Provincial Party Committee Propaganda Department (福建省委宣传部) and the Provincial Government Affairs Administration (省机关事务管理局), "Xiaofeng" has been restarted. Xu Zhiqiang (许志强), the founder of "Xiaofeng Bookstore," authorized the brand for a price of 1 yuan, and Dameng Bookstore (大梦书屋), a cultural brand under Fujian Education Publishing House (福建教育出版社), is responsible for the operation of "Xiaofeng," while the original book selection team of "Xiaofeng" participates in the book selection.
Chen Bin (陈斌), the store manager, happily told reporters: "Since the reopening, the daily revenue has been several thousand yuan, and sometimes more than ten thousand yuan."
"The development of physical bookstores has now caught up with a good time. We must work hard to let 'Xiaofeng' survive and thrive," said Chen Weibin (陈卫斌), Deputy Director of Fujian Education Publishing House and General Manager of Dameng Bookstore. The implementation of the "National Reading Promotion Regulations" (《全民阅读促进条例》) provides a strong guarantee for the development of physical bookstores; relevant departments in Fujian Province and Fuzhou City have formulated policies and measures to support the development of urban physical bookstores.
The restarted "Xiaofeng" is striving to change. Chen Weibin described a beautiful vision: "We will launch the 'You Choose, I Buy' activity. If readers see a book they like, they can register and take it away for free. After reading it, they can return it to the Fuzhou City Library (福州市图书馆) to continue circulating as a collection; we will also hold a series of activities such as cultural salons, author co-reading sessions, and themed book exhibitions to make this place a 'readable, communicable, and shareable' urban cultural living room..."
In order to serve young readers well, "Xiaofeng" has undergone many micro-transformations, changing from a single book sales method to a composite and diversified platform, adding a water bar service area to match an interesting text with a cup of good coffee.
In the "Story Circulation Station" in a corner of the bookstore, rows of exquisite small cards are neatly arranged, waiting for readers' stories and voices -
"Organize more activities and give older readers bigger discounts";
"I hope the bookstore can also select valuable second-hand books";
…………
When bidding farewell to "Xiaofeng," there was a constant stream of readers entering the store.
Return to TopThis newspaper's report from Livigno, Italy, February 22nd (Reporters Chen Chenxi (陈晨曦), Kong Qingyuan (孔庆元), Wang Liang (王亮)) Local time on the 22nd, the Milan Winter Olympics welcomed its final day of competition. In the freestyle skiing women's U-shaped venue skills final, Chinese athletes Gu Ailing (谷爱凌) and Li Fanghui (李方慧) performed excellently, winning the gold and silver medals in this event. Thus far, the Chinese sports delegation has won a total of 5 gold, 4 silver, and 6 bronze medals, totaling 15 medals at this Winter Olympics, creating their best record for participating in the Winter Olympics abroad.
Gu Ailing (谷爱凌), who participated in three events, won 1 gold and 2 silver medals at this Winter Olympics, increasing her individual Olympic medal count to 6. Li Fanghui (李方慧), participating in the Winter Olympics for the second time, won her first individual Olympic medal.
A sudden snowstorm caused the final, originally scheduled for the 21st, to be delayed. On the morning of the 22nd, the weather finally cooperated, and four Chinese athletes, Gu Ailing (谷爱凌), Li Fanghui (李方慧), Zhang Kexin (张可欣), and Liu Yisun (刘奕杉), stepped onto the U-shaped course at the Livigno (利维尼奥) Snow Park.
The final consisted of 3 rounds, with the best score taken as the final ranking. In the second round of competition, Gu Ailing (谷爱凌), who made a mistake in the first round, scored 94.00 points, ranking first among the 11 participating athletes. Li Fanghui (李方慧) also scored 91.50 points in this round, ranking second. In the third round, Gu Ailing (谷爱凌) and Li Fanghui (李方慧) performed excellently, both improving their scores. Gu Ailing (谷爱凌) scored 94.75 points, and Li Fanghui (李方慧) scored 93.00 points. Ultimately, Gu Ailing (谷爱凌) and Li Fanghui (李方慧) took the gold and silver medals in this event. British athlete Zoe Atkin won the bronze medal with a score of 92.50 points.
The other two Chinese athletes, Zhang Kexin (张可欣) and Liu Yisun (刘奕杉), also performed to their respective levels in the competition, finishing sixth and ninth, respectively.
(Related reports on page two)
Return to TopBy: 周珊珊
During the Spring Festival holiday, gathering and chatting with relatives and friends often leads to discussions about which movie to see. Movie theaters across the country are experiencing a surge in popularity, reflecting the strong vitality of the holiday economy. How has watching movies become a new custom for the New Year?
Movie tickets string together moments of family companionship. The shift from "watching a movie occasionally" to "a must-do during the Spring Festival" reflects people's willingness to pay for quality content, a genuine spiritual need, and a vivid annotation of the improvement and upgrading of cultural supply. Today, thanks to the high-quality development of the film industry, diverse genres, varied themes, and well-produced films meet the viewing needs of different age groups, presenting a cinematic feast for the audience.
The charm of light and shadow permeates the fabric of life, transforming into consumption vitality and cultural confidence. In Lujiang (庐江), Anhui (安徽), cinemas have opened in rural areas, allowing local villagers to participate in international film weeks at their doorsteps. In Changsha (长沙), Hunan (湖南), following movies to visit markets, "ticket stubs" have become a pass for the festive atmosphere. The value of watching movies has surpassed box office contributions, becoming a traffic portal to leverage consumption and a part of a better life.
In China (中国) today, high-quality development and a high-quality life are moving towards each other. We look forward to the emergence of more good movies to make reunions more flavorful and add color to spiritual and cultural life. 双向奔赴 (shuāng xiàng bēn fù - "bidirectional rush," to move towards each other).
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 李 蕊
Throughout his life, Wang Jingchen (王经臣) has seen many certificates of merit. If asked which he values most, it would definitely be the "Wheat Bumper Harvest Award" hanging in the Zhu Village (朱村) Village History Museum in Caozhuang Town (曹庄镇), Linshu County (临沭县), Shandong Province (山东省).
On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, Wang Jingchen (王经臣), the 77-year-old volunteer docent, once again stood in front of the yellowed certificate, telling tourists about the past of Zhu Village (朱村).
Zhang Yuhe (张育河), a teacher from Rizhao (日照), Shandong (山东), and his son leaned closer to examine it. It was awarded to the Zhu Village (朱村) Production Team of the Caozhuang People's Commune (曹庄人民公社) as an advanced unit for wheat bumper harvests.
"What were the conditions back then? You had to climb slopes to go out and cross rivers to get to the fields," Wang Jingchen (王经臣) raised his voice. "The older generation relied on 'one carrying pole and two ropes,' enduring the severe cold of winter and the intense heat of summer, and stubbornly increased the per-mu yield of grain. This spirit of hard work is the soul of our Zhu Village (朱村)!"
Zhang Yuhe's (张育河) son looked up and asked, "Grandpa, I'm not afraid of hardship. Can I also get a certificate of merit?"
Wang Jingchen (王经臣) smiled, touched the little guy's head, and gave him a thumbs up.
Having experienced the years of war and the days of hard work, the people of Zhu Village (朱村) wanted to cherish every step of their "journey here." With his father's instructions, Wang Jingchen (王经臣), with the support of the village, collected historical materials from all over. In 2013, Zhu Village (朱村) built the first village-level archive in Shandong Province (山东省), storing more than 7,000 volumes (pieces) of archives.
"Life is getting better day by day, but we must not forget history, we must not forget the martyrs and heroes who fought bloody battles for the birth of New China, and we must not forget the people in the old revolutionary areas who made significant contributions to the revolution." On November 25, 2013, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) came to Zhu Village (朱村) to view the village history exhibition of this support-the-front model village, which established a Party organization in the early days of the Anti-Japanese War.
Wang Jingchen (王经臣) was standing in the crowd at the time, his eyes welling up with tears.
The Village History Museum not only records the past, but also reflects the present and future of Zhu Village (朱村). A spiritual force takes root here and transforms into the internal driving force for development. Relying on red resources to develop tourism, Zhu Village (朱村) has received more than 600,000 tourists every year since 2021, and the daily passenger flow exceeded 30,000 on the first day of this year's Lunar New Year.
"Do you know why Mom brought you here?" Wang Qi (王琦), who returned to the village from Jiangsu (江苏) for the New Year, leaned down and asked her 11-year-old daughter. The daughter shook her head.
"Mom wants you to feel a spirit that is constantly being passed down." Wang Qi (王琦) took her daughter's hand. "When you grow up, you will better understand that today's happy life is hard-won. You will know where you come from and where you should go."
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 孙海天
The drumbeats had just faded when applause erupted again.
In Renmin Street (人民街道), Meilan District (美兰区), Haikou City (海口市), Hainan Province (海南省), the square in front of the Madame Xian Temple (冼太夫人庙) was filled with warmth. The sea breeze, carrying a salty, humid scent, infiltrated the bustling crowd.
"This is the 35th community event of the Meilan Practical Propaganda Caravan. Let's all put on our best performance," said Fang Qi (方琦), a staff member from the Meilan District Party Committee Propaganda Department, as he moved through the crowd, holding a microphone to maintain order.
Offstage, Li Junling (李俊玲), the head of the Xin'an Community Art Troupe (新安社区艺术团), wiped away sweat. The team's average age was not young, but their spirits were high. "More than 10 years ago, we were just dancing in the square downstairs. I never thought we could perform on such a big stage today," said Li Junling (李俊玲).
Amidst the excitement, Wang Ping (王萍), an associate professor at Hainan University (海南大学), walked off the stage with a microphone and stood among the neighbors: "Let's talk about what changes will happen to everyone's dining table in three years, as the Hainan Free Trade Port (海南自贸港) implements customs clearance operations?"
"Argentine red shrimp, New Zealand milk, more affordable prices, and more convenient to buy!" Wang Ping (王萍) broke down the grand "15th Five-Year Plan" into the practical benefits of daily necessities.
The policies were explained thoroughly, and blessings were given generously. On one side of the square, long tables were lined up, red paper fluttered, and a group of calligraphy enthusiasts were writing.
Li Yanbing (李艳兵), a 43-year-old veteran, wielded his brush, and words of blessings appeared on the paper. This veteran is enthusiastic about public welfare and now puts his heart into the tip of his pen: "Each stroke sends sincerity and receives blessings."
"This kind of 'popping candy' cannot be eaten; it is a drug disguised as candy." On the other side, Fu Juan (符娟), a staff member from the Renmin Street (人民街道) Narcotics Control Office, brought a safety lesson to the children.
At the neighboring booth, Yang Luping (杨璐萍), a staff member from the Meilan District Fire and Rescue Brigade (美兰区消防救援大队), was also busy: "During the New Year, there is a lot of frying and cooking. If the oil pan catches fire, never pour water on it; you must cover the pot to extinguish the fire." Yang Luping (杨璐萍) demonstrated how to lift and pull out the fire extinguisher.
This propaganda caravan not only brought policy explanations and artistic performances but also a whole set of convenient services for the people. "Wherever the people are, the caravan goes," said Fang Qi (方琦). "Don't underestimate the simple form; as long as the words are spoken from the heart, the masses will love to listen."
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 付明丽
In the auditorium of Jiajiazhuang Village (贾家庄村), Fenyang City (汾阳市), Shanxi Province (山西省), a Spring Festival gala is underway. Students from Jiajiazhuang Nine-Year School (贾家庄九年制学校) present a song and dance performance, "Ode to the Youth of China" (少年中国说). The boys, dressed in Chinese red, wield swords; the girls, in flowing skirts, open their fans in unison. "Participating in cultural activities can make students more confident and more cheerful," says Principal Gao Chenguang (高辰光).
The Spring Festival Gala in Jiajiazhuang Village (贾家庄村) began in 1991, and this year marks its thirty-sixth session. The village's seven Party branches have prepared 14 programs, with nearly 600 performers ranging in age from five or six to over 80. Songs, dances, 快板 (kuàibǎn - "clapper talk," a rhythmic storytelling performance), suona horns... the rich programs are all written, directed, and performed by the villagers themselves.
He Baoying (贺宝英), 77 years old this year, and a dozen of her old sisters bring a square dance medley performance. This performance team has an average age of over 70. As soon as the electronic music starts, the old women move nimbly, turning, twirling silk scarves, and swaying their hips, full of dynamism.
He Baoying (贺宝英) used to be the director of the village's Women's Federation. After retiring, she helps organize activities at the Senior Citizens Activity Center.
Immediately following, the rap program "Strolling Through Jiajiazhuang" (逛贾庄) takes the stage. "Dressed in new clothes and carefully made up, father and daughter stroll through Jiajiazhuang! Looking at the new atmosphere of Jiajiazhuang, I take big strides to keep up..." The old man playing the father is named Ren Yanxiong (任彦雄), 81 years old this year, and the oldest performer. His swaying and twisting steps, with a humorous expression, bring joy to everyone, making them burst into laughter. Ren Yanxiong (任彦雄) has been a cultural backbone in the village since he was young, skilled in singing and dancing.
Jiajiazhuang Village (贾家庄村) has a strong cultural atmosphere. In the 1960s, the village formed a farmers' cultural propaganda team. In addition to activities in the village, they are often invited to perform elsewhere. In recent years, Jiajiazhuang Village (贾家庄村) has won honorary titles such as "National Civilized Village" (全国文明村). By the end of 2025, the village collective's fixed assets reached 1.413 billion yuan, and the per capita disposable income of farmers reached 38,000 yuan.
"Everyone gathers together, working together for the performance, and people's hearts are also united!" says Fan Jiushen (范玖深), Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Jiajiazhuang Village (贾家庄村党委副书记).
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 韩俊杰
During the Spring Festival holiday, traffic surged through the streets of Hao City (濠城镇), Guzhen County (固镇县), Anhui Province (安徽省), as returning hometown visitors made this small town in northern Anhui lively and bustling. Unlike previous years, this year one could visit museums, stay in boutique homestays, and watch cultural performances in their hometown. "The theme of our homestay is 'Return of the Soldiers,' and many people returning from other places come to experience it," said Zuo Xinduo (左信铎), the relevant person in charge of a homestay.
The location of Gaixia Neighborhood Committee (垓下居委会) in Hao City (濠城镇), Guzhen County (固镇县), is the site of the historical Battle of Gaixia (楚汉垓下之战) between Chu and Han. In earlier years, almost every household had seen Han Dynasty relics such as arrowheads and tiles. Later, archaeological departments discovered a well-preserved prehistoric city from the Dawenkou Culture period (大汶口时期) in the area. In 2025, the Gaixia Site Museum (垓下遗址博物馆) was officially completed, showcasing the Dawenkou Culture and the history of the Battle of Gaixia. "The museum is inspired by the prehistoric rammed earth walls and adopts an enclosed layout, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the charm of historical culture," said Guo Yong (郭勇), director of the Gaixia Site Management Center (垓下遗址管理中心). He added that after the museum opened, it quickly became a popular internet celebrity check-in spot, attracting a large number of tourists to visit.
While building the museum, Guzhen County (固镇县) effectively connected the development of cultural tourism projects with the comprehensive revitalization of the countryside, applied for the "Villages along the Huai River" project, and developed supporting businesses such as distinctive catering, homestays, and cultural performances.
Walking into the museum's catering area, one finds a Han Dynasty-style building that can accommodate hundreds of people dining at the same time. In the homestay area, the 12 courtyards each have their own characteristics, with multiple guest rooms in each courtyard, offering a beautiful view at every step... "These days, companies are also organizing team-building activities here, and the guest rooms are in high demand during the holidays," said Guo Yong (郭勇).
Liu Ying (刘颖), a resident of Hao City (濠城镇), is now a property staff member at the Gaixia Scenic Area (垓下景区). "I used to work in the city, but now I have a job at my doorstep and can take care of my family." Currently, there are already hundreds of residents like Liu Ying (刘颖) who are earning a living from "cultural tourism." Data shows that in 2025, the number of tourists in Guzhen County (固镇县) exceeded 4.4 million, and the comprehensive tourism income reached 2.2 billion yuan.
Return to TopBy: 《环球人物》记者 陈佳莉
"Traffic pressure is rising at the Di'anmen Intersection (地安门路口), please pay attention to guiding traffic." "The queue in front of the merchants at Zhaodengyu Road Intersection (赵登禹路口) is too long and has affected traffic." The instructions came from the walkie-talkie on the shoulder of female motorcycle police officer Gong Wenrui (巩文睿).
Gong Wenrui (巩文睿) and her teammates immediately took action. Helmet on, goggles down, they straddled their police motorcycles, more than half a person tall, and skillfully drove into the busy traffic.
25-year-old Gong Wenrui (巩文睿) is the deputy captain of the female motorcycle police team of the Xicheng Traffic Detachment (西城交通支队) of the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau Traffic Management Bureau (北京市公安局交管局). This team was established in December 2024, with an average age of only 20 years old. The girls in the team are all heroic and spirited.
"Sir, when waiting for the traffic lights, please move your bicycle back to the safety line, which is both safe and does not block the road." "Everyone, please don't occupy the road when queuing to buy New Year's goods. Let's be considerate of each other and make traffic flow smoother."... Gong Wenrui's (巩文睿) voice was gentle but firm.
Around the Spring Festival, various characteristic folk activities will be held around the Drum Tower (鼓楼), and the flow of vehicles and people will usher in peaks, and the pressure of duty will increase exponentially. Gong Wenrui (巩文睿) introduced that the biggest advantage of the motorcycle police is "fast, flexible, and skillful," and they can reach narrow roads and congested sections that police cars cannot enter in the first time.
The motorcycle police's attire, coupled with gentle eyebrows and eyes, has become the most effective "emotional softener" when road conditions are not smooth during the New Year. Several times, drivers who were in a hurry to go home were stopped for violations, and their tone was a bit impatient, but when the car window was rolled down, they saw a female traffic police officer with a smiling face and a gentle tone, and their attitude softened a lot in an instant.
This year is the second Spring Festival since the establishment of the Xicheng (西城) female motorcycle police team, and the girls take turns on duty, with each person having to work at least 6 days.
Team member Chang Tiantian (苌天天) remembers that when she was on duty during the Spring Festival last year, she accidentally caught a glimpse of her parents in the crowd. They stood on a street corner not far away, silently watching her across the traffic. The moment their eyes met, her parents waved from afar.
Last Spring Festival, team member Zhang Yu (张钰) had a group photo with her family, which was taken during a break from duty. She was wearing a fluorescent green uniform, with a little tiredness on her face, but she smiled particularly brightly, surrounded by her family who came to see her.
In Gong Wenrui's (巩文睿) view, although she gave up reuniting with her family, it is more important to protect the safety of the people, "Such a 'mobile reunion' is worth it!"
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 游 仪
As dawn breaks, Liu Zuqiong (刘祖琼), 58, pedals her tricycle to the "Common Prosperity Market."
At her fixed stall, she neatly unloads the vegetables she grows and arranges them in order. The light above the stall is dim, reflecting Liu's chapped, red face, and also reflecting the steadiness and anticipation in her eyes.
"Two years ago, I wouldn't have dared to dream of having a fixed stall."
Living in Wenxing Community (文星社区), Huagai Town (花荄镇), Anzhou District (安州区), Mianyang (绵阳), Sichuan (四川), Liu is a low-income household. Her family relies entirely on her stall to supplement their income. She used to "fight guerrilla warfare" on the roadside, occupying the road and being persuaded to leave. She worked hard from dawn till dusk, but her income was never certain.
The "Common Prosperity Market" in front of her used to be a "roadside market" that plagued the surrounding residents.
"In the past, vendors crowded together, tricycles and electric vehicles were scattered haphazardly, people buying vegetables and passers-by were squeezed together, the sound of loudspeakers and hawking was deafening, and vegetable leaves and plastic bags were everywhere," said Jiang Lin (姜林), secretary of the community Party committee.
Residents detoured to avoid it, and vendors had no security. A rain could ruin their business. "Taking the street as a market" became a major problem for community management.
In 2024, the Huagai Town (花荄镇) Party committee took the lead in demarcating 523 standardized stalls and parking spaces. The community enterprise manages the market in a unified manner, with parking spaces and trading areas not interfering with each other. Dedicated personnel maintain order, clean up, and guide mobile vendors to "settle down."
What's even more heartwarming is that the community has set up 100 free stalls for vulnerable people like Liu.
"I don't have to pay stall fees, water and electricity are readily available, and even the sunshades are set up by the community. I can still set up my stall normally on rainy days." Liu calculated that she can sell more than 200 yuan worth of vegetables a day, which is more than 2,000 yuan more than in the past.
"This market is not just giving people a place to set up a stall, but also finding a stable way to increase income for vulnerable people." Jiang Lin (姜林) said that the community enterprise not only provides stalls, but also helps with promotion and connects with customers.
Last year, these 100 free stalls directly led to increased income for 82 vulnerable families, with an average annual increase of more than 8,000 yuan per household.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 杨文明 叶 琦
Jinuo Mountain (基诺山) is shrouded in morning mist. Following the footsteps of Buluxiao (布鲁肖), a Jinuo ethnic (基诺族) guide, the reporter entered the depths of the Xishuangbanna (西双版纳) rainforest.
Jinuo Mountain Jinuo Ethnic Township (基诺山基诺族乡), Jinghong City (景洪市), Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture (西双版纳傣族自治州), Yunnan Province (云南省), boasts a sound ecology and beautiful scenery, and is the main settlement area of the Jinuo ethnic group (基诺族).
"In earlier years, we relied on tea plantations and rubber forests, and had no worries about food, but the single industry led to ecological degradation and declining income," said Zeng Song (曾松), Deputy Secretary of the Jinuo Mountain Township (基诺山乡) Party Committee and Township Head, who was walking briskly alongside. "In 2021, the township government seized the opportunity of 'returning rubber to forest,' integrated the advantage of 94.01% forest coverage, and developed new business forms such as rainforest hiking, intangible cultural heritage study tours, and rural homestays."
Walking through the rainforest, tourists with different accents are often encountered, and the guides greet each other warmly, with laughter intertwined.
"From the initial niche tea mountain tours, to the current popular hiking tours, Jinuo Mountain Township (基诺山乡) has ushered in a turning point by developing the hiking industry. In 2025, rainforest hiking directly drove farmers' income to increase by more than 20 million yuan," Zeng Song (曾松) introduced.
"I lead two groups a day, earning three to four hundred yuan," said Buluxiao (布鲁肖). By the end of 2025, the rainforest hiking team in the township had grown to more than 3,000 people.
"Jinuo Mountain Township (基诺山乡) has clearly defined ecological and safety red lines, prohibiting the obstruction of streams, and limiting the water depth of bamboo rafts to no more than 50 centimeters... Everyone consciously participates in patrols, garbage cleaning, ecological publicity, etc., to jointly protect the green mountains and clear waters," said Zeng Song (曾松).
Although the hiking route is long, it doesn't feel boring. Buluxiao's (布鲁肖) popular science and storytelling along the way are fascinating. "Which spots are good for photos," "How to make the video look better," "Interesting interactive popular science about plants and animals"... Before starting work, the local government will train the guides.
As the hike approaches its end, the sound of the Jinuo ethnic (基诺族) drum rings out from the Jinuo ethnic (基诺族) village not far away.
Buluxiao (布鲁肖) said that the Jinuo ethnic group (基诺族) is "a nation that came out of the big drum." During major festivals, the people will gather around the drum and dance the joyful big drum dance. "Right now, we are developing new routes and improving the experience of projects such as bamboo rafts, zip lines, and high-altitude swings. In the new year, our lives will become more and more prosperous."
(Our reporter Zhang Chi (张驰) participated in the writing)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 刘硕阳 季 芳 陈晨曦 厉衍飞
On the afternoon of February 22, local time in Italy, with the successful completion of the men's four-man bobsleigh event at the Cortina Sliding Centre by two groups of Chinese athletes, the Chinese sports delegation concluded all its competitions at the Milan Winter Olympics. In the 7 major events, 15 sub-events, and 91 minor events participated in, the Chinese team won a total of 5 gold, 4 silver, and 6 bronze medals, creating the best overseas result in the history of the Winter Olympics.
In nearly 20 days of competition, the Chinese athletes fought tenaciously and broke through themselves, demonstrating the spirit of Chinese ice and snow athletes to the world with wonderful performances, achieving a double harvest of sports achievements and spiritual civilization, and showing the new atmosphere of vigorous development of China's ice and snow sports after the Beijing Winter Olympics.
The "Map" of Medals Continues to Expand
On February 22, local time, the freestyle skiing women's U-shaped venue skills final, which was postponed due to weather reasons, was held at the Livigno Snow Park. Chinese athletes Gu Ailing (谷爱凌) and Li Fanghui (李方慧) won the gold and silver medals, setting the number of medals for the Chinese delegation at 15 in this Winter Olympics.
Gu Ailing (谷爱凌) and Su Yiming (苏翊鸣) won medals in two consecutive Winter Olympics, demonstrating their strong strength in their respective events. The Chinese aerial skills team won a total of 5 medals, including 2 gold and 3 bronze, in this Winter Olympics, continuing the traditional advantage of the Chinese sports delegation in this event. At the Milan Speed Skating Hall, Ning Zhongyan (宁忠岩) broke the long-term monopoly of European and American athletes and won the men's 1500m speed skating championship, and achieved a medal breakthrough in the men's team event with his teammates, expanding the medal "map" of the Chinese team in the Winter Olympics.
"The Chinese team won medals in 8 events such as speed skating, consolidating the pattern of gold-winning and medal-winning events formed at the Beijing Winter Olympics and the balanced development of ice and snow events," said Tong Lixin (佟立新), deputy head of the Chinese sports delegation, when summarizing the Chinese team's performance at this Winter Olympics.
Becoming "Competitors" in More Events
"I believe our future will be better." On February 15, local time, Liang Yuxin (梁雨欣), 19, was full of expectations after winning the eighth place in the skeleton mixed team event with her partner Lin Qinwei (林勤炜). At this Winter Olympics, the Chinese team achieved the best results in the history of the 5 sled events. Under the podium, the Chinese team athletes are also constantly working hard to create history, and in more and more events, they have transformed from "participants" to "competitors" in the Winter Olympics.
According to statistics, the Chinese team athletes won a total of 49 top eight places in this Winter Olympics, an increase of 32.4% compared with the 37 places in the Beijing Winter Olympics. 18 minor events such as skeleton and ski jumping have made progress in this Winter Olympics, accounting for about 19.6% of the total number of participating minor events. Tong Lixin (佟立新) introduced that the snowboard big air, Nordic combined and other events in which only one athlete participated before, have multiple or even full participation in this Winter Olympics, and some minor events have multiple Chinese athletes entering the final, realizing the transformation from "single combat" to "group development." Among them, young athletes such as Liu Hanbin (刘瀚彬), Zhang Xiaonan (张小楠), and Liu Mengting (刘梦婷) have emerged in this Winter Olympics.
The competitive level of world ice and snow sports continues to improve, and training concepts, methods and means are constantly innovating. Through the Milan Winter Olympics, the Chinese team also saw the gap. "Facing the extremely fierce competition in this Winter Olympics, the Chinese team has joy and regret, progress and gaps, but every time they step on the podium, every improvement in ranking, and every successful completion of the race is the result of the athletes' tenacious struggle and striving for the lead," said Tong Lixin (佟立新).
Demonstrating the Style of Ice and Snow Athletes in the New Era
"Being able to appear in the Winter Olympics for the fifth time is already a victory." The official account of the Olympic Games gave a high evaluation to Liu Jiayu (刘佳宇). In the snowboard women's U-shaped venue skills qualifying competition on February 11, Liu Jiayu (刘佳宇), the silver medalist of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, was injured when she was trying to qualify for the final, and her Winter Olympics farewell battle unexpectedly came to an end. After a series of examinations, Liu Jiayu (刘佳宇) "reported safety" to everyone on social media. This girl, who always smiles at life, has won respect with her love and strength.
Competitive sports are not just about winning or losing, but also about the courage to surpass oneself and the warmth of achieving each other. The power of never giving up, challenging the limits, and always moving forward also makes the Olympic spirit shine. Although the short track speed skating team's women's 3000m relay and men's 5000m relay failed to advance to the A group final, the athletes cherished every competition opportunity and won the first place in the B group final respectively, showing the spirit of not admitting defeat.
In the figure skating arena, Sui Wenjing (隋文静) / Han Cong (韩聪), who participated in the Winter Olympics for the third time, presented the "last dance" of their sports career and finally won the fifth place in the pairs skating. In the half year from their comeback to standing on the Olympic ice again, they overcame injuries and pressure.
Whether they are veterans who have experienced many battles or newcomers who have set foot on the Winter Olympics for the first time, they all shine with the indomitable spirit of hard work, striving for the lead, and the firm belief and pursuit of victory. It is this relay inheritance that promotes the continuous progress of Chinese ice and snow sports.
One touching story after another, one sincere word after another, vividly interprets the Chinese sports spirit, the Beijing Winter Olympics spirit and the Olympic spirit, fully demonstrating the style of ice and snow athletes in the new era, and inspiring the surging power to build a sports power and promote Chinese-style modernization.
Return to TopThis newspaper reported from Hong Kong on February 22nd (Reporters Feng Xuezhi (冯学知) and Chen Ran (陈然)) During the Bingwu Year of the Horse Spring Festival, Hong Kong held various celebrations, and both sides of the Fragrant Harbour were extraordinarily lively.
In Lee Tung Avenue in Wan Chai (湾仔利东街), more than 800 Chinese lanterns illuminated the tree-lined avenue, and 12 pink peach blossom trees nearly 3.5 meters high were scattered in the atrium to form a scene. This Spring Festival scene, themed "Lantern Sea Peach Forest Celebrates the New Year," has become a popular attraction for citizens and tourists to check in during the Spring Festival.
In various districts of Hong Kong (香港), traditional temple fairs, markets, and themed installations in modern shopping malls complement each other, and various activities are wonderful. Major business districts have launched activities such as "New Year Markets," "Spring Festival Concerts," and "Opening Lion Dances" to attract citizens and tourists to check in and take photos. Theme parks have launched special installations and nighttime light and shadow shows in conjunction with the Year of the Horse imagery, allowing tourists to spend an unforgettable Spring Festival holiday in laughter.
Lunar New Year horse racing is one of Hong Kong's (香港) unique Spring Festival activities for many years. On February 19, at the "Year of the Horse Racing Day" event held by the Hong Kong Jockey Club (香港赛马会), galloping steeds sent the audience the Year of the Horse blessings of **一马当先** (yī mǎ dāng xiān - "one horse leads the way," to take the lead) and **马到成功** (mǎ dào chéng gōng - "success upon the horse's arrival," instant success), drawing cheers from the audience.
Data from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government Immigration Department (香港特区政府入境事务处) shows that from February 15 (the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month) to 20 (the fourth day of the first lunar month), the total number of tourists entering Hong Kong (香港) exceeded 1.16 million, of which more than 980,000 were mainland tourists, accounting for approximately 84%.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者
The new year begins, and we start with practical work. During the Spring Festival holiday, major engineering projects are seizing the time and continuously tackling challenges, playing an exciting and progressive "New Year Overture" amidst the roar of machinery. From east to west, north to south, and center, builders are sticking to their posts, using their passionate footprints to outline a vivid picture of a striving China.
Smooth roads extend, and transportation arteries accelerate their expansion.
On the sixth day of the first lunar month, in Longling County (龙陵县), Baoshan (保山), Yunnan (云南) Province, 640 meters underground, the construction of the No. 2 vertical shaft of the Gaoligong Mountain Tunnel (高黎贡山隧道), a key control project of the Dali-Ruili Railway (大瑞铁路), is in full swing, with more than 200 builders working in shifts day and night, striving to excavate.
At the bottom of the shaft, secondary lining trolleys, rock drilling trolleys, and arch frame installation machines are lined up in a row. Two working faces are conducting advanced geological drilling, with drill rods probing into the surrounding rock inch by inch, and the arch frame installation machine steadily sending steel arch frames into predetermined positions.
The Dali-Ruili Railway is 330 kilometers long, and the Gaoligong Mountain Tunnel accounts for about 1/10 of the total length, crossing 19 fault fracture zones. The geological conditions are complex, and it is known as "one of the most difficult railway tunnels to build."
"All working faces are operating normally during the Spring Festival holiday to ensure the smooth progress of the construction period," said Ding Guopeng (丁国鹏), manager of the No. 2 vertical shaft working area of China Railway Tunnel Group (中铁隧道局), who once again chose to stay at the working area for the New Year. "Every inch forward is a step closer to the full line opening to traffic."
From railway tunnels buried deep underground to golden waterways connecting rivers and seas, builders are racing against time to accelerate the construction of major projects.
On the sixth day of the first lunar month, in Jiuzhou Town (旧州镇), Lingshan County (灵山县), Qinzhou (钦州), Guangxi (广西), steelworker Wang Jie (王杰) was busy at the construction site of the Madu Hub (马道枢纽) of the Pinglu Canal (平陆运河). The huge "skeleton" of the world-class inland river water-saving ship lock stands tall, and Wang Jie went down along the safety ladder to the construction area more than 60 meters from the ground, where steel bars are densely packed.
Wang Jie squatted halfway, and the welding gun "zizzed" and ignited, with a sudden burst of arc light. "Welding more than 100 steel bars every day is my main job during this period," Wang Jie said. "I feel a great responsibility and glorious mission to weld 'bones' for this super project."
During the Spring Festival holiday, the number of personnel participating in the duty at the Pinglu Canal construction site increased from the initially planned 3,000 to more than 4,000. "After this 'golden waterway' is opened to navigation, goods will flow in all directions!" said Cheng Yaofei (程耀飞), chairman of Guangxi Pinglu Canal Construction Co., Ltd. (广西平陆运河建设有限公司), of Pinglu Canal Group (平陆运河集团).
Water nourishes every household, and the foundation of people's livelihood is consolidated.
Along the Yellow River (黄河), there is full of enthusiasm.
On the sixth day of the first lunar month, at the construction site of the Yellow River Gu Xian Water Conservancy Hub Project (黄河古贤水利枢纽工程) in Guxian Village (古贤村), Wencheng Township (文城乡), Jixian County (吉县), Shanxi (山西) Province, in the huge cave deep in the diversion tunnel, welding sparks flashed and machinery roared.
"This year, the project has entered a new stage of comprehensive construction, and the construction period before cutoff is very tight," said Lai Liang (来亮), an engineer in the Engineering Construction Department of Yellow River Gu Xian Water Conservancy Hub Co., Ltd. (黄河古贤水利枢纽有限公司). In order to seize the key node of capping the intake tower of the diversion tunnel by the end of this year, it is necessary to catch up with the progress during this Spring Festival.
Artificial intelligence cameras, positioning base stations, and other sensor equipment are arranged on both sides of the tunnel. "The data collected on-site is directly input into the 'Digital Gu Xian' (数智古贤) intelligent hub, and analyzed and tested by large models to build a data base for intelligent tunnels and intelligent dams," said Liu Qingliang (刘庆亮), chief engineer of Yellow River Gu Xian Water Conservancy Hub Co., Ltd.
After the project is completed, it will provide 10.53 million mu of farmland irrigation water for Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces, and also undertake important functions such as flood control and silt reduction, water resource regulation and storage, and power generation, bringing huge comprehensive benefits.
In the Qiantang River (钱塘江) basin, the battle is in full swing.
On the fifth night of the first lunar month, the Foxiang Reservoir (佛乡水库) construction site in Longyou County (龙游县), Quzhou (衢州), Zhejiang (浙江) Province, was brightly lit by searchlights. Excavator tracks rolled over gravel, and the tower crane in the distance turned back and forth, constantly flashing lights.
"The project faces triple challenges of land consolidation, ecological and cultural protection balance, and earth and stone disposal," said Fu Zhihai (付志海), the project manager. The team innovatively adopted a dynamic balance plan of "moving excavation for filling and layered backfilling." "The reservoir construction and basic farmland protection are designed and constructed simultaneously, and the grain planting area is guaranteed by implementing field raising in the reservoir inundation area."
The diversion tunnel of the Foxiang Reservoir is planned to have water passing conditions before the flood season in April this year. "The earlier the dam is completed, the more protection the people will have," said Fu Zhihai.
Green electricity surges, and the momentum for development is gathering.
On the sixth day of the first lunar month, the lanterns hanging at the construction site of the Ganxian Pumped Storage Power Station (赣县抽水蓄能电站) in Ganzhou (赣州), Jiangxi (江西) Province, were filled with joy. In the flood discharge and emptying tunnel of the lower reservoir, workers are carrying out foundation cleaning and lining on the excavated working face.
"During the Spring Festival holiday, we formed a Party member commando team, and more than 170 builders stuck to their posts to lay a solid foundation for the subsequent construction of the project," introduced Hua Guo (华国), a member of the Party General Branch Committee and deputy general manager of Jiangxi Fengshan Pumped Storage Co., Ltd. (江西峰山抽水蓄能有限公司).
Peng Wei (彭伟), from Anyue County (安岳县), Ziyang (资阳), Sichuan (四川) Province, is the project manager of China Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering Bureau 5 Co., Ltd. (中国水利水电第五工程局有限公司). This year, he specially brought his family to the project for the New Year. "The flood discharge and emptying tunnel of this lower reservoir has now completed 90%, and it is planned to be connected in early March this year. In order to ensure the smooth implementation of cutoff and dam filling after the New Year, we must stick to our posts during the Spring Festival," said Peng Wei.
Dedication, responsibility, and perseverance paint the background color of major engineering construction.
On the sixth day of the first lunar month, on the Yebatan Hydropower Station (叶巴滩水电站) dam on the main stream of the Jinsha River (金沙江) at the junction of Baiyu County (白玉县), Sichuan (四川) and Gongjue County (贡觉县), Tibet (西藏), Liu Dongsheng (刘东生), deputy director of the Engineering Department, orderly directed the preparation of the concrete for the surface orifice pier. "The on-site supervisor of the formwork installation must keep an eye on safety; pay attention to the spacing of the steel bar binding and the thickness of the protective layer to meet the design requirements."
As the highest double-curvature arch dam power station under construction in China, the project innovatively built the "Ye Dian Cloud" (叶电云) digital management platform, constructed an intelligent control system covering the entire construction process, and realized the year-round uninterrupted pouring of dam concrete in high-altitude cold regions.
"Since 2018, builders have stayed behind every Spring Festival. This Spring Festival, more than 150 staff members are making the final sprint to complete the dam," said Liu Dongsheng.
The perspective turns to the southeast. On the fifth day of the first lunar month, at the junction of Longhua District (龙华区) and Longgang District (龙岗区) in Shenzhen (深圳), Guangdong (广东) Province, the construction site of the Shenzhen Central Converter Station (深圳中部换流站) of the Tibet-Guangdong DC Project (藏粤直流工程) is seizing the window before the rainy season to accelerate earthwork operations and sprint for the subsequent main construction to start.
The Tibet-Guangdong DC Project is the world's first four-terminal ultra-high-voltage flexible DC project, and also China's first ultra-high-voltage power transmission project spanning the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, and the South China Hills. After completion, it will transmit more than 43 billion kilowatt-hours of clean electricity annually, and Tibetan green electricity can reach the Greater Bay Area in just 9 milliseconds.
This is the second time that Chen Qiao (陈乔), a specialist from the Guangzhou Bureau Project Department (广州局项目部) of China Southern Power Grid Ultra High Voltage Company (南网超高压公司), has spent the Spring Festival on the construction site. After having New Year's Eve dinner, he returned to his post early on the first day of the new year. "My parents feel particularly proud that I am building a major national project," said Chen Qiao.
(Reporters Ye Chuanzeng (叶传增), Zhang Yunhe (张云河), Zheng Yangyang (郑洋洋), Dou Hanyang (窦瀚洋), Yang Yanfei (杨颜菲), Xu Yuyao (徐驭尧), Jiang Xiaodan (姜晓丹), Han Chunyao (韩春瑶), and Yu Xuan (余璇) of this newspaper)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 陈尚文
At a time when families are celebrating reunion, Chinese peacekeeping soldiers, stationed thousands of miles away, are interpreting loyalty with perseverance and conveying warmth with action. In foreign lands, they are making China's responsibility more tangible and letting the flowers of peace bloom more brilliantly.
The 24th Chinese peacekeeping contingent to Lebanon—
"China's Determined Commitment to Pursuing Peace"
The morning light penetrates the clouds, and the five-star red flag and the United Nations flag fly over the Chinese peacekeeping force camp in Xinnia Village (辛尼亚村), southern Lebanon. On the outer wall, the slogan "China Comes for Peace" is particularly eye-catching.
At around 7:00 AM, the tranquility of the camp was broken by a burst of urgent alarms. Zhang Lei (张磊), a soldier from the guard platoon of the 24th Chinese peacekeeping contingent to Lebanon on duty at the camp gate, subconsciously tightened his grip on the steel gun in his hand, scanning the surrounding environment vigilantly.
"Attention! Three 'criminals' are attempting to break into the camp. Immediately initiate emergency drills!" The commander's instructions came from the intercom, and an "unannounced" emergency drill was quickly launched. Zhang Lei quickly coordinated with his comrades to form a cordon and block the camp gate passage. "This is our first time celebrating the New Year in the mission area, and we cannot relax, especially during the holidays. The drill is to protect the peace of more people," Zhang Lei said.
Not long ago, the 24th peacekeeping contingent to Lebanon successfully completed the clearance tasks of minefields No. 1245 and No. 1248. Under the witness of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the United Nations Mine Action Service, the responsibility for the management and protection of the minefields was officially handed over to the Lebanese military, completing a solemn relay of a peaceful mission across borders.
Since August 2023, officers and soldiers of the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th Chinese peacekeeping contingents to Lebanon have successively operated about 200 meters from the "Blue Line" on the Lebanese-Israeli border, successfully clearing 834 landmines and returning the former "restricted area" to peace. During the Spring Festival, the officers and soldiers simultaneously carried out clearance tasks in minefields No. 1246 and No. 1607, advancing on two fronts and tackling key problems in relay. Li Gang (李岗), commander of the 24th Chinese peacekeeping contingent to Lebanon, said: "Measuring the boundary between life and death with our footsteps and clearing the haze of death with our hands, mine clearance is an important action to fulfill the peacekeeping mission and is China's determined commitment to pursuing peace."
During the holidays, the level-one hospital in the Chinese peacekeeping force camp is open as usual, and the red cross logo is particularly eye-catching in the sun. Military doctor Ma Yulong (马宇龙) is treating a leg injury for a 65-year-old local man, disinfecting, applying medicine, and bandaging with gentle and skillful techniques. Finally, he repeatedly reminded him of precautions in the local language. "Thank you for the careful treatment of the Chinese doctor, you are our gospel!" The old man said, holding Ma Yulong's hand. In Ma Yulong's view, it is "irreplaceable" to relieve the pain of local villagers through regular open clinics, "this recognized value is irreplaceable."
At the camp gate, red lanterns are hung high, swaying in the wind; in the Peace Hall, Chinese knots are strung with red, full of joy... At the Spring Festival gala, UNIFIL, peacekeeping friendly forces, and local villagers all came, and everyone sang "A Family Under Heaven" together. At the scene, a local villager took the Spring Festival couplets handwritten by Chinese peacekeeping soldiers and said with emotion: "Thank you for the New Year blessings from China, which are also blessings of peace."
The 2nd Chinese peacekeeping quick reaction force to Abyei—
"The Level of Preparedness Deserves Full Recognition"
"Mom and Dad, I am performing a peacekeeping mission in Africa, thousands of miles away from my hometown. I hope to do something within my power for people in distress. I will work hard to fulfill my responsibilities and live up to my original aspirations."
"When I go back, I want to tell my son the stories of peacekeeping and being abroad over the years: tell him that his father and uncles have grown vegetables in Africa, helped build schools locally, and received medals under the flag of the United Nations."
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A peacekeeping family letter contains thousands of family and country feelings. During the Spring Festival, several letters from the red soil of Africa are full of their deep longing for their relatives in the motherland and the silent oath of Chinese peacekeepers to be responsible for peace.
Abyei (阿卜耶伊), at 9 degrees north latitude, is scorched by the hot sun on land that has been ravaged by war and conflict. People strongly desire the arrival of peace and look forward to a peaceful life.
Since the 2nd Chinese peacekeeping quick reaction force to Abyei was deployed to the mission area in May 2025, it has overcome harsh environments and dangerous conditions and successfully carried out tasks such as emergency reinforcement, VIP escort, and multinational joint exercises, completing a total of more than 17,000 kilometers of armed patrols.
Before the Spring Festival, in the super camp of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), with the issuance of a sudden instruction, the commander of the Chinese peacekeeping quick reaction force to Abyei quickly determined the situation and quickly dispatched. Deploying defense formations in stages, shouting to dissuade and drive away, escalating weapon deterrence, controlling and dispersing crowds... The soldiers quickly responded and dealt with the situation in accordance with the United Nations Rules of Engagement, successfully eliminating security threats and fully controlling the situation, and finally passed the second United Nations combat readiness assessment at a high standard. Audddia, the leader of the UNISFA assessment team, highly praised: "Faced with mission tests, the Chinese peacekeeping quick reaction force deployed quickly, cooperated closely, and the level of combat readiness deserves full recognition."
During the holidays, all officers and soldiers of the Chinese peacekeeping quick reaction force to Abyei were on duty at all times, sticking to their posts, performing tasks such as armed patrols, VIP escorts, and military police duties. They also held rich Spring Festival celebrations, inviting peacekeeping friendly forces to share the Chinese New Year flavor and talk about peace and friendship.
From the meaning of the "Fu" character to the connotation of Spring Festival couplets, from horizontal and vertical strokes to structural layout, the soldiers patiently explained and demonstrated how to write the "Fu" character, and foreign friends carefully copied it, showing concentration in every stroke. Everyone held up the calligraphy works together, admiring each other and taking photos, and there was constant laughter at the scene. "Chinese soldiers spread peace and goodwill with openness and inclusiveness." Ghanaian peacekeeper Anna Tu (安娜徒) said that by writing Chinese characters, she more truly understood the peace, reunion and blessings carried by the "Fu" character, "This beauty belongs to everyone who guards peace."
The 12th Chinese peacekeeping infantry battalion to South Sudan (Juba)—
"This May Be the Meaning of Perseverance and the Value of Peacekeeping"
South Sudan is in the dry season, and the shooting range in the peacekeeping mission area is filled with heat waves. The peacekeeping soldiers are fully armed. "Prone position, load bullets!" As the commander's order was issued, the soldiers quickly entered the shooting state: loading, chambering, aiming, and firing, a series of actions were closely connected, standardized, and orderly, and the sudden gunshots pierced the sky...
On January 31 and February 1, the 12th Chinese peacekeeping infantry battalion to South Sudan (Juba) organized live-fire shooting training with light weapons, which was the first systematic live-fire exercise of the battalion since it was deployed to the mission area in December 2025. After the shooting, the impact points were clearly discernible. This training effectively tested the condition of equipment and ammunition, adjusted the accuracy of weapons, and strengthened the soldiers' awareness of combat readiness and emergency response capabilities.
The Chinese peacekeeping infantry battalion to South Sudan (Juba) is responsible for the guard duty of 15哨位 sentry posts and buffer zone patrols in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) camp. During the Spring Festival, the local daytime temperature is nearly 50 degrees Celsius at its highest. The soldiers wear equipment weighing about 25 kilograms and take turns on duty non-stop, guarding the safety of the camp, the civilian protection area, and the people in the surrounding villages 24 hours a day.
What is the meaning of perseverance? Xia Jun (夏俊), the squad leader of the quick reaction squad of the 12th Chinese peacekeeping infantry battalion to South Sudan (Juba), shared his feelings with reporters: When the patrol convoy passes through local villages, children always run to the roadside, wave to the convoy with smiles, and shout "China, China!" in a less standard pronunciation. "Although we don't speak the same language and have cultural differences, I deeply feel that our arrival has brought them more smiles, a more stable life, and more security. This may be the meaning of perseverance and the value of peacekeeping," Xia Jun said.
Chinese peacekeepers come for peace and also for friendship. In the South Sudan (Juba) peacekeeping infantry battalion, the Spring Festival Gala of "Building a Dream of Peace and Celebrating the Chinese New Year" was wonderfully staged: classic Chinese songs such as "A Loving Family" and "Unforgettable Tonight" were sung one after another, expressing reunion and warmth; the dance "Breaking the Ice" showed the heroic and indomitable spirit of Chinese soldiers; dragon and lion dances, Sichuan opera face-changing and other programs fully demonstrated the charm of traditional Chinese art... Amidst bursts of cheers and applause, Chinese peacekeeping officers and soldiers gathered with UNMISS, peacekeeping friendly forces, etc. to wish each other a happy New Year.
"It is an honor and a mission to record the peacekeeping stories of the blue helmet warriors on the front line." Yang Shiwei (杨仕伟), a news reporter from the 12th Chinese peacekeeping infantry battalion to South Sudan (Juba), described his work in this way. He believes that the Chinese peacekeeping army strictly follows the authorization of the United Nations, cooperates with the peacekeeping forces of various countries, and coordinates to deal with emergencies, vividly interpreting the spirit of multilateralism and demonstrating the responsibility and responsibility of a major country.
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The Chinese blue helmets' perseverance during the Spring Festival is to guard the mission of peace and protect the peace and tranquility of thousands of families. They integrate the vision of peace with the New Year's blessings, safeguard the road to world peace with selfless dedication, enhance understanding and consensus in cultural exchanges, contribute wisdom and strength to global security governance, and add bricks and tiles to building a community with a shared future for mankind.
(Li Xin (李鑫), Qu Fatong (瞿发统), Zhou Jie (周杰), Han Ruitian (韩瑞田), and Lu Jinfang (路金方) also contributed to this article)
Layout design: Zhang Danfeng (张丹峰)
Return to TopBy: 赵 斌
As the Chinese people joyfully celebrate the Spring Festival, the African nation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) (刚果（金）) is also filled with a strong festive atmosphere. In the capital, Kinshasa (金沙萨), the Chinese Embassy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) (中国驻刚果（金）大使馆) held activities such as a Spring Festival Open Day and a Chinese Traditional Food Festival, gathering with friends from all walks of life in the DRC and overseas Chinese to celebrate the Chinese New Year together. In the Katanga (加丹加) region, where many Chinese expatriates live, employees of Chinese-funded enterprises stationed on the front lines celebrated the Spring Festival in a joyful and warm atmosphere with their local colleagues by putting up Spring Festival couplets, making dumplings, and participating in tug-of-war.
Located in the tropical region of the Southern Hemisphere, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) (刚果（金）) does not experience the biting cold of the Spring Festival, but rather bright sunshine, abundant rainfall, and lush greenery, just like the vigorous and upward development vitality of China-DRC relations. In the 54 years since the normalization of China-DRC relations, the two sides have jointly written a beautiful story of cooperation featuring mutual assistance and win-win results. In recent years, under the joint leadership of the two heads of state, China-DRC relations have been elevated to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. Practical cooperation in various fields has advanced by leaps and bounds, benefiting both sides, writing a successful story of developing countries working together to promote modernization, and continuously empowering the building of a closer China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era.
China-DRC economic and trade cooperation has continuously achieved new successes. In 2025, the trade volume between China and the DRC reached $27.57 billion, an increase of 3% year-on-year. "China Construction" has achieved new speeds. The Kolwezi (科卢韦齐) Vocational and Technical Training Center, aided by China, is about to be inaugurated within the year, and the Kinshasa (金沙萨) Capital Ring Road project under the China-DRC "package" cooperation framework is progressing rapidly, which the local people are eagerly anticipating. China's aid has made new contributions. Hebei Province (河北省) has dispatched a total of 23 medical teams to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) (援刚果（金）医疗队), and their acts of saving lives and healing the wounded are widely praised. The agricultural expert group aiding the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) (援刚果（金）农业专家组) is exploring "mining area agriculture" and actively helping local agricultural development. Cultural exchanges have written new chapters. In 2025, the Chinese Wuju Opera Troupe (中国婺剧团) made its debut in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) (刚果（金）), winning a full house. The Chinese Embassy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) (中国驻刚果（金）大使馆) has held "Chinese Film Week" for three consecutive years, showcasing the vivid and diverse charm of China to the local people. Activities such as the China-Central African Countries Think Tank Seminar and the China-DRC Vocational and Technical Education and Training Conference, jointly organized by the two countries, gather the "wisdom" of Africa and strengthen the "strength" of common development. More and more young people from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) (刚果（金）) are learning Chinese at the Confucius Institute (孔子学院), greeting people enthusiastically in Chinese.
Spring is the season of hope. In the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) (刚果（金）), many local people are still suffering from the ravages of war. China has been providing support to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) (刚果（金）) within its capacity. As soon as I took office in 2023, I used the local Lingala language to give myself the name "Bwadu Moko" (布瓦杜·莫科) (meaning "the same boat"), implying that we are willing to work together with the DRC to overcome challenges. Recently, China not only supported the adoption of relevant resolutions in the United Nations Security Council, speaking out for the DRC with a sense of justice, but also provided the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) (刚果（金）) with practical humanitarian assistance such as rice and medical supplies. The people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) (刚果（金）), like the Chinese people, are naturally optimistic and hardworking, and generally expect to create a better future with the help of China. As the Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) (刚果（金）) to China, Balumuene (巴卢穆埃内), said, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) (刚果（金）) should "look east and learn east," learn from China's adherence to formulating and implementing medium- and long-term plans, find a path that suits its own national conditions, and achieve national peace and development as soon as possible.
The beginning of the year marks the renewal of everything. This year is the "Year of China-Africa Cultural Exchange," and I believe that China and the DRC will be able to take this opportunity to jointly promote friendly cooperation and cultural exchanges between the two countries, and promote China-DRC relations to better benefit the people of both countries.
(The author is the Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to the Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 尚凯元
In the Great Stables of the Château de Chantilly, located about 50 kilometers north of Paris (巴黎), red lanterns and two rows of festive Chinese knots were hung, adding a special touch of Chinese New Year atmosphere to this historical building famous for its "horses." The "Golden Horse Welcomes Auspiciousness" Chinese New Year Gala, co-sponsored by the Hauts-de-France region of France and the Chinese Embassy in France (中国驻法国大使馆), was grandly held here recently. The equestrian team of the Château de Chantilly (尚蒂伊城堡) and the Nanjing Performing Arts Group (南京市演艺集团) and other groups brought diverse interpretations of horse culture in contemporary performing arts. The interweaving of light and music effects, the elegance and power of European equestrianism, and the combination of strength and softness of Chinese martial arts formed a dynamic dialogue between tradition and modernity, East and West.
"It is particularly meaningful to welcome the Chinese Year of the Horse in the prestigious Great Stables of the Château de Chantilly (尚蒂伊城堡)," said Deng Li (邓励), Chinese Ambassador to France (中国驻法国大使), in his speech. Horses have special significance in both Chinese and French cultures. "We welcome the Year of the Horse, ushering in a force of 蹄疾步稳 (tí jí bù wěn - "hooves swift steps steady," to advance steadily and rapidly). We must have the drive of ten thousand horses galloping, but also the perseverance of unremitting effort. I hope the Year of the Horse will bring vitality and wisdom to both China and France, consolidate traditional friendship, and strengthen future cooperation."
The Great Stables, built in the early 18th century, is located in the core area of the Château de Chantilly (尚蒂伊城堡) and is one of the largest and best-preserved historical stables in Europe. "I am very happy to be able to hold a Chinese Lunar New Year celebration here," said Darcos, owner of the Château de Chantilly (尚蒂伊城堡) and Director of the Académie Française. He hopes that through the evening's activities, the castle, known as France's "most popular historical site," can also become a cultural landmark loved by the Chinese people in the future. It is reported that in November last year, the Château de Chantilly (尚蒂伊城堡) and the Prince Kung's Mansion Museum (北京恭王府博物馆) in Beijing (北京) officially signed a friendship agreement. The Prince Kung's Mansion Museum (北京恭王府博物馆) is preparing an exhibition related to horses, some of which will come from the Château de Chantilly (尚蒂伊城堡).
"Chinese culture and French culture are both distinctive cultural systems. In this event, the two are placed in the same space, presenting a coherent and natural integration," said Kevin, a French citizen studying Chinese at the Chinese Cultural Center in Paris (巴黎中国文化中心), to reporters. "Behind Chinese is China's 5,000-year-old history and civilization, which is very attractive to me. Tonight's real, vivid, and tangible cultural experience further enhances my motivation to learn Chinese."
Aurélie Plaisance, a French citizen who has worked in Chinese companies, told this reporter that the Great Stables of the Château de Chantilly (尚蒂伊城堡) itself is a historically symbolic space. Organizing Sino-French cultural exchange activities here gives it new cultural charm. "Celebrating the Chinese Year of the Horse at the Château de Chantilly (尚蒂伊城堡) is a successful attempt, which makes us full of expectations for further deepening Franco-Chinese local cooperation in the future."
Return to TopDiverse Spring Festival activities such as stage performances, folk customs experiences, and creative interactions have built an observable, tangible, and participatory space of joy, and an excellent platform for the collision of Chinese and foreign cultures and arts. In Germany, Mexico, and Kenya, people approach the Spring Festival, understand the Spring Festival, celebrate the Spring Festival, and even become the "protagonists" of performance interactions at Spring Festival events.
Red carpets were laid on the steps, and red lanterns and Chinese knots complemented each other among the pillars of century-old buildings. The strong "Chinese red" decorated the Berlin City Hall (柏林市政厅) with extra festivity. This was the twelfth time that the "Happy Chinese New Year" Spring Festival celebration lit up the Berlin City Hall (柏林市政厅).
Audience member Felix had studied Chinese Kung Fu for 5 years. The Tai Chi fan performance, which was both soft and strong, full of rhythm and beauty, resonated deeply with him. The word he used most often when communicating with reporters was "friendship": "This event is another witness to the two-way cultural exchange and harmonious mutual learning between Germany and China." Anita, a citizen of Berlin (柏林), said: "What impressed me was the natural imagery presented in the performance—vast landscapes such as mountains, seas, and waters are intertwined to create an immersive experience. I really hope to go to China to experience the Spring Festival in the future."
When the male solo "The Linden Tree" sounded, the applause became even warmer. This song, with lyrics by the German poet Wilhelm Müller and music by the musical master Franz Schubert, allowed the language of music to transcend cultural differences and convey the profound meaning of civilizational dialogue. Marion Cornelius, an audience member engaged in cultural work, was deeply moved by the performance. She said: "Cross-cultural exchange is of great significance for enhancing mutual understanding. This Spring Festival celebration performance brings a more direct Chinese cultural experience to the local audience through artistic forms such as music."
The crispy aroma of Chinese pastries and the spicy taste of Mexican cuisine collided in the air, attracting local people to line up in long queues; Chinese and Mexican artists joined forces on stage, and folk music, martial arts, dance, and vocal performances were staged in turn... Recently, the 5th Mexico City (墨西哥城) "Chinese New Year Cultural Festival" kicked off at the National Center for the Arts Plaza (墨西哥国家艺术中心广场) in Mexico (墨西哥). Rodrigo Martínez, a citizen of Mexico City (墨西哥城市民), said: "The event has the joint participation of artists and performers from both sides. Everyone can better understand each other's culture and history in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere."
Arturo Palacios, a local middle school student, said: "I am curious about every activity here. What impressed me most was the performance of artists from the two countries on the same stage. Each has its own characteristics and is very harmonious. This made me feel the beauty of different cultures meeting, and also made me deeply interested in Chinese culture." A local citizen, Garcia, said: "The Spring Festival is not only a lively festival celebration, but also a cultural expression that values family and emotional connections, which is very consistent with the core of Mexican culture."
Amidst the echoes of Chinese folk music and African drum beats, the lion dance moved its head and leaped, and the Yangko danced happily. The third "Warmly Welcome the Spring and Celebrate the Chinese New Year" Spring Festival Temple Fair in Nairobi (内罗毕) opened lively. Dunhuang (敦煌) music and dance, traditional folk music, acrobatics, martial arts, intangible cultural heritage puppet shows, traditional costume shows and other programs were staged in turn, bringing a cultural feast to nearly 10,000 Chinese and Kenyan people.
Waruhi, from the Confucius Institute (孔子学院) at the University of Nairobi (内罗毕大学), participated in the opening performance of the Spring Festival Temple Fair. She said: "The Spring Festival Temple Fair focuses on displaying Chinese traditional culture and also demonstrates the charm of civilizational dialogue. The event has brought the people of Kenya and China closer and helps both sides accept and appreciate each other's culture."
Nima Wanjiru, a senior student at the University of Nairobi (内罗毕大学) who performed Dai dance and African dance at the temple fair, said: "I have been studying Chinese for 4 years and Chinese dance for more than a year. I deeply realize that culture is a bridge connecting people's hearts."
Writing "Fu" characters, cutting window decorations, playing Pitch-pot, tasting Chinese cuisine... In the folk customs experience area of the temple fair, people came to experience it in an endless stream. Kenyan college student Salanima and her friends are very interested in Chinese calligraphy and painting works. "I am a loyal fan of Chinese culture, especially Hanfu, which fascinates me." Salanima is majoring in fine arts at Kenyatta University (肯雅塔大学) and is learning Chinese on her own. "I look forward to going to China one day to experience Chinese art and culture in person."
Local resident Baibu was wearing a red cheongsam, which was particularly eye-catching. "I have participated in many Chinese cultural activities, but this is the first time I have participated in the Spring Festival Temple Fair. I know that red symbolizes joy and good luck in Chinese culture, so I specially chose this dress." She told reporters that she had experienced many Spring Festival customs, cut the character "Spring," and imprinted the character "Fu" and a horse zodiac painting, hoping to give herself a good omen and have good fortune and good luck in the new year.
(Reported on February 22 from Rio de Janeiro (里约热内卢), Berlin (柏林), Mexico City (墨西哥城), and Nairobi (内罗毕) by reporters Song Yiran (宋亦然), Liu Zhonghua (刘仲华), Xie Jianing (谢佳宁), and Huang Weixin (黄炜鑫), with intern Zhao Hongsheng (赵宏笙) participating in the writing)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者
"Hello, this is the elderly ticket booking hotline, how can I help you?"
On the third day of the Lunar New Year, the telephone rang incessantly in the office hall of the Nanchang Railway Customer Service Center (南昌铁路客户服务中心). Customer service representative Chen Yuanyuan (陈媛园) carefully discerned the elderly caller's Northern Fujian dialect. After confirming the information was correct, she slowed down her speech: "Booking successful, you can go to the ticket window to collect your ticket."
With just a phone call, Grandpa Li (李爷爷) booked a ticket from Jian'ou (建瓯), Fujian (福建) to Xiamen (厦门). He exclaimed to the person on the other end of the line, "This girl is so kind!"
Before the Spring Festival travel season, the railway department launched a telephone ticket booking service for elderly passengers. This scene outlines a new picture of this year's Spring Festival.
New services, new business formats, new fashions, reverse reunions, travel for the New Year, and technological New Year customs – the pulse of China's economy is resonating in sync with the lights of family reunions.
Spring Festival Travel Season "Unusual"
A Spring Festival travel season relay makes a person's journey less lonely.
Visually impaired passenger Zhang Ting (张婷) lives in Baotou (包头), Inner Mongolia (内蒙古), and was preparing to take the high-speed train to Langfang (廊坊), Hebei (河北), with a transfer in Beijing (北京).
From the drop-off point for online car-hailing to the platform, staff at Baotou Station (包头站) escorted her all the way. Hu Weili (胡伟丽), the conductor of the G2482 train, took her luggage and led her to an accessible seat to settle down. About 4 hours later, Xu Qing (许晴) from the Dexin Service Team (德馨服务组) at Beijing North Station (北京北站) helped her off the train, through the ticket gate, and onto the elevator. Every part of Beijing Subway Line 4 (北京地铁四号线) provided support. "The train is here, let's take the fast lane straight on!" Han Wenwen (韩文文), the leader of the Jingtie Loving-Heart Service Team (京铁爱心服务组) at Beijing South Station (北京南站), completed the final link.
At Qingdao North Station (青岛北站) in Shandong (山东), hidden among the fast-moving crowd is a "slow" scene.
At 7 a.m., at the "Warm Silver Hair Slow Window" (温暖银发行慢窗口) in the comprehensive service center, 64-year-old Li Xiuyun (李秀云) put on her reading glasses, handed over her ID card, and changed her ticket to Chengdu (成都), Sichuan (四川).
"Auntie, there's another high-speed train at almost 10 o'clock, but it won't arrive in Chengdu until after 9 p.m. Will someone be picking you up so late?" Ticket seller Liu Jingjie (刘晶杰) leaned forward slightly, patiently asking about the details of her trip, and then handed over the itinerary and a red "Loving-Heart Relay Card" (爱心接力卡) together, "Wherever you go, staff will come over to take care of you when they see it."
While offline windows offer heartwarming protection, online services are also quietly upgrading. China State Railway Group (国铁集团) has introduced new measures for the Spring Festival travel season: If passengers mistakenly purchase tickets on the 12306 app due to time constraints, not seeing clearly, or misoperation, they will not be charged a refund fee if they request a refund within 30 minutes of successful payment and more than 4 hours before departure.
"New Year's Eve Dinner" in a Foreign Land
"Look! It's hard to get a ticket back to my hometown, but it's easy to get a ticket to Shanghai." Wang Mei (王梅), a girl from Gansu (甘肃) who has been living in Shanghai (上海) for many years, did not "bother" to return home this Spring Festival, but instead booked tickets for her parents to come to Shanghai.
When Northwest specialties from the suitcase and Shanghai local dishes from her own refrigerator "meet" at the New Year's Eve dinner, thousands of miles of homesickness turn into a table of steaming reunion flavors.
Wang Mei's family is not an isolated case. Data shows that during the 2026 Spring Festival, air ticket bookings for passengers over 60 years old increased by more than 35% year-on-year, with destinations mainly concentrated in first-tier and new first-tier cities. Train ticket bookings for reverse travel have also shown a significant increase.
"Reverse reunion" allows the location of home to no longer be confined to geographical coordinates. The new trend is constantly expanding the radius of reunion.
During the 9-day Spring Festival holiday, many people are traveling off-peak.
Early in the morning on the first day of the Lunar New Year, Chen Yue (陈玥), who lives in Shanghai, avoided the peak travel days of the previous few days and traveled by high-speed train with her parents to Quanzhou (泉州), Fujian.
At sunset, Chen Yue's family followed the aroma to Quanzhou Fu Wen Temple Square (泉州府文庙广场). The turnip cake was sweet and delicious, the bowl cake was dotted with a touch of red, and the ginger duck sizzled in the pot. The "reunion dinner" in a foreign land was filled with the flavors of Southern Fujian.
From the first day to the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, the family also experienced free bus transfer lines. This year, Quanzhou City (泉州市) is themed "Quanzhou Intangible Cultural Heritage New Year · Life with a Little Sweetness" (泉州非遗年·生活加点甜), preparing more than 1,000 special cultural tourism activities.
While Quanzhou treats guests from all directions with "sweetness" among the red brick ancient houses, more cities are embracing those who stay with "warmth."
In order to allow urban construction workers who stick to their posts to have a good New Year, Shenzhen (深圳), Guangdong (广东) provides 500 sets of free reunion housing for newly employed groups, etc.; Nantong (南通), Jiangsu (江苏) provides "New Year Warmth Gift Packages" including transportation and accommodation subsidies for out-of-town employees.
"Cloud New Year Greetings" at Your Fingertips
On the second day of the Lunar New Year, during lunch break, hearty laughter came from the suburban border police station in Tongjiang City (同江市), Heilongjiang (黑龙江).
Police officer Li Lingbo (李玲波) used smart software to create Errenzhuan (二人转) emoji packs of her and her husband. The "fancy New Year greetings" made her parents, thousands of miles away, laugh heartily.
The family had a "cloud reunion" across the screen, but the warmth increased rather than decreased.
This Spring Festival, Yin Shizhuo (尹世茁), a student majoring in accounting at the University of Southampton (南安普顿大学) in the United Kingdom, was unable to return to China.
In the past, his New Year greetings were always mass-sent messages. This time, he decided to change his approach and use algorithms to "tailor-make" them: "May your spirit be as vigorous as a horse, and may you enjoy happiness and longevity" for his elders, and "Let's have a drink across the time difference" for his old classmates. Each was unique and full of sincerity.
"Technology hasn't diluted the New Year atmosphere, but has made it more humane, helping me to say what's in my heart," Yin Shizhuo exclaimed repeatedly.
Digital intelligence builds bridges and conveys emotions in the cloud, making longing within reach.
Song Jingyun (宋静云), a community worker from Xinghua Street (兴华街道) in Wanbailin District (万柏林区), Taiyuan (太原), Shanxi (山西), missed the family reunion dinner due to being on duty. After finishing her work, she pulled out her phone and used AI (artificial intelligence) tools to generate a virtual video.
In the picture, she was wearing red clothes and sitting among her family, with a copper hot pot steaming on the table.
Her mother was the first to reply in the family group: "This daughter is just like she's really back!"
Song Jingyun couldn't help but curl up the corners of her mouth: "This also makes up for my regret. With the help of AI, I can still reunite even if I'm absent."
(Reporters from this newspaper: Kuang Xixi (邝西曦), Zhang Yikai (张艺开), Cheng Yuanzhou (程远州), Zhu Dawei (祝大伟), Li Xinping (李心萍), Shen Wenmin (沈文敏), Pan Junqiang (潘俊强), Zhang Tengyang (张腾扬), Liu Xiaoyu (刘晓宇), Li Rui (李蕊), Zheng Yangyang (郑洋洋))
Return to TopBy: 邝西曦
New era, new landscape. Economic and social development closely revolves around people's needs, and the Spring Festival radiates new splendor in the warmth.
A Spring Festival travel route, peace of mind is the journey home. Whether it's the barrier-free path for visually impaired passengers or the slow-paced window of an age-friendly society, the destination is not only the station, but also people's hearts.
A New Year's Eve dinner, not necessarily in the hometown. From "while parents are alive, one should not travel far" to "while parents are alive, travel together," the direction of reunion has changed, but the concern for home has never gone far.
A mobile phone screen, the ends of the earth are also close at hand. When distance is shortened by the screen, homesickness is placed in the cloud, and artificial intelligence injects new era meaning into traditional New Year customs. Cyber New Year's flavor has texture, and also has "intelligence."
The Spring Festival is a time node and also a window for observation. Through the new trends of the Spring Festival, we see humanity and economy deeply integrated in the atmosphere of everyday life.
Return to TopOn February 21st, singers and dancers from the Nagqu City (那曲市) Art Troupe of the Tibet Autonomous Region (西藏自治区) of China performed song and dance performances in Hanau (哈瑙市) and Frankfurt (法兰克福市), Germany, according to a report on February 22nd from Frankfurt (法兰克福) by this newspaper's reporter Liu Zhonghua (刘仲华). The performers, dressed in brightly colored Tibetan costumes, performed the intangible cultural heritage dance – Lingzhuo Dance (岭卓舞) – in the city center, and showcased the intangible cultural heritage costume – Bazha Costume (巴扎服饰), bringing New Year blessings to the local people.
Return to TopBy: 蒋雨师
Spring Festival is a time for family reunions. As window decorations are pasted up and lanterns are hung, the land of China is filled with the atmosphere of the New Year, and lights shine brightly. Countless ordinary heroes continue to hold fast to their posts, ensuring the operation of society during the holiday, and interpreting their responsibility with selfless dedication. Their figures are also a moving scene during the festival.
The lights in the emergency room never go out, and the angels in white guard the health and well-being of life; the wind and snow at the border哨所 (biān guān shào suǒ - border post) do not recede, and the border guards build a barrier of peace; the Spring Festival travel season scene is constantly renewed, and transportation workers escort the people on their journeys. There are also hardworking sanitation workers, couriers shuttling back and forth, energy and communication personnel doing their best to ensure supply, and major project builders fighting day and night... Every dedication shines with light, and every effort deserves tribute.
Salute to perseverance, praise to responsibility. Let us focus on the ordinary figures who work tirelessly and silently during the festival, and capture the most beautiful moments of their guarding of the lights of thousands of homes.
Return to TopLayout Design Zhang Danfeng (张丹峰)
Return to TopRed Tourism—
Tracing the History of Struggle
By Wang Yunna (王云娜), Reporter of this Newspaper
In Yuexiu District (越秀区), Guangzhou (广州) City, Guangdong (广东省), a red-walled, yellow-tiled ancient courtyard shines in the warm sun. This is the Memorial Hall of the Former Site of the Peasant Movement Training Institute, founded by Comrade Mao Zedong (毛泽东同志). Following the guide's footsteps, two figures, one large and one small, listened attentively.
"My child is very interested in modern Chinese history and has learned many revolutionary stories in textbooks. During the winter vacation, he wanted to visit red scenic spots in person, trace the footsteps of his predecessors, and understand social changes," said Ms. Pang (庞) from Huadu District (花都区), Guangzhou (广州) City, as she walked and looked with her elementary school-aged son, Xie Mingheng (谢铭恒), occasionally asking the guide curiously.
From July 1924 to September 1926, under the auspices of the Communist Party, the Guangzhou Peasant Movement Training Institute held six consecutive sessions, training more than 800 students. Among them, the sixth session, headed by Comrade Mao Zedong (毛泽东同志) as the director, was the largest in scale, the widest in enrollment, and the most far-reaching in influence. The students studied revolutionary theory, received military training, and participated in social practice. After graduation, they went to all parts of the country to develop peasant movement organizations and carry out armed struggles.
Today, the Memorial Hall of the Peasant Movement Training Institute houses many precious historical relics. The director's office, the academic affairs department, and the student dormitory are arranged according to their original appearance, restoring that glorious period to the greatest extent possible.
"I didn't expect the dormitory to be so simple, without even stairs between the upper and lower bunks. But the teachers and students were not afraid of hardship and studied hard, and later changed the fate of China," said Xie Mingheng (谢铭恒) after visiting the student dormitory. "Compared with that time, our lives are too happy, and we should cherish them. Without their dedication and sacrifice, there would be no such happy days and joyful festivals now."
The cultural and creative store of the Peasant Movement Training Institute Memorial Hall attracted many young people to stop. "It's really interesting and quite commemorative," Xie Mingheng (谢铭恒) stamped a colored seal on white paper.
"Stamp-collecting travel is very popular. While doing a good job in exhibitions, we carefully arranged stamp-collecting points to encourage tourists to stamp their own souvenirs. We hope that these red memories that can be taken away can be integrated into people's lives in a more vivid form," said Ke Chubin (柯楚彬), director of the Publicity and Education Department of the Peasant Movement Training Institute Memorial Hall.
The predecessor of the Peasant Movement Training Institute Memorial Hall was the Panyu Academy (番禺学宫), which has a history of more than 600 years. It has a strong ancient style and a festive atmosphere. There is also an ancient kapok tree more than 200 years old in the courtyard. "I will study hard, inherit culture, and live up to this wonderful era," Xie Mingheng (谢铭恒) said with firm eyes.
Zhang Rui (张瑞), a tourist from Qingdao (青岛), Shandong (山东) Province, traveled to Guangzhou (广州) with his parents, wife, and children. Early in the morning, his family came to the Memorial Hall of the Third National Congress of the Communist Party of China, located in Xinhepu Community (新河浦社区), Dongshan Street (东山街道), to visit. "The more we look back on the revolutionary history, the more we feel that the good life is hard-won." Zhang Rui's (张瑞) family walked out of the memorial hall, with busy traffic and a prosperous scene in front of them. He said, "Commemoration is for better progress. Many young revolutionaries back then were about the same age as we are now, which inspires us to ride our horses and strive hard for a happier life."
"There are more and more tourists, and our Spring Festival here is getting more and more lively!" Liu Bo (刘波), an old neighbor who has lived in Xinhepu Community (新河浦社区) for 50 years and is now 70 years old, said with emotion, "Developing red tourism has also brought real changes to our lives. In the past, there were many old houses in the area, and the roads were also bumpy. After the renovation, it can be said to be brand new."
Rural Tourism—
Farmhouses Welcome Guests
By Pan Junqiang (潘俊强), Reporter of this Newspaper
"The New Year's flavor in the village is just right," "It's cold, but my heart is warm, it's the New Year"... Yuzishan Village (鱼子山村) in Shandongzhuang Town (山东庄镇), Pinggu District (平谷区), Beijing (北京市) has many tourists. The village's festive decorations and lively atmosphere have won praise from people.
As soon as you enter the village, you will find the popular Power Station Art Museum. The aroma of coffee wafts out of the door, making people unable to resist pushing the door open to find out. This used to be a power distribution room in Yuzishan Village (鱼子山村) serving the villagers. Three years ago, after being renovated by the design team of Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, it became a new type of space for art and design exhibitions in the suburbs of Beijing, increasing the village's collective income by more than 100,000 yuan every year.
Barista Huang Lili (黄丽丽) is a villager in this village. She is skillfully making coffee for tourists, grinding, adding water, and adding milk in one go. On the walls of the coffee shop are regularly changing art exhibitions. The recent exhibition theme is "Let Life Become a Never-Ending Show". Red walls and red cloth are matched with works created by Yuzishan (鱼子山) villagers, unfolding the richness and color of the villagers' lives.
The hot tourism scene makes Yang Jinyu (杨金宇), the Party Branch Secretary of Yuzishan Village (鱼子山村), feel quite proud. "Yuzishan Village (鱼子山村) was originally Yuzishan Village (鱼子山寨), a Ming Dynasty town guarding the Great Wall, with a long history." Yang Jinyu (杨金宇) said that after determining the plan to develop rural tourism, the entire village worked together to think about how to better meet the needs of tourists in terms of eating, accommodation, transportation, travel, shopping, and entertainment every year.
Nowadays, there are more than 400 greenhouses in the village that focus on developing facility agriculture. There are many varieties of strawberries, fresh peaches, and organic vegetables, and sightseeing and picking are quite large-scale. Wang Yu (王羽), a tourist from Tongzhou District (通州区), Beijing (北京市), came to the village with his family. "We picked strawberries, blueberries, and small tomatoes, enjoyed the joy of harvest, and tasted the freshest flavors. This is part of the New Year's flavor in our memory," Wang Yu (王羽) said.
In a homestay called "Jiuyou (玖佑)", the person in charge, Li Zilong (李子龙), is busy welcoming guests. Six years ago, Li Zilong (李子龙) returned to the village to build a homestay, "because he is optimistic about the increasingly prosperous Beijing suburban tourism." During the Spring Festival, many tourists stay here to feel the atmosphere of the New Year in the countryside and say "Happy New Year" to each other. Li Zilong (李子龙) prepared a rich farmhouse meal, and the aroma filled the air, "Next year will definitely be better."
After eating the farmhouse meal, tourists came to the Jingdong Grand Canyon (京东大峡谷). Stepping into the canyon is like entering a frozen world in a fairy tale. Hundred-meter icefalls hang down from the cliffs, crystal clear during the day, and lit up by flowing lights at night, like a starry sky falling into the valley.
At the end of last year, the village specially built a butterfly museum, which displays hundreds of butterfly specimens. What many people, especially young people, are looking forward to is that the butterfly museum also provides diversified services such as butterfly life cycle observation, specimen making, and forest study tours.
Wang Yu (王羽) said: "When spring blossoms, we will definitely come to Yuzishan Village (鱼子山村) again to meet the butterflies in the countryside..."
Ice and Snow Tourism—
Igniting "Cold" Resources
By Shao Yuzi (邵玉姿), Reporter of this Newspaper
The morning sun penetrates the thin mist and shines on the steel cables of the cable car. In Jinshanling Galaxy Ski Resort (金山岭银河滑雪场), Luanping County (滦平县), Chengde City (承德市), Hebei Province (河北省), cable cars are full of skiers shuttling through the forest and snowfields.
"The snow quality here is getting better every year. The first ski of the Year of the Horse must be chosen here," said Zhao Ming (赵明), a senior skier from Beijing, before galloping down from a high place.
Zhao Pengfei (赵鹏飞), general manager of Jinshanling Galaxy Ski Resort (金山岭银河滑雪场), introduced that as a national-level ski tourism resort, Jinshanling Ski Tourism Resort (金山岭滑雪旅游度假区) has opened 18 ski trails in the first phase, and also has V·PARK terrain park and "fun mushroom trail" and "wave trail", which can meet the needs of different tourists.
"Lean your body forward and feel the fit between the snowboard and the snow." At Jinshanling Galaxy Mountain Sports Academy (金山岭银河山地运动学院), 13-year-old Wang Zhenyu (王震宇) kept practicing under the guidance of his coach, falling and getting up again. "I want to unlock new skills in the New Year," Wang Zhenyu (王震宇) said.
"We will continue to promote the upgrading of ski resorts and supporting business formats, do a good job in event support, enrich the tourist experience, and let the ice and snow economy continue to release 'hot' vitality," said Xu Heran (徐赫然), deputy director of the Luanping County Tourism and Culture Radio and Television Bureau (滦平县旅游和文化广电局).
Ice and snow tourism in the countryside gives people a different experience.
Putting on the forest farm work clothes, walking into the age-filled dugout, and eating the aluminum box lunch... Walking into the "Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Snow Village - Forest Farm Time 1962 (京津冀雪乡——林场时光1962)" in Miaozi Gou Village (庙子沟村), Jiangjiadian Township (姜家店乡), Weichang Manchu and Mongolian Autonomous County (围场满族蒙古族自治县), Chengde City (承德市), it is like traveling through time and space.
Miaozi Gou Village (庙子沟村) is known as the "Arctic Village" of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei. The lowest temperature in winter reaches minus 38 degrees Celsius, and the snow period lasts for 120 days. Anchoring "ice and snow + culture", the village takes the arduous struggle and entrepreneurial process of Saihanba (塞罕坝) as the theme, integrates the Saihanba spirit and the memories of the struggle of three generations of foresters into the experience, and creates a unique tourism model.
Experience traditional projects such as horse-drawn sledges and ice bicycles, and take photos at the Forest Farm Supply and Marketing Cooperative and the Most Beautiful Youth Photo Studio... Xiang Hua (向华), a tourist from Hubei (湖北) who was born in the 1970s, said, "In the immersive experience, I felt the entrepreneurial hardship and heroic ambition of the older generation of Saihanba people."
"In the past, winter was the off-season for tourism, but now there are more and more tourists, and everyone is getting busy," said Wang Dong (王栋), director of the Beimandian Branch of Saihanba Mechanical Forest Farm (塞罕坝机械林场北曼甸分场). The "cold" resources have become a "hot" industry, and the white snow is a prosperous New Year.
The pavilion is full of greenery and streams; outside the window, the snow is white and the icefalls hang. In the "Northern Forest Hot Spring Resort (北方的森林温泉度假区)" in Longhua County (隆化县), Chengde City (承德市), Li Qian (李倩), a tourist from Beijing, said: "The house is full of spring, and the outside is covered with ice and snow. This experience is so special. You can not only soak in hot springs, but also eat a hot pot in a snow house and have a barbecue in an ice house."
Playing with ice and snow, bathing in hot springs, tasting folk customs, and watching competitions, the "ice" and "fire" blend together, and the "cold" and "hot" collide. Chengde's (承德) ice and snow tourism is rich and colorful. "It comes from ice and snow, but it is more than just ice and snow," Li Qian (李倩) said, "This Spring Festival accompanied by ice and snow is really lively."
Self-Driving Tour—
See the World as You Please
By Fan Haotian (范昊天), Reporter of this Newspaper
Crossing the majestic mountains and crossing the deep canyons, the magnificent gorge scenery is intoxicating.
"It really lives up to its name!" Qiu Tao (邱涛), a 39-year-old citizen of Wuhan (武汉), Hubei Province (湖北省), is a self-driving enthusiast. How to spend the Spring Festival this year? Qiu Ziyang (邱梓阳), his 14-year-old daughter, and Qiu Zixuan (邱梓轩), his 9-year-old son, have long yearned for the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River and the alpine snowfields. Qiu Tao (邱涛) and his children set off and drove west along the Shanghai-Chongqing Expressway (沪渝高速), with the destination being Badong County (巴东县), Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture (恩施土家族苗族自治州), Hubei Province (湖北省).
At noon, they arrived at Yesanguan Town (野三关镇), Badong (巴东). The mountains were surrounded by clouds and mist, and the temperature also dropped a lot. The family was hungry, so they simply parked on the side of the road, and the aroma of Chadian beef attracted them.
Hu Youquan (胡友权), the owner of the restaurant, is over 60 years old and has been making Chadian beef for 16 years. There is an endless stream of customers. Hu Youquan (胡友权) and his wife are very enthusiastic, greeting customers, arranging seats, and stir-frying the beef in the pot, and the aroma fills the house inside and out.
According to the "Badong County Chronicle (巴东县志)", there were post stations and tea shops in the local area during the Ming Dynasty for passers-by to rest, and the beef was delicious and has been passed down to this day. The Chadian beef making technique has also been listed as a county-level representative project of intangible cultural heritage.
"The beef is fresh, and it is very unique with Houttuynia cordata, pickled peppers, smoked meat, and Hezha soup and other Tujia dishes," Qiu Tao (邱涛) and his family tasted it and gave a thumbs up.
Badong (巴东) is the first county in Hubei Province (湖北省) that the Yangtze River flows through. The Daba Mountains (大巴山), Wu Mountains (巫山), and Wuling Mountains (武陵山) are entrenched within its borders, and the Yangtze River (长江) and Qingjiang River (清江) run through it. The colorful culture and beautiful ecology attract visitors from all directions.
"I can't wait, let's go!" After hearing praise from many tourists, Qiu Tao's (邱涛) family finished their meal and went straight to the Wuxia Gorge Scenic Area (巫峡口景区) not far away.
"Wuxia Gorge (巫峡口) is located at the eastern exit of the Wuxia Gorge (巫峡) of the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River (长江三峡). It is an excellent place to overlook the 'First Bend of the Yangtze River (长江第一拐)'. You can take great photos no matter how you take them..." Following the guide's footsteps, Qiu Tao's (邱涛) family took the cable car and walked along the plank road to the top of the cliff.
"Badong's Three Gorges Wuxia is long, and the sound of monkeys crying three times wets the clothes." Qiu Ziyang (邱梓阳) was infected by the beautiful scenery in front of her, and blurted out the famous line.
The river breeze blows, and the Yangtze River (长江) can be seen winding like an emerald ribbon among the towering mountains. Looking closer, Badong County (巴东县) is built on the mountain; looking into the distance, the mountains are continuous and the landscape is picturesque...
"It's so beautiful. No wonder countless literati and poets have been conquered by the scenery of Wuxia," Qiu Tao (邱涛) said that the children's personal experience and feelings have further deepened their understanding of history and culture, and their love for the great rivers and mountains has become more profound.
Leaving Wuxia Gorge (巫峡口), the family continued to travel along the road non-stop. On the way, the two children could always find "different" scenery - this mountain looks like an elephant's nose, and that mountain is as straight as a knife... Walking and stopping, public facilities such as viewing platforms and tourist stations are distributed along the way, and the Tujia people sell citrus, Gastrodia elata, selenium-rich small potatoes and other specialties, attracting many tourists to snap up.
Driving southwest all the way, they arrived at the Lvcongpo Ski Resort (绿葱坡滑雪场). "Let's play in the snow!" Although they had been running around for a day, the children were still very excited.
"Self-driving tours can not only enjoy the joy of reunion, but also freely control time and plan routes as you please. Every time there are many new discoveries and new gains," Qiu Tao (邱涛) said, "Next year, we will still be on the road, seeing a bigger world..."
By: 陈怀平
Shaanxi Yulin (陕西榆林), folk performances with sonorous drumbeats, intangible cultural heritage skills "attracting" tourists, and rural tourism full of popularity; Hebei Zhangjiakou (河北张家口), figures speeding through the snowy white landscape, ice and snow tourism with "full of heat"... Nowadays, spending the Spring Festival in pursuit of "poetry and the distance" has become a new choice for many families.
For a long time, during the Spring Festival, a common festival for the Chinese nation, regardless of north or south, young or old, Chinese sons and daughters will embark on a reunion across mountains and seas, using family gatherings in their hometowns to interpret the warmth and waiting in their blood. With the increasing demand for people's spiritual and cultural life, coupled with convenient transportation and diversified supply, more and more families are choosing to unlock a "different" New Year through cultural and tourism experiences, adding freshness and happiness with "mobile reunions." It can be seen that the form is changing, the location is changing, but the theme of reunion remains unchanged, and the Spring Festival is both traditional and novel.
Traveling to the countryside for the New Year, the new form is wrapped in simple and strong "old" emotions. Hanging New Year pictures, setting off firecrackers, going to the market, watching "village galas," and eating reunion dinners, traditional folk activities seem to have a special New Year flavor. These were once common memories for many rural families, but have faded from many people's lives to varying degrees in the process of urbanization. Now, going to the countryside for the New Year allows older people to relive vivid "childhood memories," and many post-90s and post-00s who grew up in cities also feel the charm of outstanding Chinese traditional culture, gain spiritual nourishment, and exclaim "fun, delicious, and beautiful," "spending a year of bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new, and a cultural year of deep affection and righteousness."
Some people pursue the "original" New Year atmosphere, while many families choose to step out of their familiar environment and feel the vast and magnificent beauty of the great rivers and mountains and the diverse customs and cultures. For example, the "north-south exchange" New Year model is refreshing - southerners follow the call of ice and snow "north" to Harbin (哈尔滨), Heilongjiang (黑龙江), admiring the wonders of ice sculptures during the day and viewing the dazzling lights at night, receiving warm New Year blessings from the North in thoughtful and attentive service; northerners drive "south" to Foshan (佛山), Guangdong (广东), tasting delicacies, admiring flowers, and selecting trendy and lively woodblock New Year picture cultural and creative products in the strong Lingnan (岭南) New Year flavor, encountering the surprise of the collision between intangible cultural heritage and trends. On the journey, many things seen and heard are new, and hope and vitality come to the face.
New time, new beginnings, and new experiences fill people with happy expectations for the future. "Work hard next year and see more scenery with your family" - the netizen's message is short, but it is enough to imagine the joy of their family trip, the yearning for a better life, and the spirit of striving for it.
Rural tourism, red tourism, folk tourism, self-driving tourism, ice and snow tourism... The footsteps of hundreds of millions of people weave into a vibrant and promising Spring Festival cultural and tourism picture. New consumer demands have also spawned many new scenarios and new formats, allowing more people to see the hope of development and the direction of the coming year. For example, in intangible cultural heritage workshops, tourists personally rub New Year pictures, tie creative lanterns, and write personalized blessings. The resonance of ancient customs with modern creativity and young demands allows traditional culture to radiate new vitality in interactive experiences, and intangible cultural heritage products have also "doubled in value" due to service upgrades, making the future development path clearer for inheritors. For another example, the popularity of rural tourism not only provides a warm place for people wandering outside to settle their homesickness, but also makes the villagers aware of the development opportunities and unlimited hope of this hot land under their feet, and strengthens their belief in building their hometowns even better.
As the times move forward, the New Year flavor is innovated, our Spring Festival is more colorful, and the beautiful journey is more anticipated.
(The author is the Dean and Professor of the School of Marxism, Chang'an University (长安大学).)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 王 洲 龚相娟 邵玉姿
Can you tour popular scenic spots in Beijing (北京), Tianjin (天津), and Hebei (河北) with just one ticket?
That's right! Beijing (北京), Tianjin (天津), and Hebei (河北) are geographically connected, share a common culture, and have complementary resources. A small joint ticket is becoming an important fulcrum for leveraging the coordinated development of culture and tourism in the three regions.
In June 2025, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (京津冀) tourism scenic area joint ticket, jointly guided by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism (北京市文化和旅游局), the Tianjin Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism (天津市文化和旅游局), and the Hebei Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism (河北省文化和旅游厅) and market-operated by Beijing Cultural and Creative Industry Board Development Co., Ltd. (北京文创板发展有限公司), was officially launched nationwide. In more than half a year, sales exceeded 80,000, driving 300 million yuan in direct and indirect consumption.
This joint ticket, with a face value of nearly 10,000 yuan, is priced at 298 yuan and covers more than 200 high-quality scenic spots in Beijing (北京), Tianjin (天津), and Hebei (河北), including 81 national 4A-level and above tourist attractions. Ticket holders can enjoy unlimited free access to more than 180 scenic spots throughout the year.
Unlock New Ways to Travel on Vacation
Visit the Juyongguan Great Wall (居庸关长城) in Beijing (北京) to enjoy the sea of clouds, feel the pulse of history in the Old Summer Palace Ruins Park (圆明园遗址公园), and also enjoy the Panshan Scenic Area (盘山风景名胜区) in Tianjin (天津) and the Chengde Mountain Resort (承德避暑山庄) in Hebei (河北)... The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (京津冀) tourism scenic area joint ticket, which Beijing (北京) citizen Zhu Tao (朱涛) "tasted" and purchased at the "Ditan Book Fair (地坛书市)" in 2025, has changed his holiday life.
"For only 298 yuan, you can get the right to travel to more than 200 popular scenic spots in Beijing (北京), Tianjin (天津), and Hebei (河北), which is very cost-effective." Zhu Tao (朱涛) said that the joint ticket greatly reduces the cost of inter-provincial travel tickets. Now, whenever there is a holiday, he will take his family on a free trip to Beijing (北京), Tianjin (天津), and Hebei (河北).
"In the past few months, we have visited many scenic spots such as Baishi Mountain (白石山) and the Zhili Governor's Office (直隶总督署) in Baoding (保定), and Zhao Yun Temple (赵云庙) and Rongguo Mansion (荣国府) in Zhengding (正定). The money saved on tickets has long exceeded the cost of buying the joint ticket." In October 2025, Beijing (北京) tourists Zhang Xing (张兴) and his wife each bought a joint ticket. He, who has always been interested in the major scenic spots in Hebei (河北), is now "traveling" more "diligently."
"In the past, tickets were a considerable expense for tourism. Now, with a joint ticket, you can freely check in at many popular scenic spots in the three regions, which is too cost-effective." Zhang Xing (张兴) said. What also satisfies him is the convenience of the joint ticket. "Make an online reservation in advance, and swipe your ID card at the scenic spot to enter the park directly. You don't need to queue up to buy tickets throughout the whole process, and the travel experience is better."
Li Meiying (李梅英), a tourist from Shijiazhuang (石家庄), Hebei (河北), also praised the joint ticket. "In the past, if you wanted to visit scenic spots in Beijing (北京) and Tianjin (天津), the tickets alone would cost hundreds of yuan. Now, with the joint ticket, you can take your children to the Old Summer Palace (圆明园) to enjoy the scenery and visit the Qing Wangfu (庆王府) in Tianjin (天津) on weekends, which is both money-saving and worry-free." Li Meiying (李梅英) said that the joint ticket has turned short-distance inter-provincial travel into a daily routine, and also made the family's weekend time more rich and colorful.
Activate New Momentum in the Cultural and Tourism Market
Tourists get benefits, and scenic spots add vitality. The joint ticket reduces travel costs and effectively stimulates tourists' enthusiasm for travel, which also brings considerable passenger flow to cooperative scenic spots and promotes secondary consumption in the scenic spots.
As a 5A-level scenic spot, the Old Summer Palace Ruins Park (圆明园遗址公园) already has a stable tourist base. After the launch of the joint ticket, the proportion of tourists from Tianjin (天津) and Hebei (河北) has increased significantly. "Many tourists come because of the joint ticket, and many family tourists will also enter the park multiple times to immerse themselves in the historical culture." The scenic spot staff introduced that with the increase in passenger flow, the sales of supporting explanation services and cultural and creative products in the scenic spot have also increased simultaneously, and the consumption chain has been continuously extended.
In addition to popular landmarks, Beijing's (北京) original niche scenic spots have also "gone out of the circle" with the joint ticket. In the Honeybee World Scenic Area (蜜蜂大世界景区) in Miyun (密云), Beijing (北京), the science museum, production area, standardized beekeeping experience area, and mountain climbing and picking area are all available, attracting many tourists from Tianjin (天津) and Hebei (河北). "It's not close to the city, and if you buy a ticket separately, you may hesitate." Fan Zinuo (范子诺), a tourist from Cangzhou (沧州), Hebei (河北), said, "With the joint ticket, you don't need to spend extra money, and it's worth it to make a special trip."
Yang Qiufang (杨秋芳), the person in charge of the Hongyagu Scenic Area (红崖谷景区) in Shijiazhuang (石家庄), Hebei (河北), also has deep feelings: "Joint ticket users can visit unlimited times within a year, which greatly increases the repeat entry rate of tourists." According to statistics, since the release of the joint ticket, the scenic spot has received more than 2,000 joint ticket users. The increase in passenger flow has directly driven secondary consumption in the scenic spot. "After entering the park, most tourists will choose to take sightseeing buses and cable cars, or taste special delicacies and purchase cultural and creative products, which has brought considerable additional income to the scenic spot." Yang Qiufang (杨秋芳) said.
The joint ticket has also brought an increase in traffic to other scenic spots in the city. Taking this opportunity, the Yangliuqing Ancient Town (杨柳青古镇) in Tianjin (天津) designed cross-regional tour routes around the joint ticket and launched a "two-day tour" guide, connecting points such as the Jingwumen·Chinese Wulin Garden (精武门·中华武林园), allowing tourists to deeply experience and feel the charm of Tianjin (天津) in multiple dimensions.
Draw a New Picture of Cultural and Tourism Integration
The launch of the joint ticket is a pragmatic measure for the three regions to implement the national strategy of coordinated development of Beijing (北京), Tianjin (天津), and Hebei (河北), relying on the government to build the stage and the market to perform the opera.
"We have jointly worked with the cultural and tourism departments of Tianjin (天津) and Hebei (河北) to create a joint ticket system with 'high cost performance, full scene coverage, and multi-format extension', taking meeting the cross-regional high-quality cultural and tourism needs of the masses as the starting point, and promoting the interconnection of cultural and tourism elements in the three regions." Hu Hu (胡虎), director of the Regional Cooperation Department of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism (北京市文化和旅游局), introduced that the joint ticket has effectively driven the steady growth of passenger flow in scenic spots in the three regions, enhanced the brand awareness and market attractiveness of scenic spots, and the increase in passenger flow has directly driven the upgrading of secondary consumption. The revenue share of catering, cultural and creative products, and experience-based projects in scenic spots has reached 35%, promoting the transformation of scenic spots from "ticket-dependent" to "experience-consumption-oriented".
However, while the joint ticket model is developing rapidly and the market is heating up, some tourists have also raised different needs and suggestions. For example, Li Yuan (李媛), a tourist from Beijing (北京), hopes to deeply integrate the characteristic cultural and tourism resources of various places with the joint ticket to highlight the uniqueness of different scenic spots.
The relevant person in charge of the Tianjin Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism (天津市文化和旅游局) suggested that in the future, scenic spot joint tickets can be combined with the characteristic catering, cultural and creative products, homestay hotels, and leisure and entertainment formats of the three regions to launch value-added products such as "joint ticket + consumption gift package" and "joint ticket + experience project" to enhance the added value of the joint ticket. Launch diversified ticket types, design customized ticket types such as parent-child joint tickets, weekend play tickets, and cross-city route tickets for different groups such as family groups, middle-aged and elderly groups, and surrounding tourists to meet the travel needs of different tourists.
"This year, we will continue to work hard on integration and innovation, service quality and efficiency, and further optimize the joint ticket to meet users' multi-level consumption needs." Wang Aiping (王爱萍), the person in charge of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (京津冀) tourism scenic area joint ticket project of Beijing Cultural and Creative Industry Board Development Co., Ltd. (北京文创板发展有限公司), said that next, they will combine platform big data to conduct accurate analysis of tourist flows, destination selection preferences, and consumption structure, and strive to include a variety of different types of high-quality scenic spots.
(Ma Chaoli (马朝丽) participated in the writing)
Return to TopBy: 唐中科
In just over half a year, sales exceeded 80,000 tickets, driving 300 million yuan in direct and indirect consumption... Recently, the data from the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (京津冀) tourism scenic area joint ticket reflects the transformation of the cultural and tourism industry from "selling tickets" to "selling experiences," and is also a footnote to the deepening and solidifying of regional coordinated development.
On the supply side, the "joint ticket model" breaks down the "invisible barriers" that restrict effective demand. For a long time, high ticket prices have hindered tourists from "traveling more and traveling deeper" to some extent. The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (京津冀) scenic area joint ticket, priced at 298 yuan, packages the value of nearly 10,000 yuan from more than 200 scenic spots, and most of them support unlimited free travel throughout the year. This cost-effectiveness has activated the huge local and surrounding tourism market demand in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (京津冀) region. Moreover, the "joint ticket model" also provides a continuous stream of customers to high-quality but less well-known scenic spots in the region, realizing the connection of resources and customers.
On the demand side, the "joint ticket model" releases the "multiplier effect" of consumption expansion. Data shows that the joint ticket brings considerable secondary consumption to scenic spots. When tickets are no longer the main expense, tourists' mental accounts will release more budget for catering, accommodation, and cultural and creative products, thereby extending the industrial chain and achieving "**一业兴，百业旺**" (yī yè xīng, bǎi yè wàng - "when one industry prospers, all industries thrive," the prosperity of one industry leads to the prosperity of all).
Looking at the whole country, the "joint ticket model" is becoming a major consensus for solving regional integration and consumption upgrading. In 2023, the General Office of the State Council (国务院办公厅) forwarded the National Development and Reform Commission's (国家发展改革委) notice on measures to restore and expand consumption, explicitly supporting cooperation between scenic spots in different regions to promote the joint ticket model. Various regions are adapting to local conditions: Shandong (山东) launched "High-speed Rail Tour of Qilu (齐鲁)," bundling high-speed rail tickets with scenic spot tickets, allowing tourists to visit multiple cities at a low cost within 5 days. The Chengdu-Chongqing (成渝) region launched the "Chengdu-Chongqing Cultural Tourism All-in-One Card (成渝文旅一卡通)," covering more than 60 scenic spots and cultural tourism venues in the two cities, allowing tourists to experience the vibrant Chengdu (成都) and the scenic Chongqing (重庆) in one stop at an affordable travel cost, promoting the integration of the twin-city living circle.
In the future, with the deepening of the coordinated development of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (京津冀), we expect the joint ticket to carry more functions, so that the "traffic" of "visiting neighbors" can be further transformed into the "increment" of regional economic development.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 杨颜菲
In Niuling Village (牛岭村), Xiyaohu Management Office (洗药湖管理处), Nanchang City (南昌市), Jiangxi Province (江西省), an ancient winding path quietly lies among terraced fields of rapeseed flowers in the mountains. Winding upwards along the mountain's contours, looking into the distance, one sees only layers of mountains like dark-blue dye, surrounded by clouds and mist, with lakes appearing and disappearing; nearby, the murmuring streams echo the birdsong in the forest. This road is the Niuling Bluestone Ancient Commercial Road (牛岭麻石古商道), entirely paved with Meiling granite (梅岭花岗岩) and some Jihong stone, hence its name.
Regarding the history of the ancient commercial road, villagers pass it down orally. Chen Mugou (谌木苟), a 65-year-old villager, has heard many stories since he was a child: "This was once an important node in the Gan merchant trade network and an important passage for many people to go to Xishan Wanshou Palace (西山万寿宫)."
Starting from the three ancient villages of Jingtai (京台), Luotian (罗田), and Shuinan (水南) in Anyi County (安义县) in the east, extending eastward to Xishan Wanshou Palace (西山万寿宫) and ancient Hongzhou (古洪州) (now Nanchang (南昌)), in ancient times, this ancient road became a golden channel for ancient Hongzhou (古洪州) to communicate with the outside world. Countless merchants traveled back and forth with goods on their backs, transporting local specialties to distant places, and bringing back exotic treasures and diverse cultures from other places, witnessing the prosperity and glory of Gan merchants.
"Look at these stone slabs, they have been polished smooth, all traces of walking." Chen Mugou (谌木苟) said that this ancient road is also the only way for people from Fengxin (奉新), Anyi (安义), and Jing'an (靖安) to go to Xishan Wanshou Palace (西山万寿宫) to pray for blessings, carrying people's sincere wishes.
For the villagers of Niuling Village (牛岭村), the bluestone ancient commercial road is not just a road, but a part of life, a carrier of memories. "Before the road was built, the connection between Niuling Village (牛岭村) and the outside world depended entirely on this ancient road. Going out to study and going to market all required crossing mountains and ridges along this road," Chen Mugou (谌木苟) recalled.
Today, with the advancement of road construction and cultural tourism development, the ancient commercial road has ushered in a new life.
In 2018, Niuling Village (牛岭村) planted more than 1,000 mu of rapeseed on the terraced fields around the ancient commercial road. Whenever the spring breeze blows, the rapeseed flowers bloom all over the mountains and plains, and the lively scene of the past reappears, but the visitors have been replaced by tourists who come for its reputation.
"Now, many villagers have opened agritainment businesses and sell agricultural products. When there are many tourists, dried bamboo shoots and vegetables are often in short supply. The ancient commercial road has become our road to prosperity," Chen Mugou (谌木苟) said.
The local government has also connected the surrounding Yunduan Scenic Area (云端景区), Muyun Peak (牧云峰) and other attractions into a line, allowing tourists to enjoy the beauty of nature while appreciating the historical charm of the ancient commercial road. "In the future, we will deeply explore the historical connotation of the ancient commercial road, enrich the four seasons of tourism experience, and launch winter study tours, light hiking routes, etc., so that tourists can experience the artistic conception of ancient people traveling," said Chen Liangping (谌亮平), secretary of the Niuling Village (牛岭村) Party Branch.
From the trade route of the Han Dynasty to the cultural tourism development today, the bluestone ancient commercial road spans thousands of years, and is rejuvenated in protection and development. It not only preserves the imprint of history and the beauty of nature, but also carries the villagers' hope for prosperity, becoming a cultural bridge connecting the past and the future.
Return to TopBy: 黄巧好
Barbecue, sizzling with oil and overflowing with aroma, is a delicacy loved throughout the ages. In 1983, three sets of square bronze barbecue stoves of varying sizes were unearthed from the tomb of the Nanyue King (南越文王墓) in Yuexiu District (越秀区), Guangzhou (广州) City, Guangdong (广东省) Province. This indicates that as early as the Western Han Dynasty (西汉时期) more than 2,000 years ago, barbecue had already become a delicacy in the Nanyue Kingdom (南越国) of the Lingnan (岭南) region.
According to the unearthed cultural relics, the ancients had a series of procedures for enjoying delicious barbecue. Before barbecuing, the ingredients were processed, such as removing the fishy smell from seafood and handling poultry offal. After that, the ingredients were marinated, and the people of Lingnan (岭南) also liked to add ginger for flavor. Then, tools such as iron skewers were used to skewer the food. The final step was grilling. Charcoal was lit in the oven, and the skewered food was repeatedly turned.
The actual barbecue stoves unearthed from the Han Dynasty (汉代) were made of various materials, including iron stoves, bronze stoves, and pottery stoves. Judging from the richness of the unearthed cultural relics, the Nanyue (南越) people of the Western Han Dynasty (西汉时期) especially liked barbecue, and for this reason, they also took into account the diversity of barbecue scenes, creating mobile and hangable stoves to facilitate grilling food in different locations.
Among the three sets of square bronze barbecue stoves unearthed from the tomb of the Nanyue King (南越文王墓), the largest set (see picture) is 11 cm high, 61 cm long, and 52.5 cm wide. This set of barbecue stove is ingeniously designed and unique. The four corners of the stove are slightly upturned, which can gather the iron forks and iron skewers with meat in the middle of the charcoal fire to prevent them from falling; the bottom is slightly concave, which is convenient for placing more charcoal to make the fire stronger; the two longer sides of the furnace body are each attached with two door knockers, which are convenient for hanging and also convenient for lifting and carrying with iron chains. The bottom of the stove is also equipped with 4 feet with axle wheels for easy movement.
The other two smaller sets of square bronze barbecue stoves are also ingeniously designed. The owl-footed bronze barbecue stove has slightly upturned corners, a vertical abdominal wall, and four feet in the shape of owls. The two feet of the owl are on the ground, and the back bears the furnace plate. On the slightly longer side walls of the furnace, near the feet, there are two pairs of small pigs cast, with the pigs' mouths facing the sky and hollow inside, for inserting barbecue utensils.
The other set of square bronze barbecue stove has 4 hoof-shaped straight feet attached to the bottom of the stove. Each inner wall of the barbecue stove has 3 pillars supporting the edge of the stove, and each side of the abdominal wall is decorated with a door knocker in the center.
(The author is an associate researcher at the Museum of the Nanyue King (南越王博物院), and this article was compiled and edited by Wang Yunna (王云娜), a reporter from this newspaper.)
Return to TopBy: 韩庆芳
Starting a fire, setting up the ao, mixing the batter, pouring... these are the standard procedures for making pancakes in ancient times. The tool used by ancient people to make pancakes was called "ao," which is now the "bing dang" (饼铛, pancake griddle). The Dingzhou Museum (定州博物馆) houses a white-glazed, three-legged ao (鏊) from the Ding Kiln (定窑) of the Northern Song Dynasty (北宋) (see picture), which is a precious surviving example of ancient ao tools. This porcelain ao is 4.8 cm high and 8.8 cm in diameter. Its three legs flare outward to support a round, convex griddle surface. The griddle surface is covered with white glaze, while the three legs and the bottom expose the clay. The clay is fine and hard, making it a rare porcelain ao.
The character "ao" (鏊) contains the metal radical, indicating that it was originally made of metal. Pottery, bronze, and iron ao were all commonly used in ancient times. The history of using ao in China can be traced back to the Neolithic Age 5,000 years ago. A pottery ao unearthed from the Yangshao Culture (仰韶文化) site in Xingyang, Henan (河南荥阳), has obvious traces of soot on the bottom, confirming that it was a cooking utensil. By the Song (宋) and Liao (辽) Dynasties, with the popularization of ironware, pottery ao were gradually replaced by iron ao, which were also used to make millet and other grain-based foods. Bronze and iron ao are common, but surviving white porcelain ao are relatively rare.
Although this Ding Kiln (定窑) white porcelain ao is shaped like a pancake griddle, it is not a practical cooking utensil. Porcelain is dense and prone to cracking when exposed to open flame. Using a porcelain griddle is not practical. Therefore, this small and exquisite porcelain ao, which can be held in the palm of the hand, is actually a *mingqi* (明器, funerary object) that imitates ironware. From a craftsmanship perspective, its griddle surface is smooth and has a full curvature. The three legs and the griddle surface are integrally formed, with regular turning and harmonious proportions. It is a work of ingenuity from the Ding Kiln (定窑), most likely a high-end private custom order. The tomb owner may have been someone who loved pancakes.
As a kiln used by both the court and the common people during the Song Dynasty (宋代), Ding Kiln (定窑) produced both fine white porcelain for the court and coarse pottery for civilian use. This porcelain ao has superior clay and glaze quality, reflecting superb porcelain-making techniques. It has become an important material carrier for observing the social classes, economic forms, and cultural beliefs of that time.
The cultural value of this porcelain ao is further enriched by the seasonal customs of pancakes in the Song Dynasty (宋代). Pancakes in the Song Dynasty (宋代) had ritualistic functions, with specific uses for festivals such as Renri (人日, Human Day), Tianchuan Day (天穿日, Sky Patching Day), and Qiqiao Day (乞巧日, the Double Seventh Festival). A small Ding Kiln (定窑) white porcelain ao connects ancient and modern life, allowing the dietary customs and porcelain-making ingenuity of the Song Dynasty (宋代) to continue to this day.
(The author is the chief process engineer of Quyang Chen's Ding Kiln Porcelain Co., Ltd. (曲阳陈氏定窑瓷业有限公司) in Hebei Province (河北省). This article was compiled and edited by Shao Yuzi (邵玉姿), a reporter from this newspaper.)
Return to TopBy: 王 丹
During the Warring States period, the ladle was called a "bi" (匕). The openwork bi (as shown in the picture), one of the star exhibits of the Jingzhou Museum (荆州博物馆), is a classic representative of the bi form during the Warring States period.
The origin of the bi can be traced back to the Neolithic period, when people used animal bones to make bi for taking food and porridge. Bronze bi began to become popular during the Western Zhou Dynasty, and were used as ritual objects. Because they were needed to take meat from the ding (鼎 - a type of ancient Chinese cauldron) and cut meat on the zu (俎 - an ancient Chinese sacrificial table), the bi body was shaped like a pointed leaf with thin, sharp edges. By the Warring States period, the function of the bi had shifted to practicality, and the bi surface was changed to an oval shape for easy eating.
This openwork bi, housed in the Jingzhou Museum (荆州博物馆), comes from Chu Tomb No. 1 in Mashan, Jingzhou (荆州马山1号楚墓), and is 21.8 centimeters in length. The bi body is oval-shaped, with a pair of back-to-back dragon patterns carved out of the hollow interior. The upper end of the handle (the handshake part) is pierced with symmetrical phoenix bird patterns in the shape of scroll clouds. The whole body is inlaid with silver, which is extremely gorgeous.
The people of Chu (楚) regarded the phoenix as a totem, and were also very fond of dragons under the influence of Central Plains culture. The bi body of this bi is hollowed out to create two back-to-back dragon patterns, and the handle is pierced with three pairs of simplified phoenix heads, which is a concrete manifestation of this belief in Chu. The openwork bi uses the inlaid process, also known as gold and silver inlay. The specific method is to cast or chisel out the required pattern grooves on the bronze ware, embed gold, silver or other metal wires or metal sheets into the grooves, and then use cuoshi (厝石 - polishing stone) to polish the surface of the bronze ware to make the gold, silver or other metals contrast with the bronze to create different luster patterns.
After the Han Dynasty, the belly of the bi deepened, and the bi was also called a "chi" (匙), and its shape was close to the spoon used today. The function of the openwork bi has also changed. During the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, it was often used as a tea spoon for adding ingredients to tea.
(Author is the Director of the Exhibition Department of Jingzhou Museum (荆州博物馆陈列部主任), reporter Fan Haotian (范昊天) of this newspaper interviewed and compiled)
Return to TopLayout Design: Zhang Danfeng (张丹峰)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 龚仕建 乔 栋 曹继炜
In winter, snow dyes the Jin Yin Tan Grassland.
In the Atomic City Memorial Hall (原子城纪念馆) in Haiyan County (海晏县), Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (海北藏族自治州), Qinghai (青海), students pause and stare, their eyes shining.
"When our comrades are in difficulty, they must see the achievements, see the light, and increase our courage." Visiting the Atomic City Memorial Hall, several primary school students from Guangzhou (广州) recited the slogan in unison. Qin (秦) teacher, the team leader, introduced that they took the opportunity to go to Qinghai (青海) for a competition and made a special trip to pursue red memories.
Beside the slogan stands a model of the mushroom cloud formed by the explosion of China's first atomic bomb. The site of China's first nuclear weapons research and development base (Base 221) (221基地) is not only a red landmark carrying the spirit of "Two Bombs, One Satellite" (两弹一星), but also a national key cultural relics protection unit. In recent years, Qinghai (青海) has transformed this red land into a "mobile ideological and political lesson," initially forming an ideological and political lesson system integrating revolutionary tradition education, national defense military experience, and ecological civilization practice.
Building a Red Exhibition Hall Without Walls
Haiyan County (海晏县), Haibei Prefecture (海北州), is a red museum without walls.
An inconspicuous entrance next to the county post office leads down more than 10 meters to a different world—complete with ventilation rooms, carrier rooms, and manual communication switch rooms. The red objects from more than 60 years ago silently tell the story of that arduous history.
Xu Longxing (徐隆兴), Deputy Secretary-General of the Haibei Prefecture (海北州) Party Committee, told reporters that the local area has collected more than a thousand pieces of historical materials and objects, and restored scenes such as scientists' offices and residences, and detonation test sites. Today, the site of Base 221 (221基地) still well preserves 22 national key cultural relics protection units, including 18 factory areas and 4 living areas, which would take two days to browse completely.
Overall renovation and protection is a local characteristic practice. Unfolding the red resource marking map of the "221 Base" (221基地) in Haiyan County (海晏县), the red resources covering the entire county are densely packed. "We did not 'protect one place when we see one,' but instead compiled plans with high standards, promoted overall, systematic protection, and formed a complete red resource base map," said Zhu Shunyun (朱顺云), a staff member of the 211 Base (211基地) site office.
In order to ensure the implementation of protection work, the local area has established a special protection agency, established a red resource classification protection directory and database, coordinated the protection of cultural relics and clusters, and completed the compilation of "seven plans, four programs, one regulation, one map, and one plan." Good connections have been made in public space quality improvement, old community renovation, and red site protection and utilization, and efforts have been made to protect the authenticity and integrity of the site's cultural relics.
In the process of implementing the plan, problems followed. "Some red sites are leased to enterprises, and some have become office buildings for institutions, and even glass rooms and color steel rooms have been built, and the problem of disorderly management is prominent," Zhu Shunyun (朱顺云) introduced. Local county-level cadres were paired up to connect with enterprises and institutions, and promoted persuasion to stop production, move out, and demolish one by one.
By shutting down for-profit projects that affect the safety of the site and demolishing newly built "two illegal" buildings, the local area has effectively reversed the state of disorderly management. On this basis, the local area carefully selected 31 places to build into red teaching sites, providing solid scene support for the Atomic City's (原子城) overall "grand ideological and political lesson."
The vitality of the red scene lies in the story behind it. The local area conducted on-site investigations and visits to Xihai Town (西海镇), Sanjiao Town (三角城镇), and Tongbaoshan (同宝山) 3 areas, interviewed the original "221 people" (221人), widely collected text, pictures, and video materials, increased the excavation of historical materials, and comprehensively sorted out the functional positioning of the 18 factory areas of the base, and further consolidated the red resource base.
Developing a Three-Color Integrated Ideological and Political Course
In recent years, a surge of red research and study has swept across this land. Since 2024, Xihai Town (西海镇) has received more than 220,000 research and study personnel.
The background color of Xihai Town (西海镇) is red, but the extension of the ideological and political lesson is not limited to this. The local area takes the Atomic City Memorial Hall (原子城纪念馆) as the core, and links resources such as desert remediation points and ecological protection zones to create composite ideological and political practice routes such as "red + ecology" and "red + national unity," forming a "three-color" ideological and political lesson system integrating revolutionary tradition education, national defense military experience, and ecological civilization practice.
The west wind is bitter. Standing at the research and study base in Tongbaoshan (同宝山), the students overlook the frozen Qinghai Lake (青海湖) and enthusiastically exchange the insights they have just gained from the desert management base at the foot of the mountain.
Green is the background color of Qinghai (青海). The Ketu Sand Control Demonstration Zone (克土治沙示范区) is a vivid example of ecological restoration—this area was once a region where wind and sand ravaged the northeast bank of Qinghai Lake (青海湖). After decades of continuous sand prevention and control, it is now lush with greenery. As an ideological and political education practice base, students can visit the application results of advanced technologies such as sea buckthorn nutrient soil tuft afforestation suitable for high-cold sandy areas.
The ecological management of the Jin Yin Tan Grassland (金银滩草原) is a green practice, and it is also in the same vein as the red spirit of 60 years ago. La Haiqing (喇海青), a cadre of the Haibei Prefecture (海北州) "Two Bombs, One Satellite" (两弹一星) Cadre College, introduced: "Through curriculum setting, we have found the combination point between the two. The core of the 'Two Bombs, One Satellite' (两弹一星) spirit, which is starting from scratch, not being afraid of difficulties, and daring to explore, is rooted in the same source as the spiritual motivation to persist in sand control in harsh environments." Through activities such as experiencing afforestation and monitoring ecological data, students can not only deeply understand the hardship and importance of ecological protection, but also more truly feel the power of the "Two Bombs, One Satellite" (两弹一星) spirit.
Ethnic minorities account for nearly half of the population, which is also a characteristic of Qinghai (青海). In the process of construction and development, Base 221 (221基地) brought together builders from different ethnic groups from all over the country and local people, and everyone worked together to overcome numerous difficulties. The story of the relocation of the entire Tibetan village still moves visitors, and the story of warming up in tents is still circulating.
Qinghai (青海) has deeply explored the story of the unity and cooperation of various ethnic groups in this history, and has set up a special chapter in the explanation of the Atomic City Memorial Hall (原子城纪念馆) to introduce the contributions of various ethnic groups in the construction of the base. Haiyan County (海晏县) takes strengthening the sense of community of the Chinese nation as the main line, and created the "Two Bombs, One Satellite · Pomegranate Red" (两弹一星·石榴红) brand, and set up a "National Unity Family" (民族团结一家亲) sculpture at the entrance of Xihai Town (西海镇). Various research and training programs such as the "Pomegranate Seed Family" (石榴籽一家亲) for teenagers have been carried out to promote exchanges, interactions, and integration among teenagers of all ethnic groups.
Nidong Lhamo (尼东拉毛), a senior Tibetan student, said after participating in the on-site ideological and political lesson in Haibei Prefecture (海北州): "I am from the source of the Three Rivers (三江源头) in Guoluo Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (果洛藏族自治州), Qinghai (青海). Through the visit, I learned that Tibetan people also participated in the construction of 'Two Bombs, One Satellite' (两弹一星), and a sense of pride arises spontaneously."
Telling a Struggle Story That Touches People's Hearts
Among those who come to visit the site of Base 221 (221基地), young people account for nearly half.
"Let young people feel the original intention and mission here, and draw strength to forge ahead, so as to cultivate more new people of the era who can shoulder the important task of national rejuvenation," said La Haiqing (喇海青).
The local area uses methods that young people like to tell red stories and build a stepped curriculum system. In view of the cognitive characteristics of different stages of primary school, middle school, and university, enlightenment, cognitive, and research-based stepped courses are developed, and teaching guides are compiled. Focusing on themes such as "scientist spirit" and "independent innovation," interactive projects such as situational party lessons and research and study practices are carried out, and the "bottleneck" technology breakthroughs and heroic model deeds in the research and development process of "Two Bombs, One Satellite" (两弹一星) are transformed into vivid and vivid teaching cases.
In the dim light, the simulated explosion sound rang out, and a group of young people shuttled through the factory site... A red-themed immersive situational education project is being staged here. "The Atomic City Memorial Hall (原子城纪念馆), the scientific research buildings and expert buildings of that year, are all natural immersive situational education venues," said Ma Qingfang (马清芳), curator of the Atomic City Memorial Hall (原子城纪念馆). When tourists step into these places, it is as if they have instantly traveled back to that passionate and burning era, and red seeds are quietly planted in the immersive experience.
Technological empowerment makes red memories more vivid. In the workshop of the former No. 1 factory, under the red slogans and flags of "**自力更生、艰苦奋斗**" (zì lì gēng shēng, jiān kǔ fèn dòu - "self-reliance and hard struggle," relying on one's own efforts and working hard), laser projections show the scenes of 60 years ago. Haibei Prefecture (海北州) implemented a digital protection project for the base site and built a VR (virtual reality) experience hall to vividly restore the atomic bomb research and development scene, allowing visitors to feel the glorious years in person.
The local area also actively expands communication channels. It has organized many times the theme creation of the "Two Bombs, One Satellite" (两弹一星) spirit and built an online teaching platform. New media methods such as the "Air Atomic City Classroom" (空中原子城课堂) live broadcast and online V promotion have allowed the online audience to exceed 5 million people. The local area has also edited more than 20 red books and filmed more than 10 documentaries.
Some time ago, the China Atomic City (中国原子城) "Two Bombs, One Satellite" (两弹一星) Spirit Propaganda Group entered the High School Affiliated to Beijing Normal University (北京师范大学附属中学) to carry out the theme propaganda activity of "The Never Fading Jin Yin Tan (金银滩) - The 'Two Bombs, One Satellite' (两弹一星) Spirit Will Always Shine," bringing a profound patriotic education class to the students. At present, the China Atomic City (中国原子城) "Two Bombs, One Satellite" (两弹一星) Spirit Propaganda Group has carried out more than 460 propaganda activities across the country.
From on-site teaching in the Gobi Desert to spiritual propaganda radiating across the country, this "mobile ideological and political lesson" is allowing the "Two Bombs, One Satellite" (两弹一星) spirit to bloom with brilliant light in the new era.
Travel Tips
Atomic City (原子城) is located in Haiyan County (海晏县), Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (海北藏族自治州), Qinghai Province (青海省), about 100 kilometers away from the provincial capital Xining (西宁). You can take a train or long-distance bus from Xining City (西宁市) to Haiyan County (海晏县), or drive there yourself.
The average altitude of Haiyan County (海晏县) exceeds 3,000 meters, and the altitude of some areas exceeds 4,000 meters. It is recommended to avoid rushing directly to high-altitude scenic spots. You can arrive in Xining (西宁) 1-2 days in advance for transition, and prepare anti-altitude sickness drugs at the same time, and drink more warm water during the journey to relieve physical discomfort.
In terms of climate, Haiyan County (海晏县) has cool and dry summers and long, cold and windy winters. The best time to visit is from June to September each year. No matter which season you travel to, you need to prepare a windproof jacket. If you travel in winter, you also need to bring sufficient warm clothing to resist the cold. In addition, the ultraviolet rays in the plateau area are strong, so you need to prepare sunscreen, sunscreen clothing, sunglasses and other sunscreen products.
Return to TopThe renowned writer Mao Dun (茅盾) was born in 1896 in Wuzhen (乌镇), Tongxiang County (桐乡县, now Tongxiang City (桐乡市)), Jiaxing (嘉兴), Zhejiang (浙江). No. 17, Guanjian Street (观前街), East Zha (东栅), was his home from birth until he left for school in 1909, where he spent his childhood and adolescence. No. 13, Houyuanensi Hutong (后圆恩寺胡同), Dongcheng District (东城区), Beijing (北京), is Mao Dun's former residence in Beijing, where he spent the last years of his life. The former residences of Mao Dun in Zhejiang and Beijing accumulate the writer's thoughts and explorations, and carry the spiritual wealth bestowed upon future generations.
Wuzhen (乌镇) –
An Enlightenment Study by the Water in Jiangnan (江南)
By Dou Hanyang (窦瀚洋), reporter of this newspaper
In Mao Dun's former residence at No. 17, Guanjian Street (观前街), East Zha (东栅), Wuzhen (乌镇), Tongxiang (桐乡), Jiaxing (嘉兴), Zhejiang (浙江), the private school, reception hall, kitchen, dining hall, and the study in the back garden have all been restored to recreate Mao Dun's childhood and adolescent living environment.
The house is a two-story wooden structure with four bays, covering a total area of approximately 450 square meters, divided into east and west units. Mao Dun lived in this old house for 13 years.
On the upper floor of the first bay of the east unit are the rooms where Mao Dun and his younger brother were born, and downstairs is the private school where he received his enlightenment education. The second bay is the reception hall and kitchen, where Mao Dun's grandmother used to raise silkworms. Watching his grandmother raise silkworms was the most interesting thing in his childhood life.
The first bay of the west unit has the family dining hall, and the second floor of the second bay was the residence of his great-grandfather. Behind the building is a garden of half an acre. In 1897, Mao Dun's great-grandfather built three single-story houses there. In 1934, Mao Dun personally designed the sketches and rebuilt them into a more modern study. He lived here for writing during several return visits to his hometown, completing works such as "Polygonal Relationships" (《多角关系》).
In the study, Mao Dun buried himself in his work. When tired, he either closed his eyes to rest or stepped out onto the bluestone path, immersing himself in the tranquility of a small bridge, flowing water, and a family dwelling. The familiar scenery of his hometown brought a constant stream of inspiration to Mao Dun's writing.
In 1940, with the death of Mao Dun's mother, his connection with his hometown gradually diminished. Relatives moved to other places one after another, and the houses in the former residence were gradually rented to other residents. In the spring of 1977, the local government mobilized the residents to vacate the three single-story houses in the back garden and repaired and protected them. After Mao Dun's death in March 1981, it was listed as a key cultural relic protection unit in Zhejiang Province (浙江省). In 1982, it was approved to renovate and restore the former residence.
The "Lizhi Academy" (立志书院) next to the former residence, namely "Mao Dun's Childhood Reading Place," was restored in 1990 with funding from the local government and cultural authorities after research and approval from the Provincial Bureau of Cultural Relics and the National Bureau of Cultural Relics. The restored "Lizhi Academy" (立志书院) was completed and opened on July 4, 1991, as an auxiliary building to Mao Dun's former residence. In August 1994, the academy was renamed "Tongxiang Mao Dun Memorial Hall" (桐乡市茅盾纪念馆) by the Tongxiang Mao Dun Former Residence Management Office (桐乡市茅盾故居管理所), exhibiting a large number of precious photos, manuscript of works, original books and periodicals, letters, and some relics from Mao Dun's life.
The water and soil of Wuzhen (乌镇) nourished Mao Dun (茅盾). It was the starting point of his life journey and a place he missed and cared about throughout his life.
Beijing (北京) –
The Evening Glow of Literary Heart Under the Poplar Trees
Yao Ming (姚明)
At the end of 1974, Mao Dun's family moved to No. 13, Houyuanensi Hutong (后圆恩寺胡同), Dongcheng District (东城区), Beijing (北京). Mao Dun recorded the scene of the move in his diary: "Although the whole yard is not big, it is very compact. We don't have many people, so it's enough. What's especially wonderful is that there are many small rooms... My books also have a place to store them." Mao Dun specially opened a study and a library of about 10 square meters, with seven or eight multi-layer wooden bookshelves and more than 7,000 books. Mao Dun completed more than 100 articles here, totaling more than 600,000 words.
During this period, a large number of writers returned to Beijing (北京) from all over the country and returned to their jobs. Ba Jin (巴金) who came from afar, Ding Ling (丁玲) who returned from Beidahuang (北大荒), and comrades who came to Beijing to attend the children's literature creation seminar... No. 13, Houyuanensi Hutong (后圆恩寺胡同) was once full of distinguished guests.
On March 27, 1985, Mao Dun's former residence was officially opened to the public and managed as an internal institution of the Museum of Modern Chinese Literature (中国现代文学馆).
The two tall poplar trees next to the dark red gate of the former residence remind people of Mao Dun's essay "Ode to Poplar" (《白杨礼赞》). The former residence is a typical two-entry courtyard, with three exhibition halls and a reception room forming the front yard, and the back yard is a living room and bedroom. Walking into the gate of the former residence and turning left from the screen wall, you can see the full view of the front yard. There are two ridges of flowers and plants and a grape trellis in the courtyard, and a bust of Mao Dun (茅盾) carved in white marble stands in front of the steps.
The west wing of the front yard and the six main rooms of the back yard include Mao Dun's bedroom, living room, studio, and reception room during his lifetime. There are Mao Dun's desk, bed, collection of books, medicines, clothes, etc., all displayed in their original appearance. His unfinished manuscript is spread out on the desk, and the calendar is still the last page he personally turned. Here, Mao Dun and his son Wei Tao (韦韬) searched for information together and used a tape recorder to record oral recordings, completing the famous literary memoir "The Road I Have Traveled" (《我走过的道路》). This work has become a valuable resource for Mao Dun research and even literary history research.
Since Mao Dun's former residence was opened to the public, it has received more than one million literature lovers and tourists. People visit Mao Dun's former residence, listen to the literary stories conveyed by the architecture and exhibitions, and feel the spiritual power behind them.
(The author is a researcher at the Mao Dun Former Residence Management Office (茅盾故居管理处), compiled by Li Zhiyao (李祉瑶), a reporter of this newspaper)
Return to TopLayout Design: Zhang Danfeng (张丹峰)
Return to TopThe year is always unforgettable.
The year contains warmth, the year contains stories. The year contains emotion, the year contains reverie. Unforgettable are the grand celebrations of inherited customs, and also the subtle ripples in the heart's sea during the long passage of time. All the little things overflowing with fiery red, enthusiasm, and blessings will transform into pages of letters in time, lasting for a long time, worthy of reminiscence.
Today, we join you in browsing through these "Year's Letters," allowing the year in words to resonate with the year in life.
——Editor
Return to TopBy: 陈平原
Whether for business or personal reasons, I return to my hometown multiple times each year, but I never choose to do so during the Spring Festival, because the ancient city of Chaozhou (潮州) is simply too bustling at that time. In earlier years, it was mainly those who had ventured out to make a living who returned home for reunions, which was already lively enough; in recent years, it has attracted countless curious tourists from all over the country due to its cuisine, Yingge dance, and the Ying Lao Ye (营老爷) festival, making the small city overcrowded.
Unable to resist the repeated requests of several old friends who enjoy traveling, I finally made an exception and led a team back to Chaozhou (潮州) for the Lunar New Year the year before last. Compared to the desertedness of big cities, this "living ancient city" was indeed particularly enchanting at this moment, giving even this local resident a feeling of 士别三日当刮目相看 (shì bié sān rì dāng guā mù xiāng kàn - "a scholar who has been away three days must be looked at with new eyes," people must be regarded with new respect after a separation of even only three days). Good food, fun activities, beautiful scenery, and a good mood were all expected; what was unexpected was that I was invited to be a guest in Huanggang Town (黄冈镇), Raoping County (饶平县), Chaozhou City (潮州市) on the first day of the Lunar New Year, and the cloth horse dance there was so wonderful, greatly exceeding my expectations.
Huanggang (黄冈) is located at the junction of Fujian (福建) and Guangdong (广东) provinces and has been an important military town in eastern Guangdong (粤东) since the Song (宋), Yuan (元), Ming (明), and Qing (清) dynasties. Those who study modern history mostly remember the "Huanggang Uprising in Chaozhou (潮州黄冈起义)" in the thirty-third year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu (光绪) of the Qing Dynasty (清朝) (1907); today, the "Huanggang Dingwei Revolution Memorial Pavilion (黄冈丁未革命纪念亭)," a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit, still stands in Zhongshan Park (中山公园) in Raoping (饶平). For people like me, choosing to visit Huanggang (黄冈) during the Spring Festival is not only about visiting ancient sites but, more importantly, about exploring the present—stopping several times in the streets and alleys and in front of the county government square to watch various performances celebrating the New Year.
Chaozhou (潮州) gong and drum music is a standard feature of all local festivals and celebrations, and it is highly recognizable, audible from afar, making it easy for tourists to follow the sound. The dragon and lion dances that appear from time to time are very lively, but what really attracts the audience is not the technique but the props. Tourists like us are busy holding up lion heads for photos—this is evidenced by photos. As for the flag-bearing girls similar to those in foreign flower street parades, I wrote a special article about them 10 years ago ("The Flag-Bearing Girl—My Spring Festival Memory," *People's Daily* (《人民日报》) February 22, 2016), and in recent years they have become widely known due to short videos. After watching for a day, what amazed me the most was the cloth horse dance, which I had seen from afar before but had not understood its mystery.
I did my homework beforehand and learned that the Raoping (饶平) cloth horse dance, also known as the "bamboo horse dance," is the first batch of intangible cultural heritage projects in Guangdong Province (广东省). It originated in the late Song (宋) and early Yuan (元) dynasties and was originally introduced from Raozhou (饶州), Jiangxi (江西). After enrichment and transformation by scholars and the public over the generations, it has now integrated folk music, folk dance, and folk crafts, mainly used to express good wishes for warding off evil and disaster and welcoming good fortune.
As a kind of square dance, the Raoping (饶平) cloth horse dance is different from the "dry boat" or "running donkey" dances in the north. It does not involve singing and storytelling, nor is it known for its humor and wit. It is only similar in terms of costumed walking and prop making. It is said that the earliest form of the Raoping (饶平) cloth horse dance was "Zhuangyuan (状元) Parade," and then in a certain year, a war general was added, making it both civil and military; in a certain year, it further evolved, and the dancers became boys and girls; as a result of further evolution, it became all beautiful girls, wearing military uniforms, wielding cloth horses, running in formation, and dancing gracefully. The cloth horse dance we see today has actually been embellished and transformed by various literary and artistic performances since the 1950s, so it particularly emphasizes its spiritual connection with Mulan Joining the Army, Mu Guiying Taking Command, and Chen Biniang Sending Her Husband to Resist the Yuan (陈璧娘送夫抗元) (see Chaozhou (潮州) opera/film *Farewell, Langzhou* (《辞郎洲》)).
Using bamboo strips to weave the skeleton of the horse, covering it with colored silk, and then installing a horse tail and hanging copper bells—this level of craftsmanship is a piece of cake for the skillful Chaozhou (潮州) people. On the contrary, it is not easy to hang various cloth horses on the shoulders during the performance, then wear a cloak, insert feathers, wave the whip, raise the head and leap, sometimes galloping, sometimes walking slowly, constantly changing formations with the beat of the drums, creating the momentum of thousands of troops galloping on the battlefield.
Finally, the gongs and drums sounded, and after the flute sound simulating the neighing of horses, dozens of beautiful girls in military uniforms floated out under a large flag of "Xiaxi Cloth Horse Dance (霞西布马舞)." A friend immediately reminded me that the performance of the Raoping (饶平) cloth horse dance in Xiaxi Village (霞西村), Huanggang Town (黄冈镇) is the most wonderful, and we are very lucky to have stumbled upon the "masterpiece."
The mountain village where I worked as an educated youth was only dozens of kilometers away from Huanggang (黄冈), but I had never heard of the cloth horse dance. At that time, even if such folk activities were not prohibited, they could not be widely promoted. It is said that it was only after the late 1980s that the cloth horse dance, which gradually became staged with the help of various gala evenings, attracted more attention from the outside world. This is why, although I am a local, I have no idea what kind of tunes are being played or what formations are being arranged. I only know that although the steps are simple, the formations are ever-changing, tumbling up and down, turning left and right, or facing each other in pairs, or four horses gathering together, the scene is well-arranged, and the emotions of the viewers are also flying and surging.
The square in front of the Raoping County (饶平县) government is not large, and we are standing on the steps, close to the performers, and can clearly see their facial expressions, every smile and frown, every movement and stillness, and even the sweat that splashes out from time to time. These lightly powdered girls, because they are playing female heroes, are lively and vigorous in addition to being delicate and beautiful, and they are also full of fortitude and unrestrainedness, which is not the same as the exquisiteness and reserve of the "flag-bearing girls," but rather close to the heroic and passionate Yingge dance.
Compared with the Yingge dance, which is now famous all over the world, the drums, props, costumes, and formations of the Raoping (饶平) cloth horse dance are not inferior at all. The girls set out on an expedition, heroic and valiant, which is the so-called "balance of rigidity and softness." As a result, after returning to Beijing (北京), I told everyone about it, reminding them that if they travel to Chaoshan (潮汕) during the Spring Festival, in addition to watching the Yingge dance that is famous at home and abroad, it is best to also see the cloth horse dance, which is not "hidden in a boudoir and unknown to anyone," but at least is not well-known to outsiders.
That day, the director of CCTV's (央视) "Culture Express (文化十分)" program was filming "Celebrities' New Year Greetings," asking me to talk about the literary image of horses and its evolution from ancient times to the present. I said a few words, and then changed the subject to talk about how cultural differences between the north and the south affect the feelings and expressions of people in various places towards horses. In many places in the south, there are small bridges and flowing water, and there are many people and little land, so there is no scene of thousands of horses galloping. But I never expected that in the Chaoshan (潮汕) area, which is at the "tail end of the province and the corner of the country" and where it is difficult to see fine horses, there is actually such a beautiful and vigorous cloth horse dance, which makes people recall the distant war years of swords and horses, and in a "gentle as water" way.
In my humble opinion, the Yingge dance and the cloth horse dance, which are popular in the Chaoshan (潮汕) area, can be read together. Although the current performance states have great differences in appearance, rhythm, and rhyme due to the difference between men and women, they all contain a certain hidden heroism and vigor. For tourists from the Central Plains, this may really be another case of "if ritual is lost, seek it in the wilderness (礼失求诸野)" (lǐ shī qiú zhū yě - "if ritual is lost, seek it in the wilderness," when traditional culture is lost in the center, it may be found among the common people).
Return to TopBy: 于文岗
Talking about the Year of the Horse, it would be superficial to only discuss its galloping posture. A search of the dictionary reveals that there are as many as seventy or eighty Chinese characters with the radical "马" (mǎ - horse), nearly half of which look familiar but cannot be named. These "horses" hidden in the strokes are sometimes silhouettes of fine steeds galloping across the battlefield, and sometimes metaphorical symbols of life's postures, like the myriad beings in the world—some rise up like outstanding horses, while others sink like mediocre ones. To recognize "horses" in the Year of the Horse is to not only know their names and natures from the ink, but also to read the power of striving for change and breaking through predicaments.
The horse, this agile creature, gallops from the lines of oracle bone inscriptions, with different breeds accompanying the footsteps of civilization's evolution. Przewalski's horse retains its primitive wildness, its untamed mane proclaiming its dedication to freedom and the courage to break through shackles. The domestic horse is the most loyal companion of the ancestors, carrying the weight of survival and hope from the fields to the battlefields. The Mongolian horse is born in the north, resistant to severe cold and wind and sand. Although it has no handsome appearance, it treads out a tenacious nature in the wind and snow, like a traveler silently accumulating strength in adversity. The Hetao horse paces along the banks of the Yellow River, the Ferghana horse's name of "sweating blood" has shaken the past and present, and the short-legged horses traveling on the Ancient Tea Horse Road, although small in size, are full of endurance... Every horse lives out its unique value in its own world, which is the key to life's progress: all beings have their own strengths, and only by finding their own position can they spur the horse and wield the whip.
The horse in Chinese characters has a more profound meaning, worthy of savoring. "骁" (xiāo) is the agility of charging into battle, "骏" (jùn) is the swiftness of lightning, and the Eight骏 (jùn) of King Mu carry ideals and gallop, just like the appearance of young people chasing their dreams. The preciousness of "骥" (jì) lies in the unchanging original intention of 老骥伏枥，志在千里 (lǎo jì fú lì, zhì zài qiān lǐ - "old steed in stable still aspires to gallop a thousand miles," an old person still cherishes high aspirations), even if in adversity and no longer in their prime, this perseverance and ambition is still the key to breaking the situation. The 騄 (lù), which is extremely fast, and the 驵 (zǎng), which is strong, are both leaders among horses. Their excellence is not innate, but is tempered in running. The "驹" (jū) of "白驹过隙" (bái jū guò xì - "white colt passes a crack," time flies) is the vitality of youth, reminding young people not to waste their youth; while the mediocrity of "骀" (tái) and the slowness of "驽" (nú) are warnings that being content with the status quo will lead to stagnation, and only by actively seeking change can one avoid becoming an "inferior horse."
The colors and patterns of horses' coats are condensed into vivid scrolls in Chinese characters. The pure black 骊 (lí) is like a shooting star in the dark night, the 骐 (qí), with its blue-black interweaving, is like the splashed ink landscape of the Nine Horses Painting Mountain. The lament of "乘骐骥以驰骋兮" (chéng qí jì yǐ chí chěng xī - "riding a 骐 (qí) to gallop") in the *Li Sao* (《离骚》) dyes this color with the light of idealism. The 骓 (zhuī), a blue-white mixed color, accompanied King Xiang (项羽) in battles on all sides, and became famous throughout the ages because of Xiang Yu's (项羽) lament of "时不利兮骓不逝" (shí bù lì xī zhuī bù shì - "the time is not advantageous, and my 骓 (zhuī) will not run"). The crimson 骅 (huá) and the black-maned and black-tailed 骝 (liú) reveal Li Bai's (李白) regret of "骅骝拳跼不能食" (huá liú quán jú bù néng shí - "fine horses curl up and cannot eat"), lamenting his unappreciated talent. The 駹 (máng) with a white face is very recognizable, and the 騧 (guā) with a black mouth and yellow body is very charming. The yellow 骢 (cōng) of "黄骢少年舞双戟" (huáng cōng shào nián wǔ shuāng jǐ - "yellow 骢 (cōng) youth dances with double halberds") carries sharpness and vigor, and the 骠 (biāo) with yellow hair and white spots is like sprinkled broken stars, adding more brilliance because of Huo Qubing's (霍去病) prestige as the "骠骑将军" (piào qí jiāng jūn - "General of Agile Cavalry"). The 駓 (pī) is yellow and white like warm sunshine, the 骆 (luò) has a white body and black mane like plain silk, the 骃 (yīn) is light black with white, and the 骍 (xīng) is red like rosy clouds. Each color is a unique identifier, inspiring us: there is no need to deliberately imitate others, doing your best is the most beautiful gallop.
"马" (mǎ - horse), the *Shuowen Jiezi* (《说文解字》) explains: "It resembles the shape of a horse's head, mane, tail, and four feet." You see, the traditional character "馬" (mǎ), the three horizontal strokes at the beginning are like the horse's mane, the vertical fold-fold hook is like the horse's body, the hook part is like the horse's tail, and the four dots below are like the horse's legs. It is a picture of an energetic atmosphere of raising its head and prancing, shaking its mane in the wind, and neighing to the sky! The ancestors' depiction of the horse's charm and the praise of the spirit of galloping have long been melted into the strokes, becoming a cultural gift passed down for thousands of years.
To recognize "horses" in the Year of the Horse is to recognize the warmth of Chinese characters and the galloping of life. The "horses" hidden in the ink, although vastly different, are all telling the same truth: a predicament is not a dead end, and only by striving for change can one gallop freely. In the Year of the Horse, may everyone be like 骐 (qí) and 骥 (jì), using the sound of hooves to strike the melody of life and run out the most beautiful posture.
Return to TopOil painting "February Sunshine," by Hu Rong (胡蓉), collection of the National Art Museum of China (中国美术馆).
Return to TopBy: 霍俊明
The Spring Festivals of Those Years
The green train carried us slowly back to our hometown.
The snow would always fall as scheduled,
Like relatives from the countryside,
Simple and clean.
Lighting the homemade red lanterns,
Pasting the paper-cut window decorations made by my father,
Surrounding my mother by the steaming stove,
The wind was strong then,
The children's faces were red with cold,
Busy playing inside and outside the house.
No matter how tight the days were, we had to save some blighted grain
For the sparrows outside the door that were overwintering.
We always squatted down to light the firecrackers,
Then covered our ears and ran away, shouting with joy.
The Spring Festivals we spent in those years
Were like our parents who hadn't aged yet,
Passing the sugar melon and happiness clutched tightly in their hands
To us without reservation.
By: 庞余亮
On the afternoon of Lunar New Year's Eve, there are always impatient children who put on their new clothes prepared for the New Year and come out to show off to their friends. Such showing off has a persuasive effect.
Regarding our request to wear new clothes, the adults were very dismissive, saying that the children simply didn't understand, that the New Year was tomorrow.
Tomorrow is the New Year; tomorrow is a new day. To emphasize such a new day, the adults also said that this "new" is brand new.
Yes, brand new. The newly trimmed hair is brand new, the newly cut nails are brand new, and the cloth shoes that Mom painstakingly made are also brand new.
In order to welcome such brand-new days, the adults asked us to save all the food and clothing for the brand-new days.
On the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, we woke up early, but we had to wait in the quilt until our father finished setting off firecrackers before we could "rise high." Yes, even the words are brand new in the brand-new days; we can't say get up, we must say rise high.
The adults were so right. After "rising high," the glutinous rice balls are brand new, the fruit candies are brand new, the sunshine is brand new, the Spring Festival couplets on the gate are brand new, the door-sealing money dancing in the sunshine pasted on the lintel is brand new, and the shadows of those dancing door-sealing money falling on the threshold are also brand new.
Yes, in the brand-new days, everything is brand new, even the smiles of the adults are brand new—there are rules for celebrating the New Year; adults are not allowed to beat or scold children.
Brand-new days also have shortcomings, that is, they pass too quickly.
The first day of the Lunar New Year is the fastest day of the year.
After the first day of the Lunar New Year, there is another special good thing: a bride is going to marry into our village. In the brand-new days, the bride is the most radiant person in the village.
It's just that our place is a river town in Lixiahe (里下河), full of rivers, so there is no way to carry a large bridal sedan to welcome the bride. Our "bridal sedan" is a wooden boat decorated with red and green, with two facing Eight Immortals tables in the cabin, also decorated with red and green. This boat is called a "sedan boat."
The sedan boat for welcoming the bride must leave the village in the morning to pick up the bride, and the bride will return to the village in the afternoon. When approaching the village, the people welcoming the bride will set off firecrackers on the boat. At this time, we will rush out to see the bride.
The bride cannot be seen until the sedan boat docks. We can see the groom at the bow of the boat, looking shy like a big silly goose, with a carefree best man beside him, and glib-tongued matchmakers. We don't want to look at these people at all; we want to see the bride. The bride must step on a road paved with reeds when she comes ashore. The reeds are called rushwood in our place. The rushwood is stepped on by the bride's feet and sounds like firecrackers. The louder the sound, the more prosperous it will be.
We follow the bride to step on it together. The bride is so beautiful; the groom who looks like a big silly goose is lucky.
In the brand-new days, the sedan boat that braves the waves has a rule: the number of people on the boat when going to pick up the bride is an odd number, and the number when returning is an even number. Just for this odd and even number, I also boarded a sedan boat to pick up the bride once.
There are the bride and groom and the "lucky grandma" on the sedan boat, as well as the matchmakers. Generally, there are three matchmakers. On the third day of the first lunar month that year, two families were celebrating happy events, one was marrying a bride, and the other was marrying off a daughter. The happy events of both families were related to my father, the matchmaker. Unable to be in two places at once, my father ordered me, at the age of eight, to represent him as a matchmaker on the sedan boat.
Many details have been forgotten. The later story happened after the bride and groom kowtowed to heaven and earth. The other two matchmakers, one was an old barrel maker and the other was an old blacksmith in the village. The two old men were particularly good at joking, but I didn't know they were joking. They sat with me to eat the wedding banquet and seriously discussed a topic: It is said that 新娘子进了房，媒人撂过墙 (xīn niáng zi jìn le fáng, méi rén liào guò qiáng - "Once the bride enters the room, the matchmaker is thrown over the wall," meaning the matchmaker is no longer needed after the wedding). How should we throw [the matchmaker] over the wall tonight? One said to immediately pad a ball of straw outside the wall, so it wouldn't hurt when landing on it. The other said to throw San Shao (三少) first, as he is the lightest and the best to throw first.
The San Shao they were talking about was me. The more I listened, the more scared I became. I quickly took the opportunity to escape and hid, and didn't even take the matchmaker's gift that my father deserved.
That was a joke I left in those brand-new days. Later, every time during the brand-new days, every time the bride's sedan boat docked, every time the firecrackers crackled when the bride and groom kowtowed to heaven and earth, the villagers would retell the joke about me.
That joke is always brand new.
By: 阮德胜
The winter of 1991 was green; I joined the army. The New Year's Eve of 1991 was white; it snowed. After lunch, we walked through the snowflakes, making various preparations for the New Year. The company asked me to replace the New Year's Day blackboard newspaper with content related to the Spring Festival. Just as I was drawing lanterns, the postman stretched his head and pushed his cart through the snow.
The package contained four letters for me. I spent this New Year's Eve reading and ruminating over these letters. The taste was a bit like gnawing on a green apple, satisfying a craving but not filling you up, slightly sweet and a bit sour.
My father's was a reply. He simply answered my inquiries about the family situation in my previous letter, focusing on instructions: instructing me to "bear the responsibility alone when you are away from home," instructing me to "listen to the leaders," instructing me to "look for a future when you leave home"... Then, my father told me that the town had sent the "Glorious Family" plaque and the preferential treatment money for conscripts. The plaque had been nailed to the door frame, red background, clerical script, gold letters; the preferential treatment money solved the family's urgent needs. In this letter, I read my parents' hopes and the weight on my shoulders.
There was also a letter from my brother. My brother was a teacher at a factory-run school in a state-owned smelting enterprise at that time. Every word in his letter was alive, because he told me that he was in love. His girlfriend was from the city, four years younger than him, and worked in a cotton mill. After reading it, I wondered, I am one year older than his girlfriend, how should I address her in the future? My brother also told me that because I was not at home, he did not accept his girlfriend's family's invitation to spend the New Year in the city. "Whether you have money or not, go home for the New Year," I can't go back, and my brother didn't 娶了媳妇忘了娘 (qǔ le xí fù wàng le niáng - "marry a wife and forget your mother," to be so infatuated with one's wife as to neglect one's parents), I am a little grateful to him. Otherwise, if both sons of the parents were spending the New Year away from home, what would their mood be?
The next letter was a sample newspaper sent by Ding Yumin (丁育民), the deputy editor of the local *Chizhou Daily* (《池州报》) supplement. Mr. Ding wrote on the newspaper's masthead with a brush, "Little Ruan (阮): Three submissions, two used today. Pay attention to using your pen to focus on your life. New Year, Spring Festival greetings..." I also saw the prose poems published in the newspaper, one was "Greetings to Chizhou (池州)," and the other was "The Feeling of Green." Mr. Ding was an old-generation intellectual who settled in my hometown, and he was the guide on my literary path. When I was at home, I would visit him every festival, but this New Year's Eve, he sent me greetings and "gifts." Looking at the New Year's Eve snow with this mood, it was whiter and brighter.
The remaining letter was from "her," and I didn't take a close look until a few minutes before the CCTV Spring Festival Gala (央视春晚) live broadcast began. She was my female classmate, studying in a secondary vocational school at the Provincial Health Cadre School (省卫生干校). The letter was sent when she left school for vacation. The letter was not long, but it made me feel heavy. She was a girl who was not good at socializing and felt uncomfortable at school. She said, "It's better to work than to study this book." I think her words are a bit like 站着说话不腰疼 (zhàn zhe shuō huà bù yāo téng - "speaking while standing doesn't hurt the back," to not understand the difficulties of others), the opportunity to enter the city and study was envied by so many people at that time! She asked me to reply to her after school started. On New Year's Eve, I was choked by someone who thought she could confide in me, and the memory was particularly profound.
On New Year's Eve in 1991, I spent the Spring Festival for the first time in a place called "barracks," reading letters from relatives and friends.
Return to TopThis edition's email: dadi@peopledaily.cn
Layout design: Zhang Danfeng (张丹峰), Wang Zheping (汪哲平)