Summary: Guangdong Province is accelerating its "Hundred Counties, Thousand Towns, and Ten Thousand Villages High-Quality Development Project" to address regional development imbalances, a strategic priority emphasized by President Xi Jinping. Provincial Party Secretary Huang坤明 (Huang Kunming) has stated that the province must leverage the county level as a critical entry point for urban-rural integration to transform this regional disparity into a driver of potential growth. Implementation involves relocating industries from the Pearl River Delta to the eastern, western, and northern regions, supported by massive land consolidation and infrastructure projects. The initiative also emphasizes the deep integration of public services, notably through the deployment of specialized medical teams from top-tier hospitals to support county-level facilities. The report underscores these systemic reforms as a long-term effort to enhance internal provincial development and address structural economic bottlenecks.
Summary: This article highlights General Secretary Xi Jinping’s ongoing focus on deepening China’s healthcare system reforms, specifically emphasizing the "Sanming model" of integrating medical, insurance, and pharmaceutical governance to improve service accessibility and efficiency. Xi, who visited Fujian in March 2021 to inspect these efforts, has consistently championed the balanced distribution of high-quality medical resources and the strengthening of grassroots infrastructure to ensure public health. The report details how the integration of regional medical systems and the standardization of insurance management have reduced costs and improved clinical outcomes at the local level. Furthermore, it notes that these successful domestic reforms are being scaled nationwide to ensure that the majority of medical needs can be addressed within local jurisdictions, thereby increasing average life expectancy.
Summary: This report highlights the economic revitalization of Wenchang, Hainan, driven by the rapid expansion of the local aerospace industry following President Xi Jinping’s April 2022 directive to develop a "world-class aerospace launch site." Local infrastructure and tourism have surged, with the Wenchang International Aerospace City now hosting over 3,300 enterprises and contributing significantly to regional GDP growth. The article underscores how the "aerospace economy" is successfully integrating with local "red tourism," transforming the former revolutionary base into a high-tech hub. As the launch site moves toward "flight-like" launch frequency with the construction of new launch pads, the region aims to solidify its position as a central pillar of China's modernized space infrastructure.
Summary: ByteDance’s AI platform, Doubao, has initiated a tiered subscription model, introducing paid professional versions for high-value tasks while maintaining basic free services. This commentary by *People’s Daily* frames the shift as a necessary transition from "subsidized growth" to a sustainable business model that incentivizes innovation and reflects the actual computational and intellectual costs of AI development. The article asserts that for such monetization to succeed, platforms must prioritize transparency, service quality, and robust self-regulation to justify value to users. Furthermore, the piece emphasizes that the commercialization of domestic AI products is essential for China to leverage its massive user base and data scale to achieve technological and commercial dominance in the global digital economy.
Summary: During the Dragon Boat Festival holiday, local authorities intensified service guarantees to promote the integration of culture and tourism, resulting in robust consumption and increased market vitality through expanded high-quality supply.
Summary: The provided text serves as a promotional index for a "Culture in China" series, highlighting reports on the revitalization of industrial heritage sites and the application of digital technology to preserve ancient grottoes. The coverage emphasizes the modernization of cultural experiences through "hardcore" industrial aesthetics and trendy technological integration. No specific officials or geopolitical topics, including U.S.-China relations, were mentioned in this summary.
Summary: This article highlights the continued significance of "Unity Is Strength"—a revolutionary song composed in Beizhuang village, Hebei, in 1943—as a guiding principle for contemporary rural revitalization. It notes that in February 2021, General Secretary Xi Jinping wrote a letter to the village’s Party members, encouraging them to maintain their vanguard role in uniting the community to achieve national modernization goals. Village Party Secretary Feng Hongjuan reports that by leveraging red tourism and e-commerce, the village has successfully improved living standards and achieved a collective income exceeding 1 million yuan by 2025. The narrative frames this local development as a modern extension of the wartime unity between the military and the masses, emphasizing the Party's role in organizing local economic growth.
Summary: The Ministry of Natural Resources, in coordination with four other departments, has issued a new directive introducing seven reforms to streamline corporate real estate registration. A representative from the Ministry’s Natural Resources Rights and Registration Bureau stated that the policy aims to reduce administrative burdens by consolidating transfer, tax, and mortgage processes into a "one-stop" service. The reforms emphasize the use of digitalization to enable "cross-provincial" processing and the expansion of "transfer with mortgage" services to lower financing costs for businesses. By allowing firms to conduct registration and due diligence directly through banking outlets, the government intends to enhance investment security and transactional efficiency. This initiative reflects a broader push to lower institutional transaction costs for enterprises and improve the domestic business environment.
Summary: This report profiles Meiduo Qusang, a station manager for JD Logistics in Shannan, Tibet, who highlights the modernization and rapid expansion of regional logistics networks. She notes that the integration of digital tracking and scanning technologies has significantly improved delivery efficiency, resulting in a tenfold increase in local package volume over three years. Meiduo emphasizes the socioeconomic impact of these advancements, noting that improved connectivity has facilitated the export of local commodities like matsutake and yak meat while shifting local consumption habits toward e-commerce. The article concludes by noting that the Tibet Autonomous Region’s Department of Human Resources and Social Security is actively supporting such employment opportunities through improved policy frameworks and service platforms for new industry workers.
Summary: China Baowu Steel Group is leveraging artificial intelligence to transition from traditional mass-production models toward agile, customized manufacturing. Chief Researcher Jia Shujin, who leads the AI decision-optimization team, reports that proprietary AI models now autonomously manage order distribution, production scheduling, and logistics across multiple manufacturing bases to maximize efficiency and minimize material waste. Team member Yang Zining noted that these systems integrate vast historical data to solve complex logistics challenges that previously hindered resource sharing. By converting metallurgical expertise into digital rules, the 14-member research team aims to create "virtual factories" that optimize real-world production through advanced predictive analytics.
Summary: The State Administration for Market Regulation and the Standardization Administration of China have issued a new national standard, the "Guidelines for the Construction of Child-Friendly Public Facility Service Systems," effective December 1, 2026. The guidelines establish a multi-tiered framework—spanning urban, block, and community levels—to integrate health, education, welfare, and infrastructure services for children. Specific provisions mandate age-appropriate design for recreational facilities and promote flexible, community-embedded childcare solutions for infants and toddlers. The policy aims to systematically enhance urban spatial quality and public service efficiency for minors across diverse developmental stages.
Summary: On June 19, tourists were observed visiting the Nalati Grassland in Xinyuan County, Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang. The report features photographic documentation of the tourism activities in the region, credited to Liao Zuping.
Summary: To mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the "Year of China-Africa People-to-People Exchange," the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries recently hosted 20 African diplomats and students for a tour of Guizhou province. During the visit, diplomats—including the ambassadors of Lesotho and Chad—studied Guizhou’s poverty alleviation efforts and participated in a "Village Super League" (Cun Chao) football match. Lesotho Ambassador Lin Mei praised China’s poverty reduction model and expressed optimism that Beijing’s zero-tariff policy for African goods would bolster China-Africa economic cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative. Participants also engaged in local e-commerce and rural development workshops, with several diplomats expressing interest in adopting China’s grassroots governance and rural revitalization strategies. The article frames these exchanges as a vital component of the "China-Africa community with a shared future," emphasizing the role of sports and cultural diplomacy in deepening bilateral ties.
Summary: This article, authored by a researcher from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, critiques the Japanese government's upcoming "Showa Centennial" commemorations as a systematic effort to obscure Japan’s history of aggression in Asia. The author argues that Tokyo is selectively reframing the Showa era to emphasize technological progress and domestic reconstruction while downplaying war crimes committed against Asian neighbors. The commentary explicitly links these commemorative activities to the political agenda of the Sanae Takaichi administration, describing them as a "rejection of Asia and embrace of the U.S." (脱亚入美) intended to provide historical legitimacy for Japan’s contemporary remilitarization and pro-U.S. alignment. By abandoning the "Yoshida Doctrine"—which prioritized economic growth and regional stability—the author contends that Japan is undermining its own long-term strategic interests and regional security. The piece concludes that Japan’s current trajectory risks isolating it from Asia and warns that the government must confront the full responsibilities of its wartime past to ensure future stability.
Summary: The second International Communication Conference on Tibet, held in Lhasa with nearly 300 participants, focused on countering Western narratives by emphasizing the region's socio-economic progress and environmental sustainability. Jawaharlal Nehru University Professor Manukonda Rabindranath praised Tibet's development model, urging international observers to reject Western media portrayals in favor of firsthand experience. Participants, including academic leaders from Sri Lanka and Nepal, advocated for enhanced cross-cultural dialogue and accurate, empathetic reporting to dismantle negative stereotypes. Scholars highlighted the deep historical and cultural ties between China and its neighbors, particularly Nepal, as a foundation for future cooperation. The consensus among the visiting delegates was that the international community should prioritize objective observation and nuanced engagement to better understand Tibet’s contemporary reality.
Summary: The fourth French International Dragon Boat Carnival recently took place in Rueil-Malmaison, featuring the theme "Qu Yuan Meets Napoleon." Organized by the French Dragon Boat Committee and co-organized by the France Qingtian Association, the event hosted 11 teams from five countries, including China, France, Italy, Spain, and Denmark. The competition utilized the Seine River as its venue to foster international cultural exchange through traditional Chinese water sports.
Summary: The United Nations Association of China and the Permanent Mission of China to the UN in Geneva co-hosted a side event during the 62nd session of the UN Human Rights Council titled "Human Rights and Global Governance." Key participants included Mu Jianfeng, Minister-Counselor of the Chinese Mission, alongside scholars Li Ying and Li Xin, and Universal Rights Group Executive Director Marc Limon. Speakers emphasized the need for a non-politicized approach to global human rights governance, advocating for development-oriented strategies and rejecting the imposition of foreign models. The event highlighted China’s recent white paper on global governance as a framework for promoting a more inclusive system that prioritizes the sovereignty of member states. While not explicitly naming the United States, the discourse regarding opposition to "politicization" and the "imposition of models" serves as a direct critique of current U.S.-led human rights diplomacy.
Summary: This article reviews the historical significance of the 1956 Eighth National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party and Mao Zedong’s "On the Ten Major Relationships" as foundational milestones in exploring a socialist path tailored to China’s national conditions. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that adhering to and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics remains the fundamental conclusion of the Party's century-long struggle. Xi further directed that China must prioritize high-quality economic development through reform and innovation to address the current principal contradiction of unbalanced and inadequate development. The piece concludes by positioning the Party’s current efforts under the upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan as a continuation of this legacy of independent development and modernization.
Summary: Guizhou Bridge Construction Group is leveraging its "Party-building at the front line" model to overcome complex engineering challenges in high-altitude, mountainous infrastructure projects, such as the Huajiang Canyon Bridge. Company representatives, including former project deputy secretary Zhang Jie and project manager Wang Songyu, highlighted that integrating Party cells into project sites—supported by "pioneer posts" and advanced technological innovation—is essential for solving logistical and technical bottlenecks. Chairman Huang Renyuan stated that the group’s high-quality Party-building efforts are directly converted into productivity, competitiveness, and project cohesion. Through a hierarchical structure and "four-joint" collaboration mechanisms, the group optimizes resource sharing between project sections to meet aggressive construction targets.
Summary: In Gansu Province’s Yongdeng County, local officials and party members have successfully transformed the agricultural economy of Pingcheng Township by transitioning from traditional crops to high-value potato seed production. Pingcheng Township Party Secretary Wang Jianwen reported that the initiative followed a strategic shift after local officials and farmer representatives studied successful models in Dingxi. To mitigate risks for local residents, party members initially piloted the project on their own land before organizing a large-scale land transfer involving over 700 households. The resulting breeding base now leverages local climate advantages to export "golden seeds" to countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, providing stable employment for hundreds of local residents.
Summary: A recent community event in Jiaxing’s Nanhu District featured a "family tradition" lecture series centered on the teachings of General Secretary Xi Jinping regarding the importance of virtuous family values in shaping social morality. The featured speaker, Gao Yanjia, recounted the revolutionary history and austere lifestyle of her father, 98-year-old veteran Zhu Ya, who has spent over three decades conducting voluntary red education lectures. The event emphasized the integration of revolutionary heritage with personal integrity and frugality, themes conveyed to local primary school students through the cultural tradition of making *zongzi*. The narrative serves as a localized promotion of the CCP's ongoing efforts to institutionalize ideological education within the family unit to ensure the transmission of core party values to the younger generation.
Summary: The "Duanwu Classics Recitation: Shu-Style Youth" cultural event took place in Chengdu from June 18 to 19, aimed at fostering cultural confidence and patriotism among youth through traditional and revolutionary performances. Organized by the Publicity Department of the Communist Youth League Central Committee alongside several Sichuan provincial offices, the event emphasized themes of historical continuity and national rejuvenation. The program featured segments dedicated to ancient Shu civilization, patriotic sentiment, and the responsibilities of the new generation. While the initiative focused on domestic cultural identity, it serves as part of broader ideological efforts to bolster national cohesion.
Summary: During the Dragon Boat Festival holiday, various tourist attractions in the Haigang District of Qinhuangdao, Hebei Province, hosted a series of events that attracted significant visitor traffic. On June 20, tourists were observed attending performances at the Xinao Dolphin Pavilion. The report focuses on the region's successful promotion of leisure tourism during the holiday period.
Summary: The 15th Five-Year Plan outline emphasizes the continuous improvement of rural living environments, a mandate currently being implemented in Xiaogan, Hubei province, through a comprehensive "thousand canals and ten thousand ditches" cleaning initiative. According to Xiaogan Water Resources and Lake Bureau Deputy Director Xu Jin, the city has invested nearly 90 million yuan to remediate over 8,000 kilometers of waterways to bolster local irrigation and drainage capacity. While the project focuses on infrastructure, municipal authorities are concurrently integrating decentralized sewage treatment and formalizing long-term oversight through the extension of the "River and Lake Chief" system. This initiative aims to address the systemic maintenance challenges of rural agricultural infrastructure by institutionalizing community participation and oversight.
Summary: This article discusses strategies for ensuring the long-term sustainability of rural water management beyond initial infrastructure improvements. It emphasizes that achieving lasting cleanliness requires shifting community engagement from passive observation to active, self-motivated participation. The author suggests that this transition is driven by tangible improvements in local living standards, coupled with effective institutional incentives, public education, and social monitoring mechanisms. By integrating environmental stewardship into village regulations and reward systems, local authorities aim to break the cyclical pattern of recurring pollution and remediation.
Summary: <b style="color:red">[Summary Error - Empty Input]</b>
Summary: Seven Chinese government departments, including the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, recently issued a notice to promote industrial heritage protection and the development of industrial tourism. Across cities like Nanchang, Xi’an, and Luoyang, former state-owned industrial sites—such as textile mills, watch factories, and copper plants—are being revitalized into cultural and creative parks. These projects prioritize the preservation of original architectural features and industrial equipment while introducing modern commercial, recreational, and community functions. Officials and operators, such as 699 Creative Park’s General Manager Sheng Ke and Shaanxi Cultural Investment’s General Manager Yan Xiangcui, emphasize that this "adaptive reuse" strategy fosters national pride and economic growth by integrating historical craftsmanship with contemporary lifestyle needs. The revitalization efforts aim to transform aging industrial infrastructure into vibrant urban landmarks that serve as both tourist attractions and local community hubs.
Summary: Seven Chinese government departments, including the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Publicity Department, and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, recently issued a joint circular to promote industrial culture, protect heritage, and advance industrial tourism. The author, director of the MIIT’s Industrial Culture Development Center, highlights the revitalization of "rusty" industrial assets—such as Shougang Park and the Xiaomi EV factory—as key drivers for urban renewal and economic growth. By transforming former industrial sites into creative hubs and educational spaces, the state aims to foster historical and cultural confidence while stimulating local consumption. The article emphasizes that integrating industrial legacy with tourism is a strategic component of the upcoming "15th Five-Year Plan" to optimize regional industrial structures. The strategy seeks to convert traditional manufacturing sites into interactive, high-value experiences that bridge the gap between historical heritage and future technological development.
Summary: Please provide the text of the article you would like me to summarize. Once provided, I will draft a summary tailored for professional analysts of Chinese politics, ensuring it adheres to your length and content requirements.
Summary: This article details how major Chinese grotto sites—including Dunhuang, Yungang, Longmen, and Maijishan—are utilizing digital technologies to balance heritage preservation with public accessibility. Officials from the respective research institutes, including Lei Zhengguang (Dunhuang), Yan Ding and Liu Jianyong (Yungang), and Zhang Hui (Maijishan), highlight that 3D printing, virtual reality, and big-data-driven reservation systems are enabling these "immovable" cultural assets to be showcased through mobile exhibitions and immersive digital experiences. The report emphasizes that these advancements allow for the systematic management and "revitalization" of ancient artifacts while mitigating the physical degradation caused by high tourist traffic. While the article focuses on domestic cultural management, it notes that these digital initiatives are increasingly facilitating the international dissemination of Chinese cultural heritage. These efforts aim to provide a more sustainable model for the long-term conservation and global promotion of China’s historical treasures.
Summary: Chinese provincial authorities are increasingly integrating AI-powered "digital tour guides" into their tourism infrastructure to enhance personalized visitor experiences and operational efficiency. Guizhou Guilyu Digital Network Technology General Manager Huang Tao stated that these tools utilize proprietary algorithms and large language models to transition from passive information retrieval to proactive, data-driven service delivery. Huangshan Tourism Development Co. Chairman Zhang Dehui emphasized that this digital transformation helps sites shift from a "ticket-based" revenue model to a comprehensive consumption economy by optimizing resource management through real-time visitor data. Addressing security concerns, Yangzhou Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism official Huo Wei noted that stringent data management frameworks are being implemented to protect user privacy. Experts like Dr. Zheng Xin of Guizhou Normal University highlighted that as AI adoption accelerates, developers must ensure all applications strictly adhere to domestic laws and ethical standards.
Summary: This article examines the current state of "smart tourism" in China, noting that while technological integration is increasing, many projects suffer from superficiality and fragmented data silos. The author argues that industry stakeholders must shift from mere technical display toward improving user experience, specifically by standardizing data management and addressing practical pain points like accessibility for the elderly. Furthermore, the commentary emphasizes that the long-term success of these digital upgrades depends on their ability to effectively communicate and preserve Chinese cultural heritage. Ultimately, the piece calls for a strategic "cold reflection" to ensure that tourism transformation prioritizes substantive content and service quality over technological gimmicks.
Summary: Please provide the text of the article you would like me to summarize. Once provided, I will draft a concise summary tailored for professional analysts, ensuring the inclusion of relevant official details and geopolitical context as requested.
Summary: This article examines the historical origins and cultural significance of the "horse-head wall" (*matouqiang*), a distinctive architectural feature of the Hui-style building tradition. Originally developed in Ming Dynasty Huizhou as a "fire-sealing wall" to mitigate fire hazards in densely populated areas, these structures were popularized nationwide through the expansion of Hui merchants. Beyond their functional utility, the walls reflect traditional Chinese governance values, such as neighborly cooperation and communal safety. The author highlights how these architectural elements have evolved from functional necessities into aesthetic symbols that persist in modern design, including contemporary projects like the Suzhou Museum. Through this integration of traditional elements into modern urban landscapes, the article illustrates the enduring influence of regional Chinese culture on contemporary architectural identity.
Summary: This article explores the etymological and historical evolution of the idiom "turning swords into jade and silk" (化干戈为玉帛), which symbolizes the transformation of conflict into peaceful diplomacy. The author, Deputy Director of the Chengdu Jinsha Site Museum, details how ancient weapons like shields ("gan") and daggers ("ge") transitioned from functional combat tools to ceremonial status symbols. Archaeological findings from the Shang and Zhou dynasties, particularly the jade daggers discovered at the Sanxingdui and Jinsha sites, demonstrate how these items served as elite diplomatic currency. Ultimately, the text argues that these non-functional jade artifacts reflect deep-seated Chinese cultural values prioritizing harmony and moral suasion over military force.
Summary: This article examines the rapid integration of artificial intelligence and augmented reality (AR) technologies into wearable smart glasses, highlighting their expanding utility in sectors ranging from recreational navigation to industrial inspection. Industry experts Li Shuanglong and Xu Xu characterize this transition as a shift from conceptual technology to practical, real-world application, emphasizing the role of edge-cloud collaboration and optical waveguide technology in achieving a "perception-analysis-action" loop. While the report highlights domestic progress in hardware miniaturization and AI integration, it underscores the need for further breakthroughs in battery density, chip computing power, and application ecosystems to achieve mass-market adoption.
Summary: Please provide the text of the article you would like me to summarize. Once provided, I will draft a concise summary tailored for professional analysts, adhering to your specific requirements regarding personnel, U.S.-China relations, and length.
Summary: In a recent editorial, the *People’s Daily* reflects on the cultural significance of the Summer Solstice and the Dragon Boat Festival, framing them as moments for spiritual rejuvenation and the preservation of Chinese traditions. The piece encourages readers to engage with historical heritage—ranging from "red" family letters to the poetry of Qu Yuan—to foster national identity and moral reflection. By juxtaposing ancient customs with modern creative expressions, the editors advocate for the continued relevance of traditional values in contemporary society. The article serves as a cultural commentary and contains no references to the United States or bilateral relations.
Summary: This article, written by a vice chairman of the China Calligraphers Association, explores the enduring intersection of traditional Chinese culture and patriotic sentiment, specifically through the lens of Dragon Boat Festival themes. The author highlights historical "red family letters" written by Communist Party figures—such as Chen Jingxing, Jiang Zhuyun, and Yuan Zhichao—to illustrate how these revolutionaries synthesized personal familial devotion with national sacrifice. By tracing this lineage of "home and country" sentiments back to the ancient poet Qu Yuan and the literary traditions of the Chu state, the author argues that these values are deeply embedded in the Chinese national character. The text emphasizes that the artistic expression of these ideals through calligraphy and literature serves to reinforce the moral and political continuity of the Chinese people.
Summary: This article explores the evolution of the Chinese scent sachet (*xiangbao*) from its ancient ritualistic origins to its modern role as a cultural carrier of the "Qu Yuan spirit." The author, a senior journalist, traces how the practice shifted from wearing wild aromatic herbs to represent moral integrity to the development of sophisticated embroidery and diverse craft traditions. Highlighting the contemporary "national trend" (*guochao*), the text emphasizes how modern artisans are revitalizing these traditional skills by integrating them with TCM wisdom and aesthetic innovation. The narrative also underscores the sachet's role in personal and communal identity, illustrated by the author's gifting of custom lotus sachets to classical literature scholar Ye Jiaying during her 95th birthday celebrations. Ultimately, the piece positions the sachet as a vital vessel for transmitting Chinese historical values and scholarly character to future generations.
Summary: This article provides a cultural analysis of Qing dynasty court painter Xu Yang’s "Duanyang Story Album," which depicts traditional customs associated with the Dragon Boat Festival. The author highlights how these eight paintings illustrate the synthesis of court aesthetics and folk traditions, noting that the inclusion of imperial seals suggests the album served as a medium for the Qing emperors to observe and engage with societal customs. By documenting practices ranging from archery and herbal gathering to the preparation of *zongzi*, the work is presented as a preservation of Chinese cultural heritage and collective memory. The text emphasizes that these artistic representations of seasonal rituals reflect an enduring "cultural gene" that continues to define the Chinese social and spiritual identity.
Summary: This article by a researcher at the China Agriculture Museum explores the historical and cultural evolution of the Dragon Boat Festival (Duanwu) and its deep-rooted relationship with the Summer Solstice. It highlights how traditional rituals, such as dragon boat racing and the consumption of *zongzi*, reflect ancient Chinese philosophical concepts regarding the transition of *yin* and *yang* energies during midsummer. The author emphasizes that while Duanwu has evolved to incorporate patriotic narratives like the legend of Qu Yuan, its foundational customs were originally adapted from Summer Solstice traditions designed to manage seasonal shifts, pest control, and agricultural cycles. The piece frames these evolving folk practices as a continuous integration of natural wisdom and national heritage.
Summary: This article explores the contemporary resurgence of traditional Chinese "new-style" mugwort bouquets during the Dragon Boat Festival, framing this trend as a manifestation of "continuing the ancient to create trends" (*xu gu wei chao*). The author argues that integrating historical aesthetics into modern daily life allows traditional culture to meet contemporary consumer demands while reclaiming a distinctly Chinese visual and cultural vocabulary. By moving beyond imported floral symbolism, the author emphasizes the importance of reviving domestic customs to express national identity and aesthetic values. Ultimately, the text presents this shift as a vital process of cultural inheritance, transforming traditional, functional medicinal herbs into sophisticated carriers of modern lifestyle aesthetics.
Summary: Please provide the text of the article you would like me to summarize. Once provided, I will draft a concise summary tailored for professional analysts, adhering to your specific requirements regarding key figures, personnel, and U.S.-China relations.
By: 本报记者 吴齐强 贺林平 王云娜
In the Honghai Bay Green Manufacturing Industrial Park (红海湾绿色制造产业园) in Shanwei City (汕尾市), Guangdong Province (广东省), construction of the BYD (比亚迪) new energy vehicle parts manufacturing base is in full swing. Driven by the Shenzhen-Shanwei (深圳—汕尾) inter-city assistance and cooperation mechanism, the BYD (比亚迪) project landed in Shanwei (汕尾) in March 2025. This site will be developed into an industrial cluster for new energy vehicles and new energy storage, with an estimated annual output value of approximately 52 billion yuan after production begins.
At the Guangmei Industrial Park (广梅产业园) located in Meizhou City (梅州市), rows of factory buildings stand tall, where copper foil, thin as gauze, shuttles between the high-speed rollers of the production lines. Relying on the Guangzhou (广州) counterpart assistance and cooperation mechanism for Meizhou (梅州), the Guangmei Industrial Park (广梅产业园) introduced copper rod production enterprises in 2024 to refine the raw material supply chain, achieving a total industrial output value of 18.03 billion yuan in 2025, a year-on-year increase of 50%.
Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (党的十八大), General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) has visited Guangdong (广东) many times, pointing out: "Unbalanced urban-rural and regional development is the greatest shortcoming in Guangdong's (广东) high-quality development. We must make efforts to resolve the urban-rural dual structure, with greater intensity, more precise measures, and **久久为功** (jiǔ jiǔ wéi gōng - "long long do work," to persist in an effort for a long time to achieve success). Guangdong (广东) must work hard to solve the problem of unbalanced regional development, accelerate the regional interconnection of infrastructure such as transportation, and drive and promote the eastern, western, and northern regions of Guangdong (粤东、粤西、粤北) to better undertake the orderly transfer of industries from the Pearl River Delta (珠三角)."
Deeply implementing the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) important instructions, at the end of 2022, Guangdong (广东) launched the "High-Quality Development Project for Hundreds of Counties, Thousands of Towns, and Ten Thousand Villages" (hereinafter referred to as the "Hundred, Thousand, and Ten Thousand Project" (百千万工程)), aiming to optimize industries, beautify villages, and benefit people's livelihoods, striving to create a new situation for coordinated urban-rural and regional development in Guangdong (广东).
Integrate resource endowments and expand development space.
The forest belt is lush; on one side is the BYD (比亚迪) project under construction, and on the other, green seedlings are growing vigorously in high-standard farmland. A year ago, this place was a mix of barren beaches, fragmented fields, and old residential houses. The available land plots were "the size of a palm," lacking space for industrial development, and agriculture was difficult to scale up.
By building more than 300 mu of contiguous farmland and relocating 52 households as an entire village, Shanwei (汕尾) made full use of the "policy toolkit" for comprehensive land improvement across the entire region, clearing out more than 8,000 mu of high-quality contiguous construction land in Honghai Bay (红海湾), attracting the BYD (比亚迪) project and driving the gathering of multiple supporting enterprises.
Using reform to break through the bottleneck of development space, Guangdong (广东) has cumulatively implemented 1.4793 million mu of agricultural land improvement, 430,600 mu of construction land consolidation, and 2.7763 million mu of ecological protection and restoration, cumulatively pulling in 730.208 billion yuan in investment. A batch of high-quality enterprises from the Pearl River Delta (珠三角) has accelerated their landing in the eastern, western, and northern regions of Guangdong (粤东、粤西、粤北).
Coordinate regional planning and deeply explore rural value.
In Xutian Village (徐田村), Boluo County (博罗县), Huizhou City (惠州市), at the southern foot of Mount Luofu (罗浮山), white walls and blue tiles stand by the river. Every weekend, cars come and go in front of restaurants and homestays. Tourists can camp in the countryside or walk into Hakka walled houses (客家围屋) to immerse themselves in innovative sound, light, and electricity scenes. "These are all changes brought about by the 'Hundred, Thousand, and Ten Thousand Project' (百千万工程)!" sighed Xu Guangquan (徐广权), Party Branch Secretary of Xutian Village (徐田村).
Since 2024, Guangdong (广东) has proposed planning and building a high-quality development pilot zone for counties, towns, and villages around Mount Nankun (南昆山) and Mount Luofu (罗浮山), and has completed a 618-kilometer-long tourism highway around Mount Nankun (南昆山) and Mount Luofu (罗浮山), stringing the villages along the route like pearls on a necklace to leverage the integrated development of agriculture, culture, and tourism in the county.
Changing the old method of scattered village development, Boluo County (博罗县) established a county-owned state-owned enterprise, Luofu Mountain Cultural Tourism Investment Group Co., Ltd. (罗浮山文化旅游投资集团有限公司), to operate the entire village and deeply explore the value of village resources. In early 2025, the company introduced a professional team to settle in Xutian Village (徐田村) to renovate the Hakka walled houses (客家围屋), and the village's collective economic income increased to more than 1.5 million yuan that year.
In recent years, Guangdong (广东) has deeply explored the ecological and cultural value of the countryside, cumulatively cultivating 818 typical towns and 5,806 typical villages, and creating 130 town-village clusters and 194 rural revitalization demonstration belts.
Sink high-quality resources and balance public services.
Early this year, hearing that the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University (中山大学附属第一医院) was providing counterpart assistance to the Jieyang People's Hospital (揭阳市人民医院), 75-year-old Zhuang Chenghe (庄成和) from Jieyang City (揭阳市) decided to undergo knee osteoarthritis surgery. Zhang Zhiqi (张志奇), Deputy Director of the Joint Surgery Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University (中山一院) and Deputy Party Secretary and President of the Jieyang People's Hospital (揭阳市人民医院), led a team to perform a "left knee joint surface replacement" for him. Just four days after the operation, Zhuang Chenghe (庄成和) was successfully discharged.
Since the implementation of the "Hundred, Thousand, and Ten Thousand Project" (百千万工程), Guangdong (广东) has continued to deepen the reform of the medical and health system. The provincial finance has invested 500 million yuan in batches to implement "one-on-one" close-knit assistance projects for high-level hospitals across regions, supporting 5 high-level hospitals in the province to provide counterpart assistance to 5 municipal-level general hospitals in eastern and northern Guangdong (粤东、粤北). At the same time, it has organized 104 Grade-A tertiary hospitals (三甲医院) across the province to assist 172 county-level public hospitals, achieving full coverage of assistance for county-level public medical institutions.
Currently, 57 counties (cities) in Guangdong (广东) have achieved a net inflow of county-seat population. The urbanization rate of the permanent resident population in the county has risen from 44.72% in 2022 to 46.48%, and the ratio of urban to rural residents' income has narrowed from 2.41:1 to 2.27:1.
Huang Kunming (黄坤明), Secretary of the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee (广东省委), stated: "Deeply comprehending the earnest entrustment of General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平), Guangdong (广东) must grasp the county as the entry point for urban-rural integration, **久久为功** (jiǔ jiǔ wéi gōng - "long long do work," to persist in an effort for a long time to achieve success), and persevere to promote new breakthroughs in the 'Hundred, Thousand, and Ten Thousand Project' (百千万工程), turning Guangdong's (广东) greatest shortcoming in high-quality development into a potential strength through continuous struggle."
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 廖文根 付 文
"We must continue to deepen the reform of the medical and health system, balance the distribution of high-quality medical resources, improve infrastructure conditions at the primary level, and provide reliable guarantees for the people's health."
—— March 2021, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized during an inspection tour in Fujian (福建)
People's health is an important hallmark of socialist modernization. "The masses not only demand access to medical care and effective treatment, but they also hope to avoid illness, reduce the incidence of disease, enjoy more comfortable medical experiences, and receive more considerate services. They hold higher expectations for the government to safeguard people's health and provide basic medical and health services." General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) is 念兹在兹 (niàn zī zài zī - "thinking of it constantly," to keep something constantly in mind or be deeply concerned about it) regarding the safeguarding of people's health.
During this year's "Two Sessions" (全国两会), General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized: "Further deepen reform and improve the coordinated development and governance mechanisms for medical care, medical insurance, and medicine."
By establishing the health and hygiene guidelines for the new era, comprehensively advancing the "Healthy China" (健康中国) initiative, and deepening the reform of the medical and health system, China has built the world's largest medical and health system, perfected a public health service network covering both urban and rural areas, and significantly improved the health level of the people.
"Grandma, you are recovering well. Remember to take your medicine on time; I will come to see you again in a while." Not long ago, Yu Siwei (余思薇), a doctor at the Meixian Branch (梅仙分院) of the Youxi County General Hospital (尤溪县总医院) in Sanming City (三明市), Fujian Province (福建省), visited Xiao Aimei (肖爱梅) at her home in Jiudu Community (九都社区), Meixian Town (梅仙镇).
One morning, the octogenarian Xiao Aimei (肖爱梅) was rushed to the hospital due to a sudden acute myocardial infarction. The medical staff at the Meixian Branch (梅仙分院) of the Youxi County General Hospital (尤溪县总医院) immediately activated the emergency treatment plan, following the standardized treatment process of the Chest Pain Center (胸痛中心), and successfully saved her life.
How can a township hospital perform emergency treatment for a heart attack? This is one of the achievements brought about by Sanming's (三明) continuous deepening of medical reform. The Sanming (三明) medical reform takes the reform of public hospitals as the entry point, actively explores the comprehensive reform of the "three-medical linkage" (medical care, medical insurance, and medicine), and strives to provide the masses with reliable medical and health services.
In February 2016, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) presided over a meeting of the Central Leading Group for Comprehensively Deepening Reform (中央全面深化改革领导小组), where he heard a report on the Sanming (三明) medical reform and requested that the reform experience be summarized and promoted. In March 2021, during his inspection tour in Fujian (福建), General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) visited the Sha County General Hospital (沙县总医院) in Sanming City (三明市) and emphasized: "We must continue to deepen the reform of the medical and health system, balance the distribution of high-quality medical resources, improve infrastructure conditions at the primary level, and provide reliable guarantees for the people's health."
Keeping these instructions firmly in mind, the Sanming (三明) medical reform continues to advance in depth.
Promoting the improvement of the medical and health service system to ensure health.
Before the reform, every county (city, district) in Sanming (三明) had two county-level hospitals, and each township and sub-district had health centers and health service centers. These medical institutions were independent of each other and engaged in unreasonable competition, making it impossible to achieve healthy development.
Youxi County (尤溪县) integrated two county-level hospitals, 15 township health centers, and 212 village clinics to form a General Hospital (Medical Consortium) (医共体), unifying the allocation of human, financial, and material resources. The Youxi County General Hospital (尤溪县总医院) added four emergency sub-stations in places like the Meixian Branch (梅仙分院), provided rotational training for emergency personnel, and standardized treatment protocols. As a result, emergency response times were significantly shortened, and the efficiency of collaborative treatment for acute and critical illnesses was continuously improved.
Streamlining the medical insurance management system to safeguard the "life-saving money" of the people.
Sanming City (三明市) promoted the "three-in-one" integration of urban employee medical insurance, resident medical insurance, and the New Rural Cooperative Medical Scheme (新农合), unified the handling of medical insurance reimbursement and drug procurement, and implemented municipal-level pooling of funds, forming a more efficient and scientific management system.
"I suggest you take this domestic medicine; the effect is good, and the price is cheap." At past 12:00 noon, Lin Xingsan (林兴三), chief physician of the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at the Youxi County General Hospital (尤溪县总医院), was still seeing patients. His operations, such as ordering examinations and prescribing medication, are under real-time supervision by the "Medical Insurance Fund Standardized Management System" (医保基金规范管理系统). If any suspected irregularities occur, the system issues a warning before settlement to prevent "excessive prescriptions" and "excessive examinations."
Breaking the practice of "supporting medicine with drugs" to let medicine return to its function of curing diseases.
The reform comprehensively implemented zero-markup sales of drugs and medical consumables, practiced joint price-capped procurement of drugs (consumables), and implemented comprehensive policies throughout the entire process of volume-based procurement, distribution, usage, settlement, and supervision.
Sanming (三明) used the space created by squeezing out the "water" of inflated prices for drugs and consumables to timely adjust the prices of medical service items, better reflecting the value of the technical labor of medical personnel. At the same time, 20% to 30% of the space created was used to reduce the medical expenses of the masses.
A set of data highlights the effectiveness of the reform: from 2011 to 2025, the expenditure on drugs and consumables in all public hospitals at or above the secondary level in the city only increased by 82 million yuan. The proportion of income from drugs and consumables dropped from 60.08% to 29.11%, while the proportion of income from medical services increased from 18.37% to 51.11%.
Adapting to local conditions, the experience of the Sanming (三明) medical reform has taken root across the country—
Hubei (湖北) has used the construction of county-level imaging and electrocardiogram centers as a starting point to promote a "decentralized examination, centralized diagnosis, and regional mutual recognition" model, allowing 90% of patients to remain within the county; Jiangsu (江苏) has continuously improved the dynamic adjustment mechanism for medical service prices, with 269 new medical service items added and 1,411 item prices adjusted across the province; Anhui (安徽) has built 369 "Master Doctor Studios" (名医工作室), extending expert services to the side of the masses...
In recent years, China has deeply promoted the experience of the Sanming (三明) medical reform, accelerating the realization of "major illnesses not leaving the province, general illnesses being resolved in cities and counties, and daily illnesses being resolved at the primary level." Today, the average life expectancy of Chinese residents has reached 79.25 years, and the people's sense of gain, happiness, and security continues to increase.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 孙海天
"In the past, passengers in the car often chatted about which seafood restaurant was the most delicious, but now, there are significantly more conversations about rockets."
Before the launch date, Longlou Town (龙楼镇) in Wenchang City (文昌市), Hainan (海南), welcomed a large number of tourists. The reporter boarded a ride-hailing vehicle, and the driver, Wang Liang (王亮), a local of Longlou Town (龙楼镇), quickly opened up: "In Wenchang (文昌), almost everyone can say a few things about aerospace: there is a massive water reservoir under the launch tower that injects 20 tons of water per second during ignition to reduce heat and noise... Whenever a launch day arrives, guest rooms in the town are booked solid."
In April 2022, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized while inspecting the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site (文昌航天发射场): "Comprehensively enhance modern space launch capabilities and strive to build a world-class space launch site."
Keeping these instructions firmly in mind, this red revolutionary land has seized development opportunities, allowing the aerospace industry to inject new momentum into the development of the old revolutionary base area. As of now, the Hainan Commercial Spacecraft Launch Site (海南商业航天发射场) has completed 17 launches, and the Wenchang International Aerospace City (文昌国际航天城) has attracted over 3,300 enterprises. In 2025, its revenue exceeded 20 billion yuan, and the gross domestic product (GDP) of the Wenchang (文昌) region has increased by over 10 billion yuan in the past five years.
The "aerospace meal" is becoming increasingly popular. "On launch days, every Wenchang chicken (文昌鸡) restaurant on the street is packed, and even the busiest shop can't keep up even after hiring seven or eight temporary workers," said Wang Liang (王亮). Before the launch site was established, Longlou Town (龙楼镇) had only 5 hotels and 230 shops; today, the number of hotels and homestays has increased to over 80, with more than 900 shops, and the town receives over 900,000 tourists annually.
It is not just Longlou Town (龙楼镇) that is benefiting from the "aerospace meal." Driving southwest from Longlou Town (龙楼镇), it takes just over half an hour to reach Nanyang Village (南阳村) in Wencheng Town (文城镇), Wenchang City (文昌市). This place was once an important part of the Qiongya Revolutionary Base (琼崖革命根据地). Under the large banyan tree in front of the Nanyang People's Revolutionary Struggle Memorial Hall (南阳人民革命斗争纪念馆), the reporter met 70-year-old villager Chen Fengchun (陈封椿).
The aerospace industry has driven the development of this old revolutionary area. "Before the construction of the Aerospace City (航天城), the village's business model was singular, mainly focused on planting and breeding. After the Aerospace City (航天城) landed, the business landscape suddenly became diverse," said Chen Fengchun (陈封椿). The aerospace tourism boom in Longlou Town (龙楼镇) is radiating to the surrounding areas and further integrating with red tourism.
In Wenchang (文昌), the Nanyang People's Revolutionary Struggle Memorial Hall (南阳人民革命斗争纪念馆), the Wenchang Aerospace Science Popularization Center (文昌航天科普中心), and the Hainan Commercial Spacecraft Launch Site (海南商业航天发射场) are linked together like pearls on a string. Mr. Hu (胡先生) from Ningbo (宁波), Zhejiang (浙江), brought his child to Wenchang (文昌) to participate in an aerospace science camp and also plans to visit the Zhang Yunyi Memorial Hall (张云逸纪念馆). "I came for the rockets, but I am pleasantly surprised that there is such a profound revolutionary history and culture here."
Striving toward the "14th Five-Year Plan" (十五五), the second phase of the Hainan Commercial Spacecraft Launch Site (海南商业航天发射场) is under accelerated construction. The newly built No. 3 and No. 4 launch pads are expected to have launch capabilities by the end of this year. By then, the annual launch capacity is expected to transition from "a launch every month" to "scheduled flight-like launches."
In the evening, Wang Liang (王亮) dropped off one group of passengers and soon welcomed another. Outside the car window, the silhouette of the launch tower faded into the twilight, and the sky above the coconut groves shifted from orange-red to deep blue...
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 谷业凯
The news that "Doubao (豆包) will introduce a new paid subscription model" has sparked widespread attention. Is charging for large language models reasonable?
— Netizens of People's Daily Online (人民网)
The domestic artificial intelligence product Doubao (豆包) is piloting a tiered subscription service, announcing that while maintaining its existing free services, it will launch a paid professional version tailored for high-value tasks. Some users have raised questions about the paid service, while others support the addition of paid subscriptions, arguing that reasonable fees can help build a virtuous cycle for the industry.
Both viewpoints have merit; the issue of charging for large language models cannot be viewed through a simple "dichotomy."
Large language models are not only new technologies but also new products. It has been some time since large language models achieved technological breakthroughs, and the market has been consistently striving to explore the commercial boundaries and profit models for these products. Launching paid versions that include more value-added services to meet the differentiated needs of various users is one choice for the industry as it moves from "burning money to gain scale" toward sustainable development.
On a deeper level, paying for knowledge and intellectual services has become a basic consensus in modern society. Charging a certain fee can better incentivize innovation and creation, pushing more knowledge products and intellectual services into the market. Today, an increasing number of users on the internet pay to watch movies and television shows or top up various applications, which also reflects an acceptance of the paid model.
The services provided by large language models involve substantial investments in data, computing power, and intellectual costs, and their operation requires the continuous consumption of various resources. Unlimited, free "overdraft" usage is inherently detrimental to the protection of rights and interests in technological research and development. From the user's perspective, large language models provide more direct productivity, creativity, and decision-making support; user stickiness stems from being "useful." Today's artificial intelligence is no longer as simple as answering a few questions or writing a few lines of copy. "Advanced" functions such as long-document analysis, code writing, and video creation generate value that is often more direct, and they can no longer be viewed in the same light as ordinary chatbots.
Over the past few years, the most common practice for large language model products has been to drive traffic, acquire new users, and provide subsidies—first expanding the user base and then cultivating usage habits. Today, large language model products have reached a stage where they must "carefully calculate the accounts," and users' value perception and payment habits also need to be reshaped. From this perspective, what the vast majority of users are concerned about is not whether large language models can charge fees, but how to charge them reasonably.
To get users accustomed to paying for large language model services, it must be based on a solid sense of rule-based awareness. For example, once a paid subscription relationship is established, a service transaction contract is formed between the user and the platform. Manufacturers must remain open and transparent regarding payment standards and the performance indicators of the services they promise to provide. For usage issues such as factual errors or logical loopholes, platforms should proactively take responsibility and establish risk control mechanisms. Regarding pain points such as forced bundling, hidden fees, and privacy leaks, the industry needs to form self-regulatory mechanisms as soon as possible.
If charging for large language models is to truly cross the user's psychological threshold, it must also be supported by a profound sense of service. The key to the implementation of a reasonable payment mechanism lies in making users feel that they are getting their money's worth. Only when users tangibly experience that paid services can solve critical pain points and improve work efficiency does charging become reasonable. On the other hand, the commercialization of large language models is not a **一锤子买卖** (yī chuí zi mǎi mai - "one hammer deal," a one-time transaction), and platforms must maintain an open attitude, continuously optimize services, put user experience first, and constantly polish service details during the transformation from a "traffic mindset" to a "value mindset" so that charging for large language models can truly win market recognition.
Furthermore, charging for large language models should be an "addition," not a "subtraction" from existing rights and interests. Paying does not mean neglecting free users; manufacturers need to ensure the quality of basic services for free users and rely on compliant revenue to subsidize algorithm optimization, computing power expansion, and new technology research and development, thereby promoting the overall progress of the product to benefit the vast number of users and help bridge the "digital divide" in the era of artificial intelligence.
China's internet and digital economy are developing rapidly, giving birth to the world's largest user base. Hundreds of millions of users, along with the data, experience, and feedback they generate, are constantly pushing information technology, including artificial intelligence, forward. By respecting innovation, following the laws of the market economy, and steadily advancing commercialization under regulatory oversight and industry self-discipline, we believe that domestic large language models will continuously produce original achievements and create a bumper harvest in both technology and commerce.
Return to TopDuring the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节) holiday, various regions strengthened service guarantees and promoted the deep integration of culture and tourism, creating a richer supply of high-quality offerings. As a result, cultural and tourism consumption has been robust and full of vitality, truly reflecting the state of 蒸蒸日上 (zhēng zhēng rì shàng - "steaming steaming day upward," flourishing and becoming more prosperous every day).
Return to TopCultural China Tour (文化中国行)
Checking in at industrial heritage sites, experiencing "hardcore" charm
Fifth Edition (第五版)
Digital technology support
Ancient grotto temples can still be this "trendy"
Sixth Edition (第六版)
Supplement (副刊)
Dadi Duanyang (大地端阳) · Pure Fragrance (清芬)
Eighth Edition (第八版)
By: 本报记者 史自强 强郁文
"Unity is strength, unity is strength, this strength is iron, this strength is steel..."
Sunlight spills into the depths of the Taihang Mountains (太行山). In Beizhuang Village (北庄村), Xibaipo Town (西柏坡镇), Pingshan County (平山县), Shijiazhuang City (石家庄市), Hebei Province (河北省), the village loudspeaker plays the familiar melody. Inside the village's "Unity Beizhuang Handicraft Workshop" (团结北庄手工坊), several women keep their heads down, stitching shoe soles while humming along softly.
The stitches are fine and dense, the singing is melodious. This song has been sung in Beizhuang Village (北庄村) for 83 years.
In 1943, literary and art workers from the Northwest Battlefield Service Corps (西北战地服务团) created and premiered the short opera "Unity is Strength" (团结就是力量) in Beizhuang Village (北庄村). At the end of the performance, the cast and crew walked to the center of the venue, linked arms, and sang in unison. The villagers present rose one after another, linking arms tightly with them.
With the military and civilians of one heart, 众志成城 (zhòng zhì chéng chéng - "masses' will forms a fortress," people united are as strong as a fortress). At that time, Beizhuang Village (北庄村) was a well-known model village for resistance against Japan, with more than 50 young people from the village enthusiastically joining the army. When the Eighth Route Army (八路军) passed through, the villagers worked through the night to make military shoes to support the army and the front line.
In February 2021, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) wrote a letter encouraging all Party members in Beizhuang Village (北庄村): "On the new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist country, I hope you will resolutely respond to the call of the Party Central Committee (党中央), fully play the role of pioneers and models, better unite and gather the villagers, think in one direction, exert effort in one place, and make life more and more prosperous."
All Party members in Beizhuang Village (北庄村) kept the instructions firmly in mind, leading the villagers to strive with one heart, developing red tourism, building e-commerce bases, and promoting the comprehensive revitalization of the countryside. Today's Beizhuang Village (北庄村) is filled with scenes of cadres and the masses working hand in hand.
Party members stand out, and the masses follow.
Qi Zemin (齐泽民), who has been a Party member for 57 years, said: "When there are urgent or difficult matters, Party members must charge to the front. The gene of unity has been deeply integrated into the blood of the people of Beizhuang (北庄)." When the village developed planting industries, he took the lead in transferring his own land; when the village repaired roads twice, he cooperated without a word.
Village Party Branch Secretary Feng Hongjuan (封红卷) once traveled to many places in the country to learn advanced experience. After returning to the village, he held meetings with cadres and the masses to ponder new ways for comprehensive rural revitalization. To lead the whole village in improving the appearance of the village, he took the initiative to demolish his own street-side toilet.
The village has built a pastoral complex, developed fruit and vegetable planting and picking industries, unified the renovation of idle farm houses, and opened boutique homestays and the "Unity Canteen" (团结食堂). The Village History Museum (村史馆), threshing grounds, and other attractions have been built and opened, and red tourism is flourishing.
Thinking in one direction, exerting effort in one place.
"After the Village History Museum (村史馆) was built, I became a guide. Each tour earns me 90 yuan, and in the peak season, the monthly income can reach five or six thousand yuan." Villager Wang Junyan (王俊彦) said that her family was once a registered impoverished household. When her husband passed away, her children were still young, and her life was once in difficulty. "The development of the village has made my life better."
Returning youth Wang Yamei (王亚梅), who previously ran a yoga studio in Shijiazhuang (石家庄), founded the "Unity Beizhuang Handicraft Workshop" (团结北庄手工坊) after returning, organizing aunts and sisters to make thousand-layer sole cloth shoes and handmade cotton socks. "From three or four people to forty or fifty, from one village to several surrounding villages, the scale of the workshop has expanded, sales have gradually increased, and the next step is to further broaden online sales channels." Wang Yamei (王亚梅) is full of energy.
Walking into the village's e-commerce base, honey, vermicelli, cloth shoes, cultural and creative products, and more are dazzling. With online live streaming and offline tourist purchases, "Unity" (团结) has become the most resounding brand.
During the War of Resistance, the military and civilians united to resist foreign aggression. In the new era, cadres and the masses work together to revitalize the countryside. In 2025, the collective income of Beizhuang Village (北庄村) exceeded 1 million yuan, the per capita income of villagers exceeded 20,000 yuan, and it received more than 60,000 tourists.
"We believe that as long as everyone is united, there is no difficulty that cannot be overcome, and no goal that cannot be achieved!" said Feng Hongjuan (封红卷).
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 常 钦
In the past, the procedures for enterprises to purchase real estate were cumbersome. Registration, tax payment, loans, and mortgages required visiting multiple departments or institutions, repeatedly submitting materials, which was both time-consuming and labor-intensive. Recently, the Ministry of Natural Resources (自然资源部), in conjunction with the Ministry of Public Security (公安部), the State Taxation Administration (国家税务总局), the State Administration for Market Regulation (国家市场监督管理总局), and the National Financial Regulatory Administration (国家金融监督管理总局), jointly issued a notice to launch seven reform measures, promoting the "efficient handling of one matter" for the transfer registration of real estate purchased by enterprises. What benefits will the reform bring to enterprises? How will the service experience be improved? A reporter interviewed a relevant official from the Department of Natural Resource Rights and Registration (自然资源确权登记局) of the Ministry of Natural Resources (自然资源部).
Saying Goodbye to "Running Around and Repeated Submissions"
Q: What are the most direct conveniences that enterprises can feel from the reform?
A: Real estate registration concerns the major property rights and interests of enterprises. In the past, enterprises indeed faced troubles such as running to multiple departments and repeatedly submitting materials when handling real estate transfer registrations. The original intention of this reform is to make it more worry-free, labor-saving, convenient, and cost-effective for enterprises to purchase real estate. We have bundled multiple matters, such as transfer registration and tax declaration, into a single matter. Enterprises only need to go to one comprehensive window or a dedicated enterprise window to complete registration applications, tax declarations, and certificate collection all at once.
Q: Specifically regarding the details of handling, have the materials that enterprises need to prepare been reduced? How fast can the processing be?
A: The required materials have been significantly "slimming down." For example, common materials such as the enterprise's business license, power of attorney, and transaction contracts no longer need to be photocopied in thick sets for repeated submission; instead, we implement a single list, one set of materials, and one-time submission.
The speed will also accelerate. For general business operations where the enterprise is operating normally and tax documents are complete, we will achieve immediate completion. In principle, after the enterprise pays the taxes, the registration can be completed within one working day. Taking Shenzhen (深圳), Guangdong (广东) as an example, enterprises submit one set of materials at a single window, and the system automatically calculates taxes and fees with second-level feedback. After payment, they can receive the certificate on the spot, usually within 30 minutes.
Solving "Slow Financing and Expensive Bridge Loans"
Q: Enterprises often need loans to buy factories or office buildings, and some real estate even carries existing mortgages. What practical measures are there to help enterprises reduce costs and promote financing?
A: In the past, buying and selling real estate with mortgages often required the buyer or seller to first raise a large sum of "bridge" funds to pay off the loan, which involved high interest costs and long durations.
The notice clearly states that the "transfer with mortgage" (带押过户) reform should be deepened, supporting not only the same bank but also promoting "transfer with mortgage" across different banking financial institutions. By merging the handling of transfer registration and mortgage registration, we achieve a seamless connection between taking out new loans and repaying old ones. This will significantly reduce the burden of "bridge" funds for enterprises and effectively lower institutional transaction costs.
Q: For loan processing and mortgage registration, will it still be necessary to run back and forth between banks and registration halls in the future?
A: No, it won't be necessary. We have extended real estate registration service outlets to banking financial institutions. When enterprises apply for loans, they can complete registration information inquiries, mortgage registration, and transfer registration applications at bank outlets in a one-stop manner. For example, in Qingdao (青岛), Shandong (山东), nearly 800 bank outlets have been connected to cover the entire region, and enterprises can handle related businesses synchronously at these bank outlets. At the same time, the system will directly extract key information from loan contracts and mortgage contracts to generate forms, sparing enterprises the trouble of repeatedly filling out forms.
Encouraging "One-Stop Linked Inquiries"
Q: For enterprises operating across provinces and regions, how can real estate registration be made more convenient?
A: It mainly relies on digital empowerment to break regional restrictions, letting data "run more" and enterprises "run less" or even "not run at all." We will accelerate the promotion of real estate registration "cross-province processing" (跨省通办), primarily through "online processing throughout."
Relevant departments will share information such as enterprise business licenses in real time, prioritizing the verification of electronic business licenses to achieve exemption from material submission. For enterprises unfamiliar with the operations, many places are also exploring "assisted handling" services. For example, Shenzhen (深圳) has innovatively launched "online assisted handling," where professional personnel such as bank managers and real estate agents fill out forms online on behalf of the enterprise, and relevant enterprise personnel only need to verify their identity via facial recognition and sign on their mobile phones to confirm the process.
Q: Enterprises often spend tens of millions of yuan to buy factories, and they are most afraid of buying properties with disputes or those that have been seized. How does the policy ensure the investment safety of enterprises?
A: "Due diligence" before a transaction is the key to ensuring investment safety. The notice requires providing online information inquiry services for enterprises with transaction or investment and financing intentions. Relevant enterprise personnel can check online whether the real estate is subject to restrictions such as mortgages, seizures, or rights of residence.
Furthermore, we encourage local authorities to provide "one-stop linked inquiries." For example, some places have realized "searching for properties via maps," and some places can also synchronously query the enterprise's operating status and announced tax arrears information. At the same time, we encourage the introduction of pre-registration in transactions to effectively prevent risks such as "selling one property to two buyers," allowing enterprises to buy with peace of mind.
Q: When will the policy be implemented? How can enterprises learn about the progress of the reform in their locations?
A: Some places are already ahead. Beijing (北京) provides "one-stop" services through 265 comprehensive windows, and the transfer registration of existing enterprise properties has already achieved same-day completion. Shenzhen (深圳) has direct system connections with 32 financial institutions, and general inter-enterprise transfer registration business can be completed within 30 minutes. In Qingdao (青岛), nearly 800 bank outlets are connected, and more than 70% of mortgage businesses can be handled through remote platforms. The experience of these places is the blueprint for promoting reform measures nationwide.
The notice requires all localities to publicly disclose application materials, handling procedures, and promised time limits. Enterprises can directly log in to local government service platforms or go to real estate registration halls to inquire. The Ministry of Natural Resources (自然资源部) will work with relevant departments to establish a normalized consultation mechanism and strengthen the scheduling and guidance of local authorities to ensure that reform measures are "fully known and fully enjoyed." There is a registration workforce of over 100,000 people and more than 40,000 registration windows nationwide; after the policy is implemented, all types of business entities will be able to benefit from it. 事半功倍 (shì bàn gōng bèi - "half work double result," to achieve greater results with less effort, implying high efficiency).
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 徐驭尧
At 7:00 AM, at the JD Logistics (京东物流) distribution center located in Shannan City (山南市), Tibet Autonomous Region (西藏自治区), unloading and sorting work has already begun. By around 10:00 AM, couriers head out for delivery. At noon, as transport vehicles arrive to unload, a new round of sorting and distribution commences.
Leading a dozen or so employees in sorting and delivery is Meiduo Qusang (美朵曲桑), a Tibetan woman born after 1995 who serves as the station manager. In 2018, Meiduo Qusang (美朵曲桑) began an internship at a logistics branch, where she sorted goods for the first time. In 2019, she graduated from college and officially became a professional in the logistics industry. In 2022, the Shannan (山南) branch was established, and she became the station manager through a competitive selection process, working alongside her colleagues across the snowy plateau.
"As a logistics major, the school previously provided opportunities for relevant internships," said Meiduo Qusang (美朵曲桑). "During my internship, I discovered that logistics is not just manual labor; it requires mastering many techniques and tricks. Relying on my understanding of the express logistics field, I joined this industry after graduation."
"Deliver on time and provide better service." Meiduo Qusang (美朵曲桑) often keeps these words on her lips (挂在嘴边 - guà zài zuǐ biān - "hang on the mouth," to talk about something frequently). In some pastoral areas of Shannan (山南), road conditions are poor. When heavy snow blocks the mountains or vehicles break down, packages must be delivered by hand. "In an environment of high altitude, cold, oxygen deficiency, and intense solar radiation, working without days off throughout the four seasons and eating meals at irregular hours is the norm," said Meiduo Qusang (美朵曲桑). She noted that the more unfavorable the conditions, the more the importance of punctuality stands out: "We must deliver the villagers' packages on time and rush to send out the local specialties of our hometown."
In recent years, Meiduo Qusang (美朵曲桑) has witnessed the development of the logistics industry. "Delivery is becoming increasingly intelligent." She recalled that when she first entered the industry, after finishing each delivery, she had to tear off the paper receipt and wait until she returned to the station in the evening to manually sign for them one by one. "The workload was heavy, and it was easy to lose track of which package corresponded to which order."
Now, scanning a code with a mobile phone completes the collection and delivery process, and the entire logistics process is clearly visible in the system. Meiduo Qusang (美朵曲桑) said, "New technology reduces our burden and helps us better deliver packages on time."
Data records the development: the station's order volume has increased tenfold in three years. By 2025, local packages can achieve same-day delivery at the fastest—orders placed before 9:00 AM can be delivered in the afternoon.
Meiduo Qusang (美朵曲桑) feels the changes the logistics industry has brought to her hometown. "In Langkazi County (浪卡子县), people rarely shopped online before. As logistics has become faster and more punctual, online shopping has become the first choice for my parents when buying daily necessities." At the same time, plateau specialties like matsutake and yak meat are also traveling out of Shannan (山南) through the station to be sold everywhere. "The delivery network is like a series of Hadas (哈达), tightly connecting the plateau with other regions," said Meiduo Qusang (美朵曲桑).
As online shopping enters everyone's life, more local residents are coming to the express station to apply for jobs. "How is the pay?" "What is the workload like?" Job seekers ask in detail, and Meiduo Qusang (美朵曲桑) answers patiently, just as if she were answering questions and resolving doubts (答疑解惑 - dá yí jiě huò - "answer doubts resolve confusion," to clarify questions and provide guidance) for her former self.
Station staff member Wang Xulong (王旭龙) was trained by Meiduo Qusang (美朵曲桑). Two years ago, when he came here to look for a job, Meiduo Qusang (美朵曲桑) took him under her wing to explore the ins and outs of the logistics industry. How to allocate delivery routes, how to improve delivery efficiency, what to pay attention to when dealing with customers... Meiduo Qusang (美朵曲桑) taught with dedication, and Wang Xulong (王旭龙) learned with diligence.
Soon, Wang Xulong (王旭龙) became a capable expert at the station who could handle tasks independently. "At work, I try my best to help newcomers get into the work rhythm faster," said Meiduo Qusang (美朵曲桑).
"When I first graduated, I was one of the earliest people in the local area to work in logistics, and there were things I didn't understand. As more and more partners join and the villagers' recognition grows, I feel a great sense of accomplishment," said Meiduo Qusang (美朵曲桑).
It is understood that to promote college student employment, the Human Resources and Social Security Department of the Tibet Autonomous Region (西藏自治区人力资源和社会保障厅) continues to improve the employment policy support system and optimize employment handling services. Focusing on safeguarding legal rights and interests and improving service levels, they have built a service supply chain for platform enterprises and workers in new employment forms to ensure policies are implemented, protections are upgraded, and services are precise.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 李心萍
In the past, large-scale and intensive production were the defining characteristics of steel manufacturing. Some manufacturing enterprises complained: "Because the steel we require has special properties and the volume needed is small, very few steel mills are willing to accept our orders."
Today, a group of young people has introduced artificial intelligence technology into traditional steel production, allowing these "steel giants" to dance with agility.
At China Baowu (中国宝武), when massive volumes of orders flood in, the hub responsible for overall coordination and scheduling has transformed into an artificial intelligence decision-making optimization model for steel.
"Taking Baosteel (宝钢股份) as an example, we possess multiple production bases with a total annual capacity exceeding 80 million tons; how these orders are allocated directly impacts production costs and efficiency," said Jia Shujin (贾树晋), head of the steel artificial intelligence decision-making optimization technology R&D team and chief researcher at Baosteel (宝钢股份).
Unlike traditional operations research optimization models, when the artificial intelligence model allocates orders, it not only comprehensively considers factors such as the production capacity of each base, manufacturability, and distance to the customer, but also relies on historical data to proactively forecast future order situations for rational distribution.
"Our independently developed artificial intelligence model can achieve real-time optimized order dispatching," said Jia Shujin (贾树晋), noting that this has helped solve the difficult problem of optimal resource allocation across multiple bases.
However, to achieve personalized, customized, and small-batch production, the artificial intelligence model must also understand steel production processes.
A single heat of steel produces at least 300 tons, but what happens when faced with small orders of 200 tons or even 80 tons?
"We taught the artificial intelligence to 'combine like terms,' converting the steelmaking process knowledge mastered by engineers into digital rules," explained Jia Shujin (贾树晋). After learning the steelmaking process, the artificial intelligence model can merge small orders into large ones, meeting small-batch demands at a lower manufacturing cost.
Gradually, the artificial intelligence model has been able to solve more practical problems in production, including the utilization of surplus materials—the entire production process involves more than 10 stages, and each stage generates surplus material. If not handled in a timely manner, it either occupies inventory space or is sold off directly as a low-value-added product.
In the past, manual handling of surplus materials was inefficient. Now, when the artificial intelligence model identifies new orders that can utilize these surplus materials, it quickly matches them, which both reduces costs and improves delivery efficiency.
"The intelligent surplus material matching model system achieves fully automated, unattended operation, finding the most suitable destination for surplus materials across the entire production line in just a few minutes," said Jia Shujin (贾树晋).
Once products roll off the line, how to ship them to customers also presents the challenge of finding the optimal solution.
"In the past, the company's multiple production bases each had their own logistics centers responsible for distribution, and data between these major logistics centers was not interconnected, nor were resources shared," introduced team member Yang Zining (杨子凝). The team organized more than 10 years of accumulated logistics price and transport cycle data involving thousands of logistics sites for the artificial intelligence to learn and understand.
Today, for every transport requirement, the steel logistics route navigation system can calculate and compare all logistics combination schemes to provide the optimal solution. "This reasoning process involves millions of calculations, which is difficult for humans to match," said Yang Zining (杨子凝).
At Baosteel (宝钢股份), the team has independently developed more than 30 artificial intelligence decision-making model systems, covering key links in the industrial chain such as procurement, manufacturing, and sales. The logistics system alone reduces costs by more than 10 million yuan per year.
Behind these models is a team of only 14 people, nearly 60% of whom were born in the 1990s, with professional backgrounds covering mathematics, computer science, big data, and artificial intelligence, as well as metallurgy and materials science.
"Industrial models require team members to understand both artificial intelligence and the steel industry," said Jia Shujin (贾树晋). The team is striving to build a "virtual factory" for the steel industry, using hundreds of thousands of trial-and-error simulations in the virtual world to reduce costs and increase efficiency, thereby 事半功倍 (shì bàn gōng bèi - "half the work, double the result," to achieve great success with little effort) and contributing to the progress of real-world production.
Return to TopBeijing (北京), June 20 (Reporter Lin Lili (林丽鹂)) — The State Administration for Market Regulation (国家市场监督管理总局) (Standardization Administration of China (国家标准委)) recently approved and released the national standard "Guidelines for the Construction of Child-Friendly Public Facility Service Systems" (《儿童友好公共设施服务体系建设指南》), which will be implemented starting December 1, 2026. With the fundamental orientation of comprehensively improving the child-friendly quality of urban spaces and enhancing the efficiency of public services, the guidelines systematically establish a child-friendly public facility service system that features full-area coverage, hierarchical integration, and smooth operation.
The guidelines systematically incorporate fields such as health, education, childcare, welfare, sports and games, culture, law, and transportation into the service system, achieving multi-scenario service coverage for children's growth. Following a three-level spatial governance system of city, block, and community, it provides public facility services at different levels. For instance, in terms of welfare services, cities can rely on large-scale welfare facilities such as municipal-level minor protection centers (市级未成年人救助保护中心), children's welfare institutions (儿童福利机构), and professional rehabilitation institutions for disabled children (专业残疾儿童康复机构), linking medical and educational resources to provide cross-regional rescue and linkage services. Blocks can rely on facilities such as street-level minor protection workstations (街道未成年人保护工作站) to provide services such as minor protection. Communities can rely on facilities such as community children's homes (社区儿童之家) to organize parent-child activities and other services.
Addressing the differentiated needs of children of different ages and groups, the guidelines formulate special guidance to cover the personalized needs of various children. For example, it proposes "age-specific design" for play facilities: for young children aged 0–6, sites should be paved with flexible flooring, facility corners should be rounded, and sandpits should be provided; for children aged 6–15, facilities such as climbing frames for team collaboration should be configured. Regarding childcare issues for children aged 0–3, it promotes community-embedded childcare (社区嵌入式托育) and family childcare centers (家庭托育点), offering flexible forms such as hourly and half-day care. This ensures that the implementation of these standards is not 纸上谈兵 (zhǐ shàng tán bīng - "paper on talk soldiers," to engage in empty theorizing without practical application), but rather a concrete effort to improve the quality of life for children.
Return to TopOn June 19, tourists were sightseeing at the Nalati Grassland (那拉提空中草原) in Xinyuan County (新源县), Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture (伊犁哈萨克自治州), Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (新疆维吾尔自治区).
Photo by Liao Zuping (廖祖平) (Vision China (影像中国))
By: 本报记者 王海林 关皓宇 黄 娴
Editor’s Note
Exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations are the inexhaustible driving force for the progress of human civilization and for world peace and development. For thousands of years, the two great civilizations of China and Africa have complemented each other, providing a profound historical accumulation and ideological nourishment for the long-standing China-Africa friendship. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Africa, as well as the "Year of China-Africa People-to-People Exchanges." Starting today, this newspaper is launching the "2026 Year of China-Africa People-to-People Exchanges" column. Focusing on youth dialogue, empowering talent, sharing daily life, and telling the heartwarming stories of the Chinese and African people as they connect in heart, merge in sentiment, and unite in strength, we will jointly compose a new chapter for China-Africa people-to-people exchanges in the new era.
Recently, the "Village Super League" (Cun Chao) tour for African diplomats in China, co-hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (中国人民对外友好协会), the Guizhou Provincial People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (贵州省友协), and the Guizhou Provincial Sports Bureau (贵州省体育局), was held in Guizhou (贵州). Twenty African diplomats in China and students studying in China from nine countries, including Chad (乍得), Lesotho (莱索托), Gabon (加蓬), and The Gambia (冈比亚), visited the poverty alleviation classrooms at the Party School of the Guizhou Provincial Committee (贵州省委党校), stepped onto the "Village Super League" (村超) pitch in Rongjiang (榕江), and immersed themselves in the landscapes and pastoral life of the Dong ethnic villages (侗寨), learning about the Guizhou practice of Chinese-style modernization, leaving a vivid footnote for the celebration of the 70th anniversary of China-Africa diplomatic relations and the "Year of China-Africa People-to-People Exchanges."
"The experience of achieving poverty alleviation in the mountains is worth learning from"
"My hometown is just as mountainous as Guizhou (贵州). The experience of Guizhou (贵州) in achieving poverty alleviation within the mountains is worth our learning." At the "Guizhou Practice of Getting Rid of Poverty" thematic teaching base at the Party School of the Guizhou Provincial Committee (贵州省委党校), the Ambassador of Lesotho to China (莱索托驻华大使), Ntlhoi Motsamai (林梅), paused for a long time before the exhibition area, listening carefully to the explanation before sharing her thoughts.
Guizhou (贵州) was once one of the main battlefields for China's poverty alleviation efforts. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (党的十八大), all 9.23 million impoverished people in Guizhou (贵州) have been lifted out of poverty, 1.92 million people have moved out of the mountains, all 66 impoverished counties have been removed from the poverty list, and all 9,000 impoverished villages have been cleared. Both the number of people lifted out of poverty and the number of people relocated for poverty alleviation rank first in the country.
In the display cabinets, yellowing old photos and dog-eared diaries silently recount the footprints and persistence of the resident village secretaries. When the guide recounted the vow of the former first secretary of Haiga Village (海嘎村), Liupanshui City (六盘水市), Guizhou (贵州)—"As long as Haiga (海嘎) is not out of poverty, I will not leave the mountain"—Amr from Egypt (埃及) nodded frequently: "I truly felt the determination of Chinese grassroots cadres to overcome difficulties and shoulder heavy responsibilities."
"The dedication of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党) to serving the people has left a deep impression on me. Poverty alleviation is a matter of people's livelihood; cadres must go deep into the grassroots to truly understand the needs of the people." Moussa Bah, an economic attaché at the Embassy of The Gambia in China (冈比亚驻华使馆), stated that he hopes to bring this "people-centered" concept back to his country to help The Gambia's poverty alleviation work achieve precise results.
A comparison photo of an old mud-brick house and a new-style residence caught the attention of Damas, a student from the Republic of the Congo (刚果（布）) at Beijing University of Technology (北方工业大学). "Relocating people from deep mountains to places with better education, medical care, and employment conditions has created more possibilities for people to live and work in peace and contentment. This fully reflects the Chinese government's people-centered development philosophy." Damas said that the poverty alleviation and development experience accumulated by China has important reference significance for African countries.
When agriculture prospers, all industries flourish and people's livelihoods are secure. The successful practice of the Guizhou (贵州) roxburgh rose industry has made Motsamai (林梅) full of confidence in the development of Lesotho's (莱索托) characteristic agriculture. She said: "With the implementation of China's zero-tariff measures for Africa, China's super-large market will provide unprecedented opportunities for African specialty agricultural products. We hope to catch the express train of China's high-quality development, jointly build the 'Belt and Road' (一带一路) with high quality, and promote more fruitful results in Africa-China cooperation."
"There is no winning or losing here, only unity and friendship"
As night fell, the football field in Rongjiang County (榕江县), Qianxinan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture (黔东南苗族侗族自治州), was brightly lit. The whistle blew, and the friendly match of the African Diplomats in China "Dream Team" (hereinafter referred to as the "Dream Team") officially began on the Rongjiang (榕江) "Village Super League" (村超) pitch. On the field, offense and defense alternated, with clever passing and precise positioning; off the field, the audience waved flags, shouted, and the sound of gongs and drums filled the air.
Rongjiang County (榕江县) is home to the Han (汉), Miao (苗), Dong (侗), Shui (水), and Yao (瑶) ethnic groups. The "Village Super League" (村超) has taken root here, becoming a phenomenal event that everyone participates in and that has become a viral hit across the entire internet. In the "Village Super League" (村超) History Museum, the eyes of Bamba, the Cultural Counselor of the Embassy of Gabon in China (加蓬驻华使馆) and Secretary-General of the "Dream Team," were drawn to the photos on the wall: more than 40 international teams from over 60 countries, including France (法国), Brazil (巴西), and Malaysia (马来西亚), have come here to compete. "The Guizhou (贵州) 'Village Super League' (村超) is not a professional league, yet it attracts teams from all over the world to exchange and learn, which is enough to prove its international influence," Bamba sighed.
Abdoulaye Sene, a counselor at the Embassy of Senegal in China (塞内加尔驻华使馆), is a forward for the "Dream Team." Walking through the streets and alleys of Rongjiang (榕江) filled with football elements, he remarked: "Here, there is not only the exchange of football skills but also the exchange of friendship and passion. Africa-China friendship is also more vibrant because of football."
At halftime, both sides exchanged signed footballs; when the final whistle blew, everyone high-fived and took photos to commemorate the event. "There is no winning or losing here, only unity and friendship. Every player is full of fighting spirit; this is a victory that belongs to everyone, and it is also a victory for China's 'Village Super League' (村超)." The Ambassador of Chad to China (乍得驻华大使), Abakar, high-fived the players to celebrate and praised the organizational efficiency of the "Village Super League" (村超) friendly match, saying, "The nearly two-hour match was orderly, and thousands of spectators gathered here to witness our friendship and glory."
Lambri, the Consular Counselor of the Embassy of Côte d'Ivoire in China (科特迪瓦驻华使馆) and Chairman of the "Dream Team," said: "Football has brought us closer and allowed friendship to be passed on between the fields." In his view, the "Year of China-Africa People-to-People Exchanges" has built a broad platform for exchanges between the two sides. The sports vitality of the Guizhou (贵州) "Village Super League" (村超) also allows the people of Africa and China to connect in heart, merge in sentiment, and unite in strength through sports exchanges.
"'Village Super League' (村超) is a hymn to courage and resilience." In the stands, Motsamai (林梅) cheered for the players along with the fans. "They sweat in the fields during the day and gallop on the pitch at night, and they have made the 'Village Super League' (村超) brand famous in China and the world. This is truly remarkable!" In her view, the "Village Super League" (村超) has promoted the development of local tourism and other industries, driven employment, and increased income, which is worth learning from by African countries. "In the 'Year of China-Africa People-to-People Exchanges,' the participation of African countries in the 'Village Super League' (村超) is timely; sports have brought us closer together," Motsamai (林梅) said.
"I hope to bring China's rural governance experience back to my country"
"Welcome everyone to place your orders!" In the Rongjiang County (榕江县) New Media Helping Rural Revitalization E-commerce Industrial Park, Laurence, First Counselor of the Embassy of Gabon in China (加蓬驻华使馆), entered the livestream room to promote local specialties such as monk fruit tea with a Chinese host, experiencing livestream shopping. In 2025, the online retail sales of local agricultural products in Rongjiang County (榕江县) driven by "New Media+" exceeded 250 million yuan. Laurence said: "In Gabon (加蓬), this form of shopping is still rare. China's e-commerce is developing rapidly, establishing a direct connection between consumers and products, benefiting many parties. This sales model is worth trying."
Stepping out of the livestream room, the neat village appearance of Le-xiang Village (乐乡村), Zhongcheng Town (忠诚镇), Rongjiang County (榕江县), also left a deep impression on Laurence. Le-xiang Village (乐乡村), nestled against mountains and rivers, is not only a Dong village (侗族村寨) with beautiful scenery and rich ethnic culture but also one of the first pilot sites for the "Characteristic Pastoral Village · Rural Revitalization Integration Demonstration" in Guizhou Province (贵州省). "I see the beautiful appearance of China's rural development here. The development of rural infrastructure in Gabon (加蓬) is relatively lagging behind, and I hope to bring China's rural governance experience back to my country," Laurence said.
In Le-xiang Village (乐乡村), three or five villagers sat together, playing the pipa and singing Dong songs, which complemented the landscape and pastoral scenery. Tying, dyeing, washing, drying... pieces of blue and white tie-dyed fabrics "bloomed" one after another. Everyone deeply experienced the local characteristic cultural tourism research and study service projects here, feeling the unique charm that culture gives to this land.
"Birds chirp and flowers bloom, men plow and women weave, happy and content..." Dong songs echoed, and Bamba sang Dong songs and danced with the people of the Dong villages (侗乡). "Music is a language without borders," Bamba said. "Although I am in a foreign land, I feel very close and at home here."
Bah lingered here, reluctant to leave. "Here, humans and nature live in harmony, local culture and characteristic industries attract tourists from all over, and cultural inheritance and economic development go hand in hand, providing a useful reference for rural development," Bah said.
In Dali Dong Village (大利侗寨), Zaimai Town (栽麻镇), Rongjiang County (榕江县), streams flow through the village, blue-tiled wooden corridors stand by the water, and stilt houses spread out along the mountains. Sene took out his mobile phone to take pictures from time to time. "This is completely different from the fast-paced life of the city; it is a great place to relax and get close to nature." In his view, the original Dong village (侗寨) scenery gives rural tourism a unique charm and drives local economic development.
From the magnificent journey of poverty alleviation to the passion of grassroots football, and then to the harmonious picture of beautiful villages, the trip to Guizhou (贵州) allowed everyone to witness with their own eyes the fruits of Chinese-style modernization in the mountains and villages, and the movement of China-Africa friendship has also composed an increasingly moving melody through these exchanges.
(Huang Xiaotao and Mike Oduro participated in the reporting)
Return to TopBy: 邹皓丹
What Japan truly needs to remember is not merely the "transformation" and "revitalization" of the Showa era (昭和), but the responsibilities and lessons borne by this period of history.
The year 2026 marks the centenary of the Showa era (昭和) in Japan, and the Japanese government (日本政府) is planning a series of commemorative events for this occasion. However, a careful examination of the specific content of these activities reveals a dangerous tendency that warrants vigilance: Japan is systematically obscuring, weakening, and even deliberately forgetting its history of aggression. It is distorting the "Showa Centenary" (昭和百年)—which is deeply rooted in the historical context of Japan launching invasions against various Asian nations and those nations rising up to resist—into a one-sided narrative concerning only Japan itself, completely ignoring the collective historical memory and emotional trauma of the people in the victimized Asian countries.
This "selective memory" is first reflected in the specific way history is presented. In the "Showa Centenary" (昭和百年) special exhibition launched by the National Institute for Defense Studies (防卫研究所), World War II (第二次世界大战) is simplified into a war between Japan and Western countries such as the United Kingdom (英国), the United States (美国), and Australia (澳大利亚), with the narrative beginning from the Malayan Campaign (马来亚战役) and the Pearl Harbor attack (珍珠港事件) in 1941. Meanwhile, key nodes marking Japan’s history of expansion and aggression in Asia—such as the Huanggutun Incident (皇姑屯事件) in the third year of Showa (昭和三年), the Wushe Incident (雾社事件) in the fifth year of Showa (昭和五年), and the September 18th Incident (九一八事变) in the sixth year of Showa (昭和六年)—are rendered "invisible" in the official narrative.
At the same time, the commemorative activities achieve a "narrative shift" through the selection of topics. The special exhibition "Japanese People and Frontier Fields in the Showa Era—Challenges to the Antarctic, Deep Sea, and Space" (昭和时期的日本人与前沿领域——向南极、深海与宇宙的挑战), held by the National Archives of Japan (国立公文书馆), focuses on scientific exploration and technological development. Its subordinate organization, the Japan Center for Asian Historical Records (亚洲历史资料中心), which should have assumed the important function of systematically disclosing archives of Japan’s modern foreign wars and responding to calls for reflection on the history of aggression, has remained silent during these commemorative activities. This practice of using technological achievements to cover up war memories effectively further weakens public awareness of the history of aggression.
Building on this, the Japanese official narrative’s definition of "suffering" and "revitalization" also shows a clear inward-looking tendency. The "suffering" that the Japanese government (日本政府) wants the public to remember is primarily the war losses and air raids suffered within Japan. The so-called "revitalization" is defined as the domestic reconstruction process under the Japan-U.S. alliance system (日美同盟体系). By contrast, the acts of aggression committed by Japan in Asia and the massive humanitarian disasters they caused are intentionally downplayed or even excluded from collective memory.
However, history will not perish due to narrative choices. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the opening of the Tokyo Trial (东京审判). This international grand trial established the legal basis that decision-makers who launch wars of aggression must bear individual criminal responsibility, and explicitly judged Japanese militarism (日本军国主义) and militarists for launching and executing wars of aggression and related crimes. If one extends the timeline further, it becomes clear that 2026 is a year where multiple historical nodes overlap: 84 years ago, after the Japanese military (日军) occupied Singapore (新加坡), it carried out a horrific and systematic massacre of the local Chinese population; also 84 years ago, after occupying the Philippines (菲律宾), the Japanese military (日军) committed numerous crimes such as the Bataan Death March (巴丹死亡行军); 95 years ago, Japan launched the September 18th Incident (九一八事变), provoked a partial war of aggression against China (中国), and occupied vast areas of Northeast China (中国东北) within four months... Ignoring these historical facts makes the so-called "Showa Centenary" (昭和百年) commemorative activities nothing more than 掩耳盗铃 (yǎn ěr dào líng - "cover ears steal bell," to deceive oneself; to ignore the truth or reality).
The "Showa Centenary" (昭和百年) commemorative activities led by the Sanae Takaichi (高市早苗) administration have a distinct realpolitik orientation. In essence, they are a form of "leaving Asia to join the West" (脱亚入美), aimed at seeking historical legitimacy for its pro-American, sycophantic, and "re-militarization" path. This path stands in stark contrast to the "Yoshida Doctrine" (吉田路线) that Japan long adhered to after the war. The "Yoshida Doctrine" (吉田路线) established a development model of "light military, heavy economy," and its diplomatic principles explicitly emphasized "centering on the United Nations (联合国)," "coordinating with liberal countries," and "upholding the position of being a member of Asia." This path not only supported Japan’s high-speed economic growth from the 1950s to the 1990s but also helped it effectively avoid deep involvement in regional conflicts during the Cold War (冷战), while repairing relations with Asian countries through non-governmental diplomacy, thereby creating a relatively stable external environment for domestic economic development.
In contrast, the policy orientation of the Sanae Takaichi (高市早苗) administration, which constantly breaks through the constraints of Japan’s post-war "Peace Constitution" (和平宪法) and stirs up regional tensions by relying on military power, is continuously weakening the strategic balance that Japan has long relied upon for its development, and will ultimately backfire on itself. In this sense, what Japan truly needs to remember is not merely the "transformation" and "revitalization" of the Showa era (昭和), but the responsibilities and lessons borne by this period of history. Only through profound reflection within a complete historical perspective can commemoration avoid becoming a tool for forgetting, and only then can history be truly passed on through introspection.
(The author is an Associate Research Fellow at the Institute of Japanese Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (中国社会科学院日本研究所))
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 鲜 敢
Gaining an in-depth understanding of the inheritance and protection of Tibetan history and culture at the Potala Palace (布达拉宫), trying to make Tibetan incense at an intangible cultural heritage industrial park, and observing a traditional handicraft weaving cooperative founded by local Tibetan residents... "This is my first visit to Tibet (西藏). The fresh air, the peaceful atmosphere, and the people living and working in peace and contentment—these visible realities and wonderful experiences have left a deep impression on me," said Manukonda Rabindranath (马努孔达·拉宾德拉纳特), a professor at the Centre for Media Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University (贾瓦哈拉尔·尼赫鲁大学) in India (印度). "The Tibet (西藏) I have seen with my own eyes is completely different from what is reported by some Western media. Those Western media personnel sitting in newsrooms distort the current situation in Tibet (西藏) out of thin air; they should come and see the development and progress achieved in Tibet (西藏) for themselves."
Recently, the Second Tibet International Communication Forum (第二届西藏国际传播大会), themed "Understanding and Support, Empathy and Resonance—Comprehensively Enhancing the Effectiveness of International Communication Regarding Tibet (西藏)," was held in Lhasa (拉萨), with nearly 300 domestic and international guests in attendance. Before and after the conference, foreign guests visited various locations in Tibet (西藏), and "letting the world see the real China (中国) Tibet (西藏)" became their consensus.
"The local area has built photovoltaic pastures, achieving a double harvest of ecological protection and economic benefits, which fully aligns with the United Nations (联合国) Sustainable Development Goals. Tibet (西藏) has achieved mutual promotion between developing high technology, protecting the ecological environment, and economic construction; these governance experiences are worth learning from for developing countries," said Rabindranath (拉宾德拉纳特). "In response to the distorted reports by some Western media, we have a responsibility to introduce the true face of Tibet (西藏) to the world."
"Rich and diverse cross-cultural exchanges can create many opportunities." The visit left Gayan Maduranga (盖扬·马丹尚卡), Head of the Department of Media and Communication at the University of Vocational Technology (斯里兰卡工程技术大学) in Sri Lanka (斯里兰卡), with many reflections: experts and scholars can compare the heritage, art, and rituals of Sri Lanka (斯里兰卡) and China (中国); media professionals can tell stories in an accurate and warm way; young people can learn from each other through digital platforms, documentaries, photography, and creative projects; when tourists do not just stop at "sightseeing" but truly try to understand, tourism can also become a channel for cultural exchange...
"We should base our efforts on respect and prioritize accuracy to objectively present cultural features. We should not simplify the real situation in Tibet (西藏) into a slogan or a picture, but rather build two-way communication channels and learn to listen, learn, and cooperate," said Maduranga (马丹尚卡). He noted that communication in modern society is often simplified into the rapid transmission of information—messages, pictures, videos, and news can be sent in seconds—but true communication is far more than just speed. On the premise of mutual respect, allowing different cultures to dissolve stereotypes through listening to each other and exploring the humanistic values behind traditions and lifestyles is precisely the profound significance of cultural exchange.
"Nepal (尼泊尔) and China (中国) maintain traditional friendship and close ties." Kundan Aryal (昆丹·阿亚尔), Head of the Department of Journalism at Tribhuvan University (特里布万大学) in Nepal (尼泊尔), said that more than 1,600 years ago, the Chinese monk Faxian (法显) set out from Chang'an (长安) (present-day Xi'an (西安), Shaanxi (陕西)) to travel west in search of Buddhist scriptures, passing through Nepal (尼泊尔). The *Record of Buddhist Kingdoms* (佛国记), which he wrote after returning to China (中国), is a key document recording information about Nepal (尼泊尔). The famous Nepalese (尼泊尔) artisan Araniko (阿尼哥) led craftsmen to China (中国) and presided over the construction of buildings such as the White Pagoda at Miaoying Temple (妙应寺白塔) in Beijing (北京). "These cultural interactions testify to the long-standing friendship between our two peoples."
Aryal (阿亚尔) plans to write articles after returning home to introduce the historical traditions and modernization of Tibet (西藏). "Currently, the economic and social development of Tibet (西藏) is in a good state, and public life is vibrant. Looking to the future, the tomorrow of Tibet (西藏) will surely be even brighter and more beautiful," said Aryal (阿亚尔).
Return to TopThe 4th France International Dragon Boat Carnival (第四届法国国际龙舟嘉年华) was recently held in the city of Rueil-Malmaison (吕埃—马尔迈松市), located in the suburbs of Paris (巴黎). This year's event was hosted by the French Dragon Boat Committee (法国龙舟委员会) and co-organized by the France Qingtian Fellow Villagers Association (法国青田同乡会), themed "Qu Yuan (屈原) Encounters Napoleon (拿破仑)." Eleven dragon boat teams from five countries—China (中国), France (法国), Italy (意大利), Spain (西班牙), and Denmark (丹麦)—competed vigorously on the Seine River (塞纳河).
Reporter from this newspaper: Shang Kaiyuan (尚凯元) (photographed)
Return to TopBerlin, June 20 (Reporter Liu He (刘赫)) — Geneva News: Recently, the United Nations Association of China (UNA-China (中国联合国协会)) and the Permanent Mission of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva and Other International Organizations in Switzerland (中国常驻日内瓦代表团) jointly hosted a side event at the Palais des Nations (万国宫) during the 52nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (联合国人权理事会), themed "Human Rights and Global Governance." Attendees stated that the international community should unite and cooperate to jointly promote and protect human rights, noting that China actively participates in global human rights cooperation and promotes the construction of a more just, reasonable, and inclusive global human rights governance system.
Mu Jianfeng (慕建峰), Minister-Counsellor of the Permanent Mission of China to Geneva, Li Ying (李莹), Vice President of the China Women's University (中华女子学院), Li Xin (李忻), a researcher at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (上海国际问题研究院), and Marc Limon (马克·利蒙), Executive Director of Universal Rights Group (普遍权利组织), delivered keynote speeches at the meeting. Approximately 50 representatives from various permanent missions to Geneva, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (联合国人权高专办), and civil society organizations attended the event.
The guests noted that, currently, geopolitical conflicts are 此起彼伏 (cǐ qǐ bǐ fú - "here rise there fall," one after another), global development is imbalanced, and crises in technological ethics are becoming increasingly prominent, placing global human rights protection mechanisms under severe testing. The international community should unite and cooperate to jointly promote and protect human rights, persist in following a path of human rights development that suits their own national conditions and the needs of their people, and oppose imposing one's own model on others or politicizing and instrumentalizing human rights.
The guests stated that China recently released the white paper "Building a Global Community of Shared Future: China's Proposals and Actions" (构建更加公正合理的全球治理体系：中国的理念、倡议与行动), which once again demonstrates that China actively practices the concept of "promoting human rights through development," participates in global human rights cooperation, and promotes the construction of a more just, reasonable, and inclusive global human rights governance system. China protects women's rights and interests through development, is committed to ensuring that the fruits of modernization benefit people of all ethnic groups more extensively and fairly, and respects and protects the diversity of languages and scripts of different ethnic groups while promoting the national common language.
The guests emphasized that the Global Governance Initiative points the way for advancing the reform of the global human rights governance system. This reform should focus on implementation, quality improvement, and efficiency to more effectively promote people's livelihoods and development; adhere to the principles of member-state leadership and extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits; increase the representation and voice of developing countries; and strengthen exchanges and mutual learning in human rights concepts to help developing countries strengthen capacity building and enhance the effectiveness of global human rights governance. The United Nations Human Rights Council (联合国人权理事会) should take "promoting and protecting human rights" as its purpose, adhere to universality and impartiality, uphold non-politicization and non-selectivity, and truly become a platform for exchange, dialogue, and unity among all countries.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 刘博通
On the west side of Taipingqiao Street (太平桥大街) in Xicheng District (西城区), Beijing (北京), the CPPCC National Committee Auditorium (全国政协礼堂) stands quietly, solemn and dignified. On the sign by the door with red characters on a white background, the words "Site of the Eighth National Congress of the Communist Party of China" (中国共产党第八次全国代表大会会址) are particularly striking.
After the socialist system was established in China (中国), how should socialist economy, politics, and culture be built? How should socialism be consolidated and developed? A brand-new historical task was placed before the Communist Party of China (中国共产党).
General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out: "To learn from history and create the future, we must uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics. Following our own path is the foothold of all the Party's theories and practices, and it is even more a historical conclusion drawn from the Party's century-long struggle."
From the end of 1955 to the spring of 1956, Mao Zedong (毛泽东) and other central leaders conducted extensive, meticulous, and systematic investigations and research. Between February and April 1956, Mao Zedong (毛泽东) listened to reports from 35 ministries and commissions of the State Council (国务院) regarding industrial production and economic work, gradually forming a series of views on China's (中国) socialist construction.
After thorough and detailed investigation, Mao Zedong (毛泽东) delivered a speech titled "On the Ten Major Relationships" (论十大关系) at an enlarged meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee (中央政治局) on April 25, 1956, and reported to the Supreme State Conference (最高国务会议) on May 2. The report emphasized mobilizing all positive factors both at home and abroad to strive for the construction of a powerful socialist country, and preliminarily summarized the experience of China's (我国) socialist construction, proposing the task of exploring a path for socialist construction that suits China's (中国) conditions.
From September 15 to 27, 1956, the 8th National Congress of the CPC (党的八大) was held grandly; this was the first national congress held by the Party after it came to power nationwide. Based on the situation after the basic completion of socialist transformation in China (我国), the 8th National Congress of the CPC (党的八大) proposed that the principal contradiction within the country was no longer the contradiction between the working class and the bourgeoisie, but rather the contradiction between the people's need for rapid economic and cultural development and the current state where the economy and culture could not meet the people's needs. The main task for the people of the whole country was to concentrate efforts on developing social productive forces, realizing national industrialization, and gradually meeting the people's growing material and cultural needs.
The 8th National Congress of the CPC (党的八大) declared the basic completion of the socialist revolution and the basic establishment of the socialist system, and clearly put forward the fundamental tasks of the Party in the future.
Marked by "On the Ten Major Relationships" (论十大关系) and the 8th National Congress of the CPC (党的八大), the Party had a good start in exploring the path of socialist construction in China (中国). After the 8th National Congress of the CPC (党的八大), in order to solve the remaining problems in socialist transformation, the Central Committee (中央) adjusted economic relations according to the policy of "three main bodies, three supplements," achieved preliminary progress, and generated some new ideas for invigorating the economy. At the same time, the Party adjusted the internal relations of the agricultural collective economy, and reforms centered on streamlining administration and delegating power were gradually launched. By the end of 1957, China (我国) had fully completed the First Five-Year Plan (第一个五年计划) for national economic development and achieved tremendous success.
Seventy years have passed in a flash, and the exploration and cultivation of generations have yielded 累累硕果 (léi lèi shuò guǒ - "heavy heavy great fruits," abundant achievements). Today, standing at the site of the 8th National Congress of the CPC (中共八大会址) and looking out, the scene is magnificent—high-rise buildings are 鳞次栉比 (lín cì zhì bǐ - "fish scale row comb teeth," standing close together like the scales of a fish or the teeth of a comb), and amidst the heavy traffic, a picture of modernization unfolds before one's eyes.
As socialism with Chinese characteristics enters a new era, the Chinese Communists (中国共产党人) have assessed the situation and made a major judgment: the principal contradiction in Chinese society (我国社会) has been transformed into the contradiction between the people's ever-growing needs for a better life and unbalanced and inadequate development, and the contradictions and problems in development are concentrated on the quality of development.
General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out: "We must improve the quality and efficiency of economic development through deepening reform and innovation-driven development, produce more and better material and spiritual products, and continuously meet the people's growing material and cultural needs."
Socialism is built through hard work, and happiness is achieved through struggle. In the opening year of the "15th Five-Year Plan" (十五五), the Communist Party of China (中国共产党) is leading hundreds of millions of people, marching with full confidence on the new journey of Chinese-style modernization (中国式现代化).
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 黄 娴
Driving along the Liuzhi to Anlong Expressway (Liuan Expressway/六安高速), with the river rushing and mountain winds howling in one's ears, one can see from afar the "world's highest bridge" spanning the natural chasm—the Huajiang Canyon Bridge (花江峡谷大桥) in Guizhou (贵州).
"Tourists see the spectacle, but we think about how to 'erect' it," says Zhang Jie (张杰), a bridge builder and former Deputy Secretary of the Party Branch for the Huajiang Canyon Bridge Project (Section 8 of the Liuan Expressway) at Guizhou Bridge Construction Group Co., Ltd. (贵州桥梁建设集团有限责任公司), who is traveling with us. Looking out the window, he is full of emotion: "Behind every engineering miracle, a bright red Party flag is flying."
In 2021, the Party Committee of Guizhou Bridge Construction Group Co., Ltd. (贵州桥梁建设集团有限责任公司) was awarded the title of "National Advanced Grassroots Party Organization." Standing at a new starting point, the Group's Party Committee insists on promoting high-quality development through high-quality Party building, continuously transforming organizational advantages into advantages in engineering construction.
"Building bridges in canyons involves complex geology and harsh environments; there is no ready-made experience for many new processes, and difficulties come one after another," Zhang Jie (张杰) explains as the car moves.
"The branch is built on the construction site, playing a key role." Zhang Jie (张杰) recalls that the project was divided into six Party member responsibility areas, including the main tower construction site, the mixing plant, and the project department's living quarters. By establishing 14 "Party Member Pioneer Posts" and organizing Party member vanguard teams, quality supervision teams, and youth assault teams, they continuously carried out activities such as "revealing identity, making commitments, seeing actions, and acting as pioneers," overcoming challenges one by one, such as long-span intelligent cable hoisting, temperature control for large-volume concrete, and resisting canyon winds.
The Huajiang Canyon Bridge (花江峡谷大桥) has 93 steel truss girder segments with a total weight of 21,000 tons. Achieving high-precision docking for each one at an altitude of over 600 meters presents immense construction difficulty.
"Communist Party members must be able to stand out at critical moments." Wang Songyu (王淞钰), former Deputy Manager of the Huajiang Canyon Bridge Project (Section 8 of the Liuan Expressway), recalls that as the captain of the youth assault team, he led his members in repeatedly simulating wind field data and deducing hoisting plans. The team worked day and night to successfully develop the "Intelligent Cable Hoisting System." Using "high-definition cameras + Beidou System (北斗系统) + Internet of Things" technology, this system can automatically adjust hoisting paths and postures, achieving precise control and one-click hoisting. During the bridge construction, the entire project team obtained 17 invention patents and 4 utility model patent authorizations.
Guizhou Bridge Construction Group (贵州桥梁建设集团) insists on simultaneous establishment of projects and branches, building a three-tier structure consisting of the Group Party Committee, the Party General Branch (Party Branch) of subsidiaries, and the frontline project Party branch. They have established a "Four-Joint and Four-Shared" working mechanism: joint organization building and shared system governance; joint Party-mass efforts and shared activity hosting; joint business linkage and shared development; and joint discipline management and shared integrity.
In the hinterland of the Wumong Mountains (乌蒙山), the construction site of the Bijie South Ring Road (毕节南环公路) in Guizhou (贵州) is a scene of bustling activity with vehicles shuttling back and forth. Xiong Biduan (熊必端), Deputy Secretary of the T3 Section Project Party Branch, suddenly received news: a batch of steel bars arrived ahead of schedule, but all the project's own truck-mounted cranes were in operation and unavailable.
The project construction is tight, and material transfer cannot be delayed. The site is remote, and renting equipment temporarily is time-consuming and expensive. "Contact the T4 Section Project Party Branch immediately!" Xiong Biduan (熊必端) opened the joint-construction and joint-creation WeChat group to "seek help." Ten minutes later, the T4 section's truck-mounted crane arrived to provide support, and the 燃眉之急 (rán méi zhī jí - "burning eyebrows urgent," an extremely urgent matter) was solved.
"Dealing with emergencies on the construction site, joint Party organization construction and creation is a good solution," Xiong Biduan (熊必端) explains. By relying on joint construction and creation to break down barriers between sections, both sides conduct joint special inspections every month, achieving shared access roads, shared material yards, shared quality and safety supervision, and shared progress promotion.
Today, Guizhou Bridge Construction Group (贵州桥梁建设集团) has planted Party flags on the front lines of more engineering projects. During the "14th Five-Year Plan" (十四五) period, the group has undertaken a total of 317 projects, completed 130, and opened 713 kilometers of roads to traffic.
"When Party building work is implemented effectively, it becomes productivity; when strengthened, it becomes competitiveness; and when refined, it becomes cohesion," says Huang Renyuan (黄任远), Party Secretary and Chairman of Guizhou Bridge Construction Group (贵州桥梁建设集团). "We integrate Party building work into the entire chain and every link of project construction, promoting the integration and mutual reinforcement of Party building and production operations."
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 曾亦辰
On a summer afternoon at the 10,000-mu International Potato Seed Breeding Base (万亩国际马铃薯种薯繁育基地) in Pingcheng Township (坪城乡), Yongdeng County (永登县), Gansu Province (甘肃省), potato seedlings formed a lush "velvet carpet" between the furrows.
"Old Han, am I doing this seedling release correctly?" asked Li Jifu (李积福), a villager from Zhongtang Village (中塘村), Pingcheng Township (坪城乡), while standing on the ridge. Han Guoyou (韩国有), a Party member from Zhongtang Village (中塘村), walked over quickly and squatted down to inspect: "You’ve torn the opening too wide, and the edge of the plastic film has split." Han Guoyou (韩国有) used a small knife in his right hand to demonstrate, cutting a crescent-shaped slit in the mulch, carefully pulling the leaves out, and then packing the edges of the film with fine soil.
"The opening for the seedling must be made skillfully and precisely; otherwise, weeds will get in and the soil temperature will dissipate quickly. If the seed potatoes don't grow well, they will be hard to sell later," Han Guoyou (韩国有) explained. Several nearby villagers set down their tools and gathered around, with some even pulling out their mobile phones to record videos.
Don't let his current technical proficiency fool you; a few years ago, he and the other villagers were "laymen" (门外汉) who had just come into contact with seed potato breeding.
"For new tasks and new methods, we Party members must take the lead in learning," said Han Guoyou (韩国有). During the process of introducing and developing the seed potato breeding industry, he and four other Party member backbones in the village established a technical service team and proactively attended training sessions at the Lanzhou Seed Industry Supervision Center (兰州市种业监督中心). "Only by mastering it ourselves can we lead everyone to refine their techniques and farm the land well."
How did high-value-added seed potatoes come to this land that lacked a planting foundation? The story goes back a few years.
Pingcheng Township (坪城乡) possesses 160,000 mu of arable land. Because the average altitude exceeds 2,700 meters, for many years it only produced highland barley and beans, with low profit per mu. "The lack of distinctive pillar industries and the low efficiency of land cultivation had become a source of anxiety for us," said Wang Jianwen (汪建文), Party Secretary of Pingcheng Township (坪城乡).
At first, the Party cadres of Pingcheng Township (坪城乡) wanted to emulate neighboring townships by developing highland summer vegetables, but after several trips to compare, they found that the climate conditions in Pingcheng Township (坪城乡) were not suitable. Just as everyone was worrying, someone suggested: "The potato industry in Dingxi City (定西市) is booming, and the climate is similar to ours. Could we give it a try?"
First, they had to understand the situation clearly. In 2020, Party cadres and villager representatives from Pingcheng Township (坪城乡) went to Dingxi (定西) for an inspection. At the local seed potato breeding base, everyone had their eyes opened: large agricultural machinery shuttled through the fields, and truckloads of seed potatoes were dug from the ground and sent directly to cold-chain transport vehicles.
"After repeated analysis and comparison, we found that seed potatoes have high yields and stable prices, with profits far exceeding traditional crops," said Wang Jianwen (汪建文). After several rounds of communication, some seed potato enterprises were attracted by the natural conditions of Pingcheng Township (坪城乡)—long cool periods and few diseases—and were willing to build a breeding base there.
Although the conditions and market were there, everyone still had concerns: the potato seed industry requires significant investment. If they chose the wrong path and messed it up, how would they answer to the masses?
They had to take the lead in conducting an "experiment." Upon returning to Pingcheng Township (坪城乡), Yu Shuping (俞树平), Party Branch Secretary of Zhongtang Village (中塘村), was the first to step forward: "Start by using my family's 5 mu of land to test it!" Motivated by him, over a dozen Party members transferred their own land for trial planting. By the end of 2021, the trial-planted potato foundation seeds had high yields, good tuber shapes, and few diseases, with considerable net profit per mu. With the tangible harvest laid out at the edge of the fields, the villagers who had been watching from the sidelines were moved.
Soon, the Party Committee of Pingcheng Township (坪城乡) established a special task force for land transfer, with Party members leading their respective areas. In less than half a year, more than 12,000 mu of land involving over 700 households across 4 villages were transferred, establishing the 10,000-mu International Potato Seed Breeding Base (万亩国际马铃薯种薯繁育基地), and over 80% of the households were incorporated into the "Party Organization + Cooperative + Base + Household" interest-linkage mechanism.
"I really didn't expect that the potatoes grown right at our doorstep could actually be sold abroad!" said Wang Dequan (王得全), a villager from Zhongtang Village (中塘村), happily. Not only did he receive land rent, but he and his wife also worked at the base, earning 130 yuan each per day.
"Leading everyone to farm the land well is our duty!" said Wang Jianwen (汪建文). Today, the seed potato breeding base in Pingcheng Township (坪城乡) has provided stable employment for over 200 people right at their doorsteps. These "golden seeds" from the deep mountains are now sold far away to countries co-building the "Belt and Road" (一带一路).
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 窦瀚洋
Walking into the Qinghe Community (清河社区) of Xinjia Subdistrict (新嘉街道), Nanhu District (南湖区), Jiaxing (嘉兴), Zhejiang (浙江), a Dragon Boat Festival family tradition lecture was being held at the community's Zhe "Li" (浙“礼”) micro-lecture hall.
General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) has pointed out that family tradition is an important component of social atmosphere. A home is not just a place for people to live, but also a sanctuary for their souls. All families should promote excellent family traditions and support the good atmosphere of the entire society with the good family traditions of thousands upon thousands of households.
"My father, Zhu Ya (朱亚), joined the Eighth Route Army (八路军) at the age of 11, joined the Communist Party of China (中国共产党) at 16, and went through the War of Resistance Against Japan (抗日战争), the War of Liberation (解放战争), and the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (抗美援朝). Throughout his life, he has always emphasized diligence and thrift." The speaker, Gao Yanjia (高燕加), spoke emotionally on stage, while a group of elementary school students from the Fucheng Education Group (North Campus) (嘉兴市辅成教育集团（北校区）) listened intently.
Zhu Ya (朱亚), now 98 years old, is a veteran with 82 years of party membership and is a household name in the local area. After retiring, he took the initiative to devote himself to the work of caring for the next generation. Starting in 1990, he began giving voluntary lectures on revolutionary history, a commitment he has kept for over 30 years.
Recounting his experiences in the Battle of Menglianggu (孟良崮战役), the Huaihai Campaign (淮海战役), and the Battle of Shangganling (上甘岭战役), and describing the revolutionary faith forged in the hail of bullets... over the past 30-plus years, Zhu Ya (朱亚) has conducted more than 820 voluntary lectures, reaching an audience of 79,000 people.
Later, Gao Yanjia (高燕加) took over the baton from her father and also became a lecturer. In addition to sharing her father's revolutionary stories, she combined her father's decades of consistent conduct with the close connection between red family traditions and integrity culture.
"'Waste is no small matter; if one does not guard against small faults, it is difficult to establish great virtue,' my father said this, and he also lived by it," Gao Yanjia (高燕加) shared. "Although there are no written family rules in our home, the family tradition of diligence, simplicity, harmony, kindness, and self-discipline has long been internalized in our hearts and externalized in our actions."
After hearing the stories, the children were still eager for more and wanted to meet the elderly Zhu Ya (朱亚). Unable to resist the children's repeated requests, Gao Yanjia (高燕加) waved her hand: "Let's go, come home with me to find Grandpa and Grandma to wrap zongzi!"
Pushing open the door, the house was simple, plain, and tidy. Zhu Ya (朱亚) and his wife, Gao Jiying (高季英), had prepared the ingredients for wrapping zongzi. Seeing a group of little guests arrive, the elderly couple was 合不拢嘴 (hé bù lǒng zuǐ - "cannot close mouth," to be unable to stop smiling or be beaming with joy).
The group sat together, wrapping zongzi while chatting about daily life.
"I am wrapping all my blessings into these for you," Gao Jiying (高季英) said, picking up two zongzi leaves, arranging them end to end, folding them into a funnel shape, and adding sticky rice.
The children's movements were clumsy, and some sticky rice spilled. Zhu Ya (朱亚) pointed at it, and Gao Yanjia (高燕加) understood immediately: "Every grain of rice contains the sweat of the farmers; it cannot be wasted." Everyone picked up the fallen grains.
"To be a person, one must be as pure and clean as sticky rice; one cannot harbor selfish motives," Gao Jiying (高季英) said.
Fourth-grader Li Lujia (李卢嘉) vied to answer: "Right, we must be upright people! We learned in Chinese class about the story of Gongyi Xiu (公仪休), the Prime Minister of the State of Lu (鲁国), refusing the gift of fish."
Pressing the filling down with her thumb, wrapping the leaves tightly, and tying them with cotton thread, a zongzi was finished.
Looking at the cotton thread, Zhu Ya (朱亚), who once served as a military surgeon, couldn't help but think of surgical thread: "In the war years, thread was very precious; saving lives and healing the wounded could not be done without it."
"Today's good life was not easily won," Zhu Ya (朱亚) encouraged the children. "You must cultivate a character of simplicity and self-discipline and be an upright person." Hearing these teachings, the children nodded earnestly.
Putting the pot on to boil the zongzi, in no time, the fragrance of zongzi wafted through the kitchen. "Take only what you can eat; if it's not enough, take more," Gao Jiying (高季英) said, serving the steaming zongzi.
After finishing the zongzi, several of the little friends gathered to discuss and chose a "representative" to extend an invitation to the two elders. As a "Red Boat Little Guide" (红船小讲解) of Nanhu District (南湖区), fourth-grader Song Yiyun (宋依芸) spoke up: "Grandpa and Grandma, we would like to invite you to visit the Nanhu Revolutionary Memorial Hall (南湖革命纪念馆), and I will be the guide."
Zhu Ya (朱亚) and his wife happily agreed. The fragrance of zongzi drifted, and the room was filled with laughter.
Return to TopBeijing (北京), June 20 (Reporter Yang Hao (杨昊)) — The 2026 "Dragon Boat Festival Classics Recitation · Shu-Style Youth" (端午诵经典·蜀风少年) themed cultural event was held in Chengdu (成都), Sichuan Province (四川省), from the 18th to the 19th. The event deepened the project of youth inheriting the Chinese cultural lineage, utilizing various forms such as the recitation of famous literary works and ancient-style music and dance to showcase traditional culture, revolutionary classics, and the charm of the Tianfu (天府) region, guiding young people to strengthen their cultural confidence and cultivate a deep sense of patriotism.
On the banks of the Wujin Covered Bridge (五津廊桥) in ancient Shu (古蜀), the event kicked off with the special documentary "Culture Prospers, National Fortune Prospers" (文化兴国运兴). The "Initiation: The First Dawn of Civilization" (肇启·文明初曙) chapter, tracing the lineage of ancient Shu culture, showcased the brilliant 5,000-year history of Chinese civilization. The "Home and Country: Mountains and Rivers Inherited" (家国·山河相继) chapter, with the core of patriotism, consolidated the spiritual strength of nationalism. The "Striving: Youth Should Act" (奋楫·青春当行) chapter, with the mission of inheriting the cultural lineage, sounded the clarion call for the youth of the new era to stand tall and take responsibility.
It is understood that the event was co-hosted by the Publicity Department of the Communist Youth League Central Committee (共青团中央宣传部), the Office of the Steering Committee for the Construction of Spiritual Civilization of Sichuan Province (四川省文明办), the Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission of the Sichuan Provincial Committee (四川省委网信办), and the Sichuan Provincial Committee of the Communist Youth League (共青团四川省委), with over 10 million netizens participating in online interactions. The event was truly 众志成城 (zhòng zhì chéng chéng - "masses' will becomes city walls," meaning unity is strength), demonstrating how the collective efforts of the youth can 继往开来 (jì wǎng kāi lái - "carry on the past and open up the future," to inherit the past and forge ahead into the future).
Return to TopDuring the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节) holiday, multiple tourist attractions in Haigang District (海港区), Qinhuangdao City (秦皇岛市), Hebei Province (河北省), organized wonderful activities, attracting visitors who came in droves (纷至沓来 (fēn zhì tà lái - "crowds come one after another," to arrive in continuous streams) to enjoy the joy brought by holiday tourism and leisure. The photo shows tourists watching a dolphin performance at the Xinao Dolphin Performance Hall (新澳海豚表演馆) in Haigang District (海港区) on June 20.
Photo by Cao Jianxiong (曹建雄) (People's Visual (人民视觉))
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 田豆豆
Continuously improve and upgrade the rural living environment.
——Excerpt from the Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (十五五规划纲要)
"The water has become clear, the ditches are unobstructed, and the river channel has widened so much that we won't be afraid of droughts or floods in the future!" Recently, Zhang Shunqiang (章顺强), a farmer from Xihe Village (西河村), Xihe Town (西河镇), Xiaonan District (孝南区), Xiaogan City (孝感市), Hubei Province (湖北省), has frequently visited the construction site of the Dengjia River (邓家河) ditch renovation project in his village. Four large excavators are working intensively, giving the old ditches a **焕然一新** (huàn rán yī xīn - "glow brand new," to look completely new and refreshed) appearance. Seeing the once black, foul-smelling, and silted-up ditches improving day by day, Zhang Shunqiang (章顺强) could not be happier.
"We used to rely entirely on this ditch to transport water for irrigation, but I don't know when it started—whenever there was a drought, there would be no water in the ditch, and we could only pump water from the upstream reservoir. Villagers upstream and downstream often had disagreements over water rights," said Wu Yali (吴雅丽), Party Secretary of Xihe Town (西河镇).
Xiaogan City (孝感市) is located in the Jianghan Plain (江汉平原) and is covered by a dense network of water, so it should not be short of water. In recent years, while the "main arteries" of major rivers and lakes have been well-managed, the "capillaries" connecting rivers, lakes, and reservoirs to the fields have not been fully cleared. Among the city's 12,700 ditches, problems such as direct sewage discharge, garbage accumulation, and siltation are widespread.
To clear the "last mile" of agricultural irrigation and improve the rural living environment, Xiaogan City (孝感市) launched the "Clean Action for Thousands of Ditches and Ten Thousand Channels" (千渠万沟清洁行动) on April 10 this year, conducting comprehensive inspections and systematic remediation of all ditches across the city.
"The investment for the Xihe section of the Dengjia River (邓家河) is 7.2 million yuan. Construction mainly focuses on clearing garbage and silt, dredging and widening the river channel, and greening and renovating the slopes," said Xu Jin (徐劲), Deputy Director of the Xiaogan Municipal Water Resources and Lake Bureau (孝感市水利和湖泊局).
Where does the funding for the cleaning action come from? Xiaogan City (孝感市) established a special working group to integrate projects such as the "Happy Rivers and Lakes" project (幸福河湖项目) from the water resources department, and high-standard farmland construction and rural environmental remediation projects from the agriculture and rural affairs departments, primarily using local fiscal and project funds to advance the action. As of mid-May, the city had invested a total of 89.89 million yuan and completed the dredging of 8,188 kilometers of ditches and river channels. A large number of "dead-end ditches" (断头渠) have been cleared, significantly enhancing the capacity for water transport, flood drainage, and irrigation.
As long as there is investment and machinery, cleaning and dredging ditches is not difficult; the challenge lies in how to ensure the ditches remain "long-term clean and well-managed." Direct rural sewage discharge, littering by farmers, and agricultural non-point source pollution can all cause the condition of the ditches to deteriorate again.
In Min Guanyintang Bay (闵观音堂湾), Changfeng Village (长风村), Pengxing Township (朋兴乡), Xiaonan District (孝南区), the renovated Gunzi River (滚子河) ditch now features clear water and green banks. On a small plot of land next to the ditch, solar panels are operating silently, ensuring the daily operation of the rural domestic sewage treatment project. Min Yunjie (闵云阶), a village cleaner, walks slowly along the Gunzi River (滚子河), observing whether there is garbage on the banks or water surface, and whether there are invasive species like water hyacinth in the water. "In the past, our household sewage was discharged directly into the Gunzi River (滚子河). Now, our homes are connected to the sewage pipe network. The ditches have become clean and beautiful, and everyone is consciously taking care of them; it is rare to see people littering in the ditches anymore," said Min Yunjie (闵云阶).
In the next step, Xiaogan City (孝感市) will incorporate water protection and conservation into village regulations and codes of conduct, extend the "River and Lake Chief System" (河湖长制) to the "last mile" of ditch management, and fully equip the system with ditch supervisors and cleaners, allowing ditch management and protection to enter a new stage of institutionalization and long-term effectiveness.
Return to TopBy: 张雪妍
Dredging and clearing ditches is not difficult; the challenge lies in how to ensure the ditches remain "长治久清" (cháng zhì jiǔ qīng - "long-term governance long-term clear," achieving lasting stability and cleanliness).
In Mingguanyintang Bay (闵观音堂湾), there is not only the hardware support of regular maintenance by cleaners and the connection of residential houses to sewage pipe networks, but more importantly, the subjective initiative of the masses has been fully mobilized. Everyone consciously participates in water protection; this shift from passive to active is the secret code to "长治久清" (cháng zhì jiǔ qīng - "long-term governance long-term clear," achieving lasting stability and cleanliness).
The subjective initiative of the masses does not come out of thin air. On one hand, it stems from the sense of gain brought about by environmental improvement; on the other hand, it comes from positive guidance and effective incentives. Strengthening popular science publicity, incorporating these efforts into village regulations and codes of conduct, establishing point-based supermarkets, and commending advanced individuals—the exploratory measures introduced in some places have promoted everyone to become participants and supervisors, breaking the cycle of "renovation—rebound—re-renovation," and allowing clear water and green banks to remain in the countryside for a long time.
Return to TopRecently, seven departments, including the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (文化和旅游部), the Central Propaganda Department (中央宣传部), and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (工业和信息化部), issued a notice explicitly proposing the promotion of industrial culture, the protection of industrial heritage, and the development of industrial tourism. In recent years, industrial tours and factory visits have surged in popularity. People are "checking in" at time-honored brands, gaining insights into the spirit of craftsmanship, tracing revolutionary memories, and experiencing cutting-edge technology, all of which continuously strengthen national pride and cohesion. As the Dragon Boat Festival (端午) holiday arrives, industrial tourism across various regions has once again set off a wave of enthusiasm.
— Editor
Nanchang, Jiangxi (江西南昌) —
A Knitting Factory "Transforms" into a Creative Park
By our reporter Zhou Huan (周欢)
During the Dragon Boat Festival holiday, the central plaza of the 699 Creative Industry Park (699文化创意园) in Nanchang City (南昌市), Jiangxi Province (江西省), was filled with the fragrance of mugwort. At the "Dragon Boat Festival Elegant Gathering" (端午雅集) themed event, intangible cultural heritage instructors explained the folk origins of Dragon Boat Festival sachets while demonstrating the crafting process to the gathering parents and children.
Inside the old red-brick factory buildings, tourists gathered in increasing numbers. "It has both historical beauty and a modern feel; this trip was worth it!" said Nanchang resident Li Jing (李静).
By evening, the setting sun cast mottled shadows through the dense camphor trees. After dinner, 76-year-old resident Hu Nianfu (胡年福) walked into the creative park. Looking at the familiar old factory buildings, he couldn't help but sigh: "When production stopped back then, I never imagined the factory could be preserved and radiate new vitality."
The 699 Creative Industry Park was formerly the Jiangxi Hua'an Knitting General Factory (江西华安针织总厂). Hu Nianfu worked there for nearly 30 years, witnessing the factory's rise and fall.
In the Jiangxi Hua'an Knitting General Factory History Exhibition Hall (江西华安针织总厂历史陈列馆), a stylishly designed polyester-cotton blended floral-collar blouse stands out in a display case, with a label reading "National Quality Silver Award Winning Product." Hu Nianfu recounted the factory's former glory: "It was once the largest state-owned knitting enterprise in Jiangxi..."
In the third exhibition hall, a set of photos on the wall depicts a different scene: empty buildings and utter dilapidation. In 2000, the Jiangxi Hua'an Knitting General Factory ceased production, and some of the old factory buildings were rented out.
The original Jiangxi Hua'an Knitting General Factory was located in the middle section of Shanghai Road (上海路), Qingshanhu District (青山湖区), Nanchang. It covered 165 mu, was surrounded by a dense population, and the land held high commercial value. In 2010, the local government decided to "resume production" through development. Should they tear down the factory to build a commercial complex, or renovate and reuse it?
The local government chose the latter—avoiding large-scale demolition and construction, and instead focusing on the protection and repair of old factory areas, buildings, and artifacts.
At the entrance of the creative park, a three-story red-brick building is eye-catching. Hu Huaqiang (胡华强), Director of the Asset Engineering Department of the 699 Creative Industry Park, explained that before the renovation, the roof leaked severely, some walls were weathered, and the steel windows were rusted and damaged. "We adhered to the principle of minimal intervention, maintaining the red-brick texture and industrial style of the factory," said Hu Huaqiang. The repair team collected old red bricks of the same age to replace weathered ones, kept the original cedar beam structure of the roof, and retained the steel window frames after removing the rust. "It still has the original texture."
Inside the old factory buildings, modern design techniques were introduced. Walking into the first floor, the open office area is spacious and bright. Hu Huaqiang noted that the overall approach followed the principle of "structural reinforcement and space release," adding reinforced concrete layers around the pillars and removing partition walls to "meet modern building standards without destroying the visual characteristics of the industrial space."
Sewing machines, threading machines, airflow fabric-turning machines, high-temperature and high-pressure dyeing machines... along the roads, in the plazas, and in the gardens, old textile equipment can be seen from time to time. The labels on the machine bodies, detailing their uses and processes, have become a unique landscape.
Inside the Jiangxi Hua'an Knitting General Factory History Exhibition Hall, various textile production and office equipment, historical archives, and photographic images silently tell the stories of the older generation's hard-working youth. Visitors feel as if they are immersed in that fervent era of construction.
"The old factory area and the old objects have basically been preserved. It's truly wonderful," said Hu Nianfu.
After the renovation, the local government introduced a professional operation team to build the 699 Creative Industry Park, promoting the integration of industrial heritage with industry and urban life. Tourists flocked to the site, and the creative park became a new cultural landmark of the city.
However, around 2020, foot traffic declined and merchants began to leave. "Relying solely on red-brick walls and old factory buildings to 'live off the past' is no longer enough," said Sheng Ke (盛柯), General Manager and Operations Director of the 699 Creative Industry Park. "We are exploring using communities to rebuild the connection between people and the creative park."
Leveraging the park's rich business formats and large spaces, the operation team formed over 20 vertical communities for photography, reading, and handicrafts, holding regular events. "Customer groups gathered based on interests are stable and easy to grow. An event might only have fewer than 100 participants, but each person stays for more than 4 hours, and their willingness to consume is also very strong," said Sheng Ke. The park's 20-plus communities organize over 100 events annually, bringing new vitality to various business formats.
"Our experience is to inherit the industrial context and the spirit of craftsmanship, carry out protection and repair scientifically, and revitalize and utilize the space according to local conditions and the changing times," said Sheng Ke. Today, the 699 Creative Industry Park hosts over 30 types of businesses, directly driving employment for more than 3,000 people, with an annual output value of nearly 2 billion yuan.
Xi'an, Shaanxi (陕西西安) —
Old Factory Area Reconstructs a New "Space-Time"
By our reporter Jia Fengfeng (贾丰丰)
In the ancient city of Xi'an (西安), as the morning light just spilled over the treetops of Zhangba East Road (丈八东路) in Yanta District (雁塔区), the Time Culture Park (时光文化公园) began to bustle with activity.
Young people sat together to experience wrapping zongzi, a family of three sewed colorful sachets, and children competed in a land-based dragon boat game... Many out-of-town tourists were surprised to learn that this was the former site of the Xi'an State-owned No. 1 Clock and Watch Machinery Factory (西安国营第一钟表机械厂).
Gears turned and machine tools moved. In the era when the "three items and one sound" (referring to a bicycle, a watch, a sewing machine, and a radio) were popular, the 27,000-square-meter factory was a hive of activity, with batches of equipment shipped across the country. However, since production gradually ceased in 2000, this once-vibrant factory area slowly became a storage zone. The factory buildings were damaged, the equipment rusted, and tall buildings rose up nearby, getting higher and higher—a stark contrast between the old and the new.
On one side was the leisure demand of 700,000 citizens within a 3-kilometer radius of the park, all hoping for a place to "stroll, play, and relax." On the other side was the old factory area covering over 80 mu that was "sleeping." This dormant industrial heritage needed to be revitalized.
"A good location with history cannot be left to waste." In 2021, as Xi'an, Shaanxi Province (陕西省), was selected as a national pilot city for urban renewal, Yanta District took the lead in breaking the deadlock, and the clock factory site became an "experimental field." With functional reconstruction, spatial reshaping, and business format restructuring, Shaanxi Cultural Investment Tianzi Culture Technology Co., Ltd. (陕西文投天资文化科技有限公司) took on the task.
"80% preservation, 100% rebirth." Standing on the central lawn of the park, Yan Xiangcui (严香翠), General Manager of Shaanxi Cultural Investment Tianzi Culture Technology Co., Ltd., pointed to the mottled machine tool exhibits and said, "The industrial workshops, office buildings, and supporting structures embody a history of dedication and a spirit of struggle; they are precious, non-renewable assets. We adhere to the concept of 'in-situ protection + functional implantation.' We kept industrial symbols like water towers and gears, added a central lawn and a 'Time Memory Axis'; we reinforced old buildings and implanted new functions, with art installations dotted in between... The old factory area suddenly had a new feel."
The original casting workshop became a badminton hall, the riveting and forging wood-mold workshop turned into a rock-climbing gym, and the venues are full of vitality. The original paint packaging workshop now wafts with the aroma of coffee, while music plays softly in a Pilates studio. The original precision machining workshop became a food court, and the original mechanical processing workshop transformed into a banquet center—industrial style paired with elegant design, making it a popular spot for weddings... Industrial heritage has its own unique image and spatial characteristics, and industrial aesthetics continue to gain fans.
"The soul of industrial heritage lies entirely in the 'old'." Yan Xiangcui remarked that mottled industrial elements carry a natural vintage beauty. If you lose the "old," you lose the roots. Only by **守正创新** (shǒu zhèng chuàng xīn - "uphold integrity innovate," to maintain fundamental principles while pursuing innovation) can old heritage be brought to life.
Citizens remarked that walking through the park is like "traveling through time." Each area has different "time zones" and clever designs: the "12th District" gathers boutique shops and quality dining; the "West 5th District" focuses on sports; the "East 9th District" is the liveliest at night. The central lawn is open and can host community events, with old equipment parts placed nearby, creating a wonderful spark between industrial history and modern design.
"We drew inspiration from clock production and used the concept of 'time zones' to divide the space. Different modules gather different business formats, giving the intersection of 'time' and 'space' new connotations, and allowing citizens and tourists of all ages to find their interests," said Yan Xiangcui. "Take the water tower in the distance, for example. It was originally just a common industrial facility. Because the demolition cost was high and commercial development was difficult, everyone brainstormed together and added a circular clock and LED light strips to its towering exterior, turning it into a giant 'hourglass' to give an artistic expression to the passage of time. Soon, it became a popular check-in spot."
The park not only enhances the creativity of "creating something from nothing" but also strengthens the operational capability of "creating new things from existing ones."
To meet the photography needs of citizens, the park has put great effort into increasing the "photogenic" quality, meticulously laying out rugged concrete background walls, humorous art slogans, and cute cartoon sculptures, allowing visitors to take "blockbuster" photos that combine industrial memory and modern aesthetics with a simple snap. In addition, cultural and creative markets, art exhibitions, and concerts are held continuously, driving up income for merchants. A coffee shop employee said: "When there are events, our turnover increases by 30%."
Industrial heritage has become a highlight of urban renewal and a new engine for urban economic development.
"The high-ceilinged factory buildings gave us the freedom to partially add a second floor, but we only need to pay rent for one floor. This largely benefits us, and while compressing costs, it also forms a closer cooperation with the park," said Niu Yu (牛宇), head of Paper Pomelo Coffee (纸柚咖啡). The entry of numerous merchants into the park has created thousands of jobs for nearby residents, winning widespread welcome and praise.
Preserving the original style, awakening cultural memories, and activating service formats—as of now, the park has signed up 50 merchants, with an average daily visitor volume exceeding 1,000.
Luoyang, Henan (河南洛阳) —
Industrial Tours Become a New Trend
By our reporter Zhu Peixian (朱佩娴)
Chalco Luoyang Copper (中铝洛铜) (formerly Luoyang Copper Processing Plant), Luoyang LYC Bearing (洛阳LYC轴承) (formerly Luoyang Bearing Factory), China YTO (中国一拖) (formerly Luoyang First Tractor Manufacturing Plant), and CITIC Heavy Industries (中信重工) (formerly Luoyang Mining Machinery Plant)... During the Dragon Boat Festival holiday, Zhang Jin (张进) and his family, tourists from Hebei (河北), chose to drive to Jianxi District (涧西区), Luoyang City (洛阳市), Henan Province (河南省). They traveled from east to west along Jianshe Road (建设路), passing these factories in turn, "which shows the profound industrial heritage of this city."
"According to the locals, most of them were built during the 'First Five-Year Plan' (一五) period and provided key support for the Republic's industrial development," said Zhang Jin.
However, with the development of the times, the factories that carried the memories of generations of workers' struggles have undergone iteration, upgrading, relocation, and renovation...
How can this heritage be brought to life?
Walking into the Luotong 1954 Cultural Park (洛铜1954文化园), the weight of old times and the freshness of new trends collide. Professional indoor badminton, tennis, and basketball courts have been built under the tall factory trusses; the former Copper Union Processing Plant is now an indoor swimming pool; the original electromechanical tool workshop has become an exhibition park integrating flowers and floral art; the former office building of the Electromechanical Equipment Repair and Manufacturing Company has "transformed" into a hotel; and the "Luotong Shuan" (洛铜涮) restaurant was renovated from the original material warehouse...
"My father and I both like to come here to play ball. I feel like I've traveled back to my childhood, and my father also feels younger," said Dong Dong (董东), an employee of Chalco Luoyang Copper. His father, Dong Wenbin (董文彬), is a retired employee of the Luoyang Copper Processing Plant, the predecessor of Chalco Luoyang Copper. They come to the badminton hall here every Saturday.
"The characteristic of Soviet-style factory buildings is that they are spacious and orderly. The ceiling height is over 10 meters, which is perfect for conversion into indoor sports halls," said Xiao Xuxuan (肖旭譞), Deputy General Manager of Chalco Luoyang Copper Co., Ltd. "Don't look at these buildings as old; the foundations are solid, and every brick and tile is made of genuine materials. As long as the venue operators make slight reinforcements and renovations to meet the requirements of environmental protection, fire safety, market supervision, and other departments, they can open their doors to guests."
At the "Luotong Shuan" restaurant, a sense of nostalgia hits you. Yellowed old newspapers, discarded screwdrivers, and rulers with blurred scales have been redesigned and framed into retro "art pieces." A corner of the restaurant retains the scene of the warehouse office from back then, with a black-and-white TV, wooden tables and chairs, and white toolboxes complementing the slogan "Self-reliance and Hard Struggle" (自力更生、艰苦奋斗) left on the wall... "Although I'm retired, I love coming here for family dinners," said Dong Wenbin. "Every brick and tile here is the result of our on-site surveys, hand-drawn diagrams, manual labor, and day-and-night struggles back then."
Dong Dong said: "Taking the 'baton' from my father, I must carry forward the spirit of hard struggle."
"In the old city, it's hard to find such an open courtyard and such tall pine trees," sighed Hu Tingting (胡婷婷), the manager of Luochen Coffee Courtyard (洛宸咖啡小院).
Hu Tingting is a post-00s generation youth who decorated the former weighing room into a trendy coffee shop. She took down old door panels to use as long tabletops and covered them with white hollow-out tablecloths, making them both rustic and trendy. The tall pine trees outside were pruned and decorated with lights, full of festive atmosphere.
The manager of the "Tree Cubed" (树的三次方) courtyard also took a fancy to the park's openness and its three thick French plane trees. The owner built an open-air balcony around the three plane trees, using the first floor as a cultural and creative office and the second floor as a barbecue restaurant.
"The renovation of the Luotong 1954 Cultural Park focuses on breaking homogeneity. At the same time, on the basis of 'repairing the old as the old,' we pay attention to people's livelihood and promote protection through utilization," said Xiao Xuxuan.
Walking west along Jianshe Road, you arrive at the Oriental Cultural and Creative Park (东方文创园). This was transformed from the old factory area of Luoyang YTO. On the basis of preserving the original industrial workshops, it created a LOFT industrial style. In the park, abandoned tractors, crawler vehicles, tanks, and other heavy machinery have become industrial art pieces, attracting large numbers of tourists.
"On weekends and holidays, everyone likes to come here for a walk. It's suitable for all ages. It not only relaxes the body and mind but also draws strength from history to set off again," said citizen Kou Tao (寇涛).
Today, industrial sites have become living spaces, the spirit of struggle is subtly continued, and the "old" heritage radiates "new" vitality.
By: 何映昆
Visiting Beijing (北京) to tour the Shougang Park (首钢园) and check in at the Xiaomi (小米) EV Super Factory has already been added to the travel plans of many tourists. Shougang Park (首钢园) is filled with a sense of history; as people immerse themselves in it, they revisit the industrial memories of New China (新中国) and feel the tension of time and space intersecting. The Xiaomi (小米) factory is full of futuristic vibes, with "black technology" and robots that are dazzling to behold. From "rust" to "dazzle," both ancient and modern—this is the charm of the integration of industry and cultural tourism.
Recently, seven departments, including the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (文化和旅游部), the Central Propaganda Department (中央宣传部), and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (工业和信息化部), jointly issued the "Notice on Promoting Industrial Culture, Protecting Industrial Heritage, and Developing Industrial Tourism," proposing key tasks such as strengthening the survey of industrial heritage resources, improving the level of industrial heritage protection, and excavating and interpreting the value of industrial culture. In the new era, there is great potential for promoting industrial culture, protecting industrial heritage, and developing industrial tourism.
Old sites, new landscapes. Through protection, inheritance, and design transformation, towering chimneys, dilapidated factory buildings, abandoned railway tracks, and giant machines are gradually entering people's daily lives; "going to the factory" has evolved into a fashion and a trend. Within this lies the "hardcore romance" of the Chinese people, which is also a projection of our historical and cultural confidence.
For many places, numerous industrial heritage sites seem like "rusty" assets. Excellent practices and cases have "set a model" (打了样 - dǎ le yàng - "hit the sample," to provide a successful example or prototype for others to follow) for various regions to revitalize heritage and empower the improvement of urban functions and vitality. Strolling along the tree-lined paths of the Chenguang 1865 Technology Creative Industrial Park (晨光1865科技创意产业园) in Nanjing (南京), Jiangsu (江苏), the profound modern military industrial context is cleverly transformed into a unique industrial aesthetic space. This has not only won market returns but also attracted a large number of high-value-added enterprises to settle in, driving the optimization of the regional industrial structure. The practice of Taoxichuan (陶溪川) in Jingdezhen (景德镇), Jiangxi (江西), is equally inspiring. The former Universe Porcelain Factory (宇宙瓷厂) had its scattered, sawtooth-shaped old factory buildings carefully renovated into maker spaces and live-streaming bases. The once-dormant stock assets not only failed to become a burden on the city but instead attracted tens of thousands of "Jingpiao" (景漂 - people who move to Jingdezhen to pursue artistic dreams) youth to settle and start businesses there, directly driving the booming development of surrounding supporting service industries such as accommodation, catering, and logistics.
Industrial culture is the calloused hands of the older generation of craftsmen, the crisp sound of the new generation of engineers typing on keyboards, and the up-and-down flight of unmanned robotic arms. It is a living cultural form deeply rooted in and continuously growing from China's industrialization practice. As a vivid classroom open to the whole society, industrial tourism transforms seemingly abstract concepts—such as the spirit of craftsmanship, entrepreneurship, and patriotism—into intuitive products and vivid experiences that can be heard, seen, and touched.
At the Linshu Artificial Intelligence Experience Center (临沭人工智能体验中心) in Shandong (山东), children exclaim that "the high technology that could only be seen on TV has come to our side." They operate drones and assemble robots, planting the seeds of science in their young hearts. At the Huajiang Canyon Bridge (花江峡谷大桥) in Guizhou (贵州), the grandeur of the super-project is not only for sightseeing but is also cleverly superimposed with extreme sports events such as BASE jumping and bungee jumping, creating a highly attractive new consumption model...
Industrial tourism is not a one-way "visitation corridor"; only a complex experience venue full of emotional value and social attributes can attract more people to immerse themselves in it. Empowering economic and social development with culture will effectively lengthen the consumption chain and transform the massive traffic of the cultural tourism market into an effective increment for the regional economy.
The "15th Five-Year Plan" (十五五) outline proposes developing red tourism, rural tourism, health tourism, and industrial tourism according to local conditions. The collision of "Industry + Cultural Tourism" is not only about retaining the industrial "nostalgia" of the past but also about igniting the vision of intelligent manufacturing for the future.
We must deeply excavate and make good use of industrial cultural resources, integrate the revitalization and utilization of industrial heritage into production layouts and urban renewal, and avoid "secondary idleness" caused by redundant construction. We should build a deep closed loop that integrates simple production visits with knowledge acquisition and leisure experiences, and set up all-day vibrant blocks with social attributes. We must combine industrial tourism with local characteristic industries to stimulate the development of the real economy... By taking multiple measures, we can let hardcore industry shine with the light of humanity and realize the deep integration of cultural, economic, and social values.
(The author is the Director of the Industrial Culture Development Center of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology; interviewed and compiled by our reporter Zheng Haiou (郑海鸥))
Return to TopIntegrating architecture, sculpture, mural painting, calligraphy, and other arts, China’s existing grotto temples are widely distributed, large in scale, and possess complete systems, serving as historical witnesses to the exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese civilization and other ancient civilizations. However, most grotto temples are exposed to the elements and have weathered the passage of time. How can we ensure they remain "forever young" and preserved for the long term, while allowing more people to experience their charm up close?
In recent years, supported by digital technology, the exhibition methods for grotto temples have become more flexible, and cultural tourism formats have become more diverse. Various regions have gradually explored a path that breaks through the limitations of time and space to better meet the needs of tourism and research. In ancient grotto temples, increasingly "trendy" new ways of engagement have not only effectively alleviated the contradiction between tourism development and cultural relic protection but have also provided experience for promoting the systematic protection and unified supervision of cultural heritage.
—Editor
### Dunhuang Mogao Caves (敦煌莫高窟)
**Immersive Experience: A Millennium in a Glance**
By our reporter Yin Yan (银燕)
Early in the morning, sunlight spills onto the Mogao Caves Digital Exhibition Center (莫高窟数字展示中心), where the dome theater quietly flows with the imprints of time. "The two films transported me to the era when the Mogao Caves (莫高窟) were built, helping me understand the background of the artistic creation. It felt as if I could see the history of thousands of years ago with my own eyes and touch it with my own hands. The exquisite murals in the films allowed me to connect and resonate with the creators of that time," said tourist Wang Mingmin (王明敏) after watching the films at the Digital Exhibition Center.
The Mogao Caves Digital Exhibition Center is a mandatory pre-experience area for tourists. Here, the wide-screen themed film *Millennium Mogao* (《千年莫高》) and the dome film *Dreamlike Buddha Palace* (《梦幻佛宫》) present the history and artistic essence of the caves to tourists in a panoramic view. "This move helps to form orderly passenger flow and a stable visiting rhythm, effectively balancing the contradiction between protection and opening," explains Lei Zhengguang (雷政广), director of the Cultural Promotion Department of the Dunhuang Academy (敦煌研究院). After watching the films, tourists grasp background knowledge in advance, significantly reducing the time spent lingering inside the caves.
Digital touring methods have also brought richer experiences. For example, the "Seeking the Realm of Dunhuang" (寻境敦煌) digital exhibition is based on Mogao Cave No. 285 (莫高窟第285窟) to create an immersive cultural experience. "Putting on VR glasses, the uneven ceiling and mottled rock walls seem to be right in front of me," said tourist Zhou Yang (周阳).
Through the precise translation of culture via technology, the scenes in the ancient caves have "come to life." "The structure of the caves has curved surface changes, which makes it easy for directly stitched flat images to deform. To this end, we cooperated with Wuhan University (武汉大学) to develop positioning correction technology, using 3D scanning data for comparison and calibration to minimize geometric errors. The upgraded equipment can flexibly collect cultural relic information at different depths of field and process it through post-production technology fusion," says Ding Xiaohong (丁晓宏), deputy director of the Cultural Relic Digitalization Institute of the Dunhuang Academy. Digital displays are all based on rigorous Dunhuang studies (敦煌学), combining scientific rigor with entertainment.
Through years of digital resource preservation and activation practices, the Dunhuang Academy has pioneered a new model for the protection and dissemination of cultural relics. Since the completion of the Digital Exhibition Center in 2014, the digitalization process of Dunhuang cultural relics has entered a new stage. According to reports, the academy currently has accumulated data covering high-definition images of murals, 3D models of colored sculptures, and scanning results of large sites. In addition to being used for cultural relic protection and research, these resources are also widely used in cultural and creative development and online exhibitions. Through digital technology, Dunhuang's treasures are moving toward the world in a more vivid way.
### Yungang Grottoes (云冈石窟)
**3D Replication: Touring Across Regions**
By our reporter Zheng Yangyang (郑洋洋)
In the exhibition hall of the Digital Protection Center of the Yungang Academy (云冈研究院), a 3D printer slowly stacks the outline of a Buddha head. "Currently, these are scaled-down printed Buddha statues, but through 3D printing technology, we can already achieve 1:1 restoration and tour them around the world," said Li Lihong (李丽红), a staff member at the Digital Protection Center of the Yungang Academy.
Last year, the "Meeting Yungang Digital Public Welfare Art Exhibition" (遇见云冈数字公益艺术展) concluded at the Bauhinia Art Exhibition Space (紫荆艺术展览空间) of the Hong Kong West Kowloon High-Speed Railway Station (香港西九龙高铁站). At the exhibition site, four 3D-printed replicas of Yungang Grottoes Buddha statues complemented 42 high-definition cave pictures. In front of the colorful sculptures, visitors could scan a QR code to see the *Feitian* (flying celestial beings) musicians of the Northern Wei Dynasty (北魏) dancing in virtual space, while the voice commentary in their ears told the story of the civilization's code from a thousand years ago. "Through technical means such as 3D restoration and virtual reality, we have transformed millennium-old treasures into digital cultural experiences that can be viewed, perceived, moved, and inherited," said Yan Ding (闫丁), deputy dean of the Yungang Academy.
In recent years, the digital touring exhibitions of the Yungang Grottoes have formed a unique cultural phenomenon. At the Qingdao City Media Plaza (青岛城市传媒广场), Yungang Grotto No. 3 (云冈石窟第3窟) was "replicated and reborn" at a 1:1 scale. This cave, 17.9 meters long and 10 meters high, is spliced together from 842 pieces of biodegradable resin material. The surface is sprayed with paint that mimics the sandstone texture of the Yungang Grottoes, with even the folds of the Buddha's robes and traces of weathering rendered in minute detail.
The case of the movable 3D-printed cave—the No. 12 "Music Cave" (第12窟“音乐窟”)—is also amazing. Cave No. 12 is a corridor-style hall cave from the Northern Wei Dynasty. The Yungang Academy achieved replication through a block-style modular design, facilitating rapid assembly and disassembly. Since its exhibition at Zhejiang University (浙江大学) in 2020, the replicated cave has "walked" to Shanghai, Zhengzhou, Shenzhen, and other places. As visitors step inside, 24 relief musicians holding instruments such as the *pipa* and *konghou* seem to be playing notes that span a thousand years.
"The Yungang Academy has currently completed 80% of the full digital information collection work for the caves, with a total data volume equivalent to storing 25 million high-definition movies," says Liu Jianyong (刘建勇), Party Secretary of the Yungang Academy. The academy expects to fully complete the digital collection work by around 2030 using technologies such as high-precision 3D laser scanning. "When technology meets art, the millennium-old grottoes are no longer static stones, but a flowing river of civilization," said Liu Jianyong.
### Longmen Grottoes (龙门石窟)
**Digital Restoration: Eternal Youth**
By our reporter Zhang Wenhao (张文豪)
"Fine temples surround the layers of cliffs, thousands of niches neighbor the steep walls." At the Wanfo Cave (万佛洞) of the Longmen Grottoes (龙门石窟) in Luoyang, Henan (河南洛阳), tourists are not only amazed by the ten thousand statues inside the cave but are also attracted by a Guanyin (观音) statue on the south wall outside the cave. The sculpture is exquisite, but the face from below the hair bun to above the nose is missing, which appears to be **美中不足** (měi zhōng bù zú - "beauty in middle not enough," a flaw in an otherwise perfect thing).
"In the 1920s and 1930s, the grottoes were looted and chiseled. In recent years, with the help of modern technical means, we have been able to catch a glimpse of the beauty of the statues from a thousand years ago." Tour guide Ma Jialun (马甲伦) opened a tablet computer and used an app to scan the damaged statue, and a complete statue appeared on the screen.
With two mountains facing each other and the Yi River (伊水) flowing in the middle, the Longmen Grottoes, which began construction in the Northern Wei Dynasty, now have 2,345 numbered caves and niches and over 100,000 statues. Over the course of more than a thousand years, many statues have suffered from natural erosion or human destruction. "For the damaged parts of the cultural relics, we use literature and image information, combined with the characteristics of statues from the same period and type, and integrate 3D digital technology and color detection and analysis technology to carry out virtual restoration and color recovery," explains Gao Junping (高俊苹), a research librarian at the Longmen Grottoes Research Institute (龙门石窟研究院). Since 2005, the Longmen Grottoes Research Institute has started the "Digital Longmen" (数字龙门) attempt, establishing digital archives for more than 100,000 statues to retain their beauty.
Standing in the Binyang Middle Cave (宾阳中洞), a representative cave of the Northern Wei period, the lotus *zaojing* (caisson ceiling) on the cave roof is eye-catching. The exquisite double-petaled large lotus in the *zaojing* is surrounded by musicians and *feitian* of various shapes, but the specific movements and colors of the figures are difficult to distinguish. "With the help of the high-precision 3D data collected, through model reconstruction, color component analysis, etc., we finally restored the original appearance of the *zaojing*," Gao Junping showed the results to visitors at the digital exhibition hall of the Longmen Grottoes Research Institute.
In recent years, special exhibitions of the results of the restoration of scattered cultural relics from the Longmen Grottoes, such as "One Leaf, One Bodhi" (一叶一菩提) and "Mountains and Rivers Have Clear Sounds" (山水有清音), have appeared in many places. In the exhibitions, visitors can not only see many restored cultural relic exhibits up close but can also wear VR (virtual reality) equipment to walk into virtual caves. "After the special exhibition was held at the Luoyang Museum (洛阳博物馆) in early 2023, it has been touring in various places one after another. Through digital restoration and digital aggregation, the immovable cultural relics of the Longmen Grottoes, which are 'forever solid along the mountains,' have 'come to life' and met with more audiences across mountains and rivers," said Gao Junping.
### Maijishan Grottoes (麦积山石窟)
**Personalized Customization: Intelligent Regulation**
By our reporter Zhao Shuaijie (赵帅杰)
"Checking in at the 'Oriental Smile' (东方微笑) that spans a thousand years, the style is unique and lifelike!" Not long ago, Ms. Hu from Shaanxi (陕西) drove with her family to visit the Maijishan Grottoes (麦积山石窟) and recorded her travel feelings on a social platform: "You can book tickets online 3 days in advance, and you can 'customize' the entry time according to your personal situation."
Located in Tianshui, Gansu (甘肃天水), the Maijishan Grottoes have a history of more than 1,600 years. The grottoes are carved on isolated peaks and cliffs, with 221 existing caves and 10,632 statues, enjoying the reputation of an "Oriental Sculpture Gallery" (东方雕塑陈列馆).
In recent years, the number of tourists received by the Maijishan Grottoes has continued to rise. "The grottoes are connected by aerial plank roads, and the narrowest part is less than one meter, only allowing one person to pass," says Dong Guangqiang (董广强), director of the Digital Center of the Maijishan Grottoes Art Research Institute (麦积山石窟艺术研究所). The space inside the caves is narrow, and the statues are mostly stone-core clay sculptures with fragile textures. A large number of tourists pouring in at the same time affects the grotto relics and also ruins the tourism experience.
"In 2023, we jointly launched a time-slot reservation system with a technology company, dividing the whole day into different visiting periods, and implemented off-peak touring by 'booking tickets by time slot and checking tickets by time slot'," says Zhang Hui (张辉), deputy director of the Management Committee of the Maijishan Grand Scenic Area in Tianshui (天水市麦积山大景区管委会). The ticketing system monitors the remaining capacity of each time slot in real time, dynamically adjusts reservation quotas, and controls tourist density.
"Big data analysis found that the number of tourists is the highest between 10:30 am and 2:30 pm. Therefore, we have specifically tilted the ticket quota toward the middle time slots," said Zhang Hui. Currently, the Maijishan Grottoes verify 8,100 tickets every day, and more than 90% are sold through the time-slot reservation system.
Last year, a sudden sandstorm swept through Tianshui, and the visibility of the Maijishan Grottoes decreased accordingly. The scenic area dispatched vehicles in advance, and in just one hour, thousands of tourists were safely transferred and evacuated. "We cooperate with the meteorological department to establish a graded emergency response mechanism in the scenic area to ensure the safety of tourists' lives and property and their visiting experience to the greatest extent," said Zhang Hui.
Predicting in advance and precise diversion cannot be separated from the intelligent regulation system. Walking into the Command and Dispatch Center of the Maijishan Grand Scenic Area, vehicle information, passenger flow data, etc., are all available. "The all-area smart management platform integrates 11 subsystems such as intelligent parking lots and passenger flow statistics, which can realize full dynamic management of people, vehicles, and tickets," introduced Zhang Hui.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者
Before embarking on a personalized journey, it often takes a great deal of effort to "plan the itinerary": route mapping, accommodation arrangements... If one leverages AI (Artificial Intelligence) technology, is it possible to unlock a more worry-free trip?
Recently, smart tourism across various regions has seen new highlights. Guizhou's (贵州) "Huangxiaoxi" (黄小西), Zhejiang's (浙江) "Hangxiaoyi" (杭小忆), Jiangsu's (江苏) "Xiayangzhou" (下扬州)... By searching for these cultural and tourism mini-programs on a mobile phone, one can obtain a "digital tour guide" that is "ready to answer any question." These mini-programs not only bring new experiences to tourists during their travels but also help facilitate the transformation and upgrading of the tourism industry.
In 2025, the official Guizhou (贵州) cultural and tourism mini-program "Huangxiaoxi" (黄小西) was officially launched. "What are the top ten hiking spots in Guizhou (贵州)?" "What attractions in Guiyang (贵阳) are suitable for family trips?"... Through "Huangxiaoxi" (黄小西), tourists can consult on various related questions; even niche itineraries such as hiking, stream trekking, and cave exploration can be answered on "Huangxiaoxi" (黄小西).
"By integrating data from various platforms, the answers provided by 'Huangxiaoxi' (黄小西) are more scientific in terms of precision, route design, and time management," explains Huang Tao (黄涛), General Manager of Guizhou Guilv Digital Network Technology Co., Ltd. (贵州贵旅数网科技有限公司). The development of "Huangxiaoxi" (黄小西) primarily uses self-developed AI algorithms, incorporates the capabilities of multiple large language models, and has been embedded into more than 10 platforms, including Amap (高德地图), Tongcheng Travel (同程旅行), and One-Code Tour Guizhou (一码游贵州). Compared to traditional search-based services, it has achieved a shift from "people looking for services" to "services understanding people."
With the support of AI, digital tour guides have clear advantages over traditional guides in terms of "real-time responsiveness" and "personalization." The urban cultural and tourism mini-program "Hangxiaoyi" (杭小忆), launched in Hangzhou (杭州), Zhejiang (浙江), is a typical example.
In major attractions and business districts of Hangzhou (杭州), one can often see a blue "smart sticker." By tapping this "smart sticker" with a mobile phone, a cartoon image of a Jiangnan girl wearing a qipao immediately pops up on the screen; this is the digital tour guide of Hangzhou (杭州), "Hangxiaoyi" (杭小忆).
Not long ago, Shanghai (上海) tourist Lin Haifan (林海帆) used "Hangxiaoyi" (杭小忆) to experience the convenience of smart tourism. "As soon as I arrived at Hangzhou East Railway Station (杭州东站), I opened 'Hangxiaoyi' (杭小忆), and she pushed a departure guide to me," said Lin Haifan (林海帆). After checking into the hotel, "Hangxiaoyi" (杭小忆) recommended nearby attractions and dining discounts, "and even helped me plan a city walk route within 15 minutes of the hotel." When leaving Hangzhou (杭州), "Hangxiaoyi" (杭小忆) even generated a travelogue.
In addition to providing high-quality services to tourists, thanks to powerful data processing capabilities, the cultural and tourism mini-programs launched in various regions can also improve the management efficiency of scenic spots and related enterprises, and assist in the transformation and upgrading of the tourism industry.
Through technological empowerment, scenic spot management is gradually shifting from being "experience-driven" to "data-driven." Mount Huangshan (黄山) was one of the first scenic spots in the country to achieve full-process smart tourism. By analyzing behavioral data such as tourist stay duration and preferred attractions, it can predict peak passenger flow and provide early warnings, helping the scenic spot optimize shuttle bus scheduling and parking management in advance to reduce congestion.
Zhang Dehui (章德辉), Chairman of Huangshan Tourism Development Co., Ltd. (黄山旅游发展股份有限公司), believes that the breakthrough of full-process smart tourism lies in connecting the entire service chain—including dining, accommodation, transportation, sightseeing, shopping, and entertainment—with the scenic spot, realizing the advancement of the scenic spot from a "ticket economy" to a "comprehensive consumption economy."
While making travel more worry-free, it must also be safer. With the support of algorithms, is there a risk of information or privacy leakage when using these mini-programs? Addressing user concerns regarding data security, the Jiangsu (江苏) Yangzhou (扬州) cultural and tourism mini-program "Xiayangzhou" (下扬州) has pre-set solutions. "During the initial construction phase, 'Xiayangzhou' (下扬州) established an overall strategy for three major systems: information technology security, information security management, and information security operations, strengthening capabilities such as risk identification, early warning, and monitoring to ensure stable system operation and protect user privacy," introduced Huo Wei (霍伟), Director of the Resource Development Division of the Yangzhou Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, and Tourism (扬州市文广旅局).
"Currently, the application of global AI large models is showing explosive growth, but the development of large model security technology is still in its infancy. Therefore, it is even more necessary for practitioners to strictly abide by the relevant laws and regulations implemented in our country, ensuring that the training, deployment, and application of large models comply with relevant laws and regulations while respecting social morality and ethics," said Dr. Zheng Xin (郑欣) from the School of Cyberspace Security at Guizhou Normal University (贵州师范大学).
(Reported collectively by our reporters Chen Junyi (陈隽逸), Dou Hanyang (窦瀚洋), Xu Jing (徐靖), and Shen Lin (申琳))
Return to TopBy: 曹怡晴
Donning VR headsets to "travel back in time" to tour ancient scenic spots, or using smart devices to create one's own digital avatar... in recent years, smart tourism projects have been continuously "launching" across many regions.
However, journeys labeled as "smart" occasionally have moments where they are "not so bright." Some smart facilities are 华而不实 (huá ér bù shí - "flowery but not solid," flashy but lacking substance), frequently falling into "data silos"; others are immersive projects that focus solely on showing off technical skills, resulting in hollow content that is 徒有其表 (tú yǒu qí biǎo - "only have its exterior," superficial and lacking depth).
For smart tourism, relying solely on new technology is not enough. While increasing the "intelligence quotient" of travel, it is even more important to consider how to enhance the "gold content" (value) of the tourist experience.
On one hand, we must shift our approach to data management. By establishing unified data standards and interface specifications, and encouraging cooperation among various parties such as scenic spots and hotels, we can jointly build an open tourism data ecosystem to further eliminate the waste of resources caused by "data silos."
On the other hand, we must pay attention to the details of digital services. Introducing "senior modes" to bridge the "digital divide," optimizing smart navigation to solve problems like "difficulty in parking" and "difficulty in making reservations"... only by being guided by tourist needs and diligently solving the pain points, difficulties, and bottlenecks during travel can we truly put new technologies to practical use and touch people's hearts.
Whether it is traditional cultural tourism or smart tourism, whether there is an increase in cultural experience during the "tour" is the issue tourists care about most. How to use new technology to fully display cultural content, how to use digital forms to shorten the distance between tourists and cultural relics, and how to help the dissemination of excellent traditional Chinese culture (中华优秀传统文化) are "cold thoughts" (sober reflections) that we need to delve into continuously at a time when the development of smart tourism is 如火如荼 (rú huǒ rú tú - "like fire like tea," raging like a wildfire; flourishing and vigorous).
Smart tourism represents a new direction for the transformation and upgrading of the cultural tourism industry. Only by fully satisfying tourist needs in terms of content, service, and operation can new technology bring about a better and more "intelligent" journey.
Return to TopLayout Design: Zhang Danfeng (张丹峰)
Return to TopBy: 徐 彬 陈继腾
Ancient Huizhou (古徽州) includes parts of today's Huangshan (黄山) and Xuancheng (宣城) in Anhui (安徽), as well as Wuyuan (婺源) in Jiangxi (江西). Whenever "Huizhou" (徽州) is mentioned, the "horse-head wall" (马头墙) is an imagery that cannot be bypassed. In the ancient villages of Huizhou (徽州), the horse-head walls, standing 鳞次栉比 (lín cì zhì bǐ - "fish scales row comb teeth," arranged in close and orderly rows), together with the shimmering waters, verdant mountains, and pastoral paths, compose a vivid ink-wash painting. Amidst movement and stillness, reality and illusion, they write a beautiful chapter of architecture and humanity.
Originating in the Ming Dynasty (明代), the horse-head wall (马头墙), due to its architectural beauty and profound significance, transcended the relatively closed geographical pattern of Huizhou (徽州). It followed the ceaseless flow of the Xin'an River (新安江) and the winding ancient paths to spread across the country, becoming an aesthetic symbol representing the regional culture of Huizhou (徽州).
— Editor
### Born for Fire Prevention, Flourishing with Huizhou Merchants
To understand what a horse-head wall (马头墙) is, one must first grasp the concept of a "gable wall" (山墙). A gable wall refers to the transverse outer wall located at both ends of a traditional building, arranged along the short axis. The horse-head wall (马头墙) specifically refers to the section of the gable wall that rises above the roofline—the top portion of the wall. In Huizhou (徽州), where land was scarce and houses were densely packed, the horse-head wall (马头墙) was originally created for fire prevention. Rising above the roof and extending beyond the ridge, these walls could isolate fire during an outbreak, preventing external flames from entering or internal fires from spreading outward; thus, they were initially called "fire-sealing walls" (封火墙).
Ancient Huizhou (古徽州) was mountainous and served as a major region for historical southward population migrations, making residential land extremely scarce. Coupled with the Huizhou (徽州) tradition of clans living together and the habit of building houses with brick and wood, fire became a major hazard. During the Hongzhi era (弘治年间) of the Ming Dynasty (明代), the Prefect of Huizhou (徽州知府), He Xin (何歆), proposed a "wall management" plan. He organized households into groups of five, who would jointly fund the construction of fire-sealing walls (封火墙) that rose above the roofline to stop the spread of fire. Within a month, thousands of such walls were built with significant results. Thereafter, every household began to build their own fire-sealing walls independently, adding a "horse-head" shape to the design, which led to the name "horse-head wall" (马头墙).
Does the horse-head wall (马头墙) exist only in the ancient Huizhou (古徽州) region? Not at all. Today, we can see horse-head walls (马头墙) in many places. In the ancient county of Cicheng (慈城) in Ningbo (宁波), Zhejiang (浙江), one can see well-arranged horse-head walls (马头墙) everywhere. In many villages in Guilin (桂林), Guangxi (广西), numerous ancient dwellings retain tall and imposing horse-head walls (马头墙); most of these dwellings are products of the southward spread of Huizhou-style (徽派) architecture combined with local customs.
The popularity of the horse-head wall (马头墙) across the country is closely related to the development of Huizhou merchants (徽商). In the mid-Ming Dynasty (明代), Huizhou merchants (徽商) flourished in the Jiangnan (江南) region, along the Yangtze River (长江), and on both sides of the Grand Canal (大运河), and the horse-head wall (马头墙), which originated in Huizhou (徽州), began to spread nationwide. During the Kangxi era (康熙年间) of the Qing Dynasty (清代), Huizhou merchants (徽商) arrived in Hankou (汉口). They brought craftsmen from their hometowns and built the Ziyang Academy (紫阳书院) in Hankou (汉口) into a Huizhou-style (徽派) building with "lofty walls," where the high horse-head walls (马头墙) were particularly eye-catching. In paintings from the Qianlong era (乾隆年间) of the Qing Dynasty (清代), one can also see many shops in the streets of Suzhou (苏州) decorated with horse-head walls (马头墙). Since then, whether in the water towns of Jiangnan (江南), along the banks of the Xiang River (湘江), or in the hinterlands of Yunnan and Guizhou (云贵), one can see horse-head walls (马头墙) nestled among green waters and blue mountains, amidst small bridges and flowing streams.
### Gazing at Lofty White Walls, Following Overlapping Curves
The top of a horse-head wall (马头墙) rises above the roof in a stepped fashion, with the length of the roof ridge changing according to the height of the house, reflecting a dynamic aesthetic. Depending on changes in terrain, the depth of the building, the needs of spatial composition, or aesthetic proportions, these walls are built with one to five layers. Three or four layers are most common, while five layers represent the highest specification, known as "Five Peaks Facing the Sky" (五岳朝天). Different forms of architecture gather among the green mountains and clear waters, presenting a scene of varying heights and infinite changes.
Beyond the variations in the number of layers, horse-head walls (马头墙) can be divided into different styles based on the decoration and craftsmanship of the wall top.
"No-Seat" style (无座头式) horse-head wall. The decoration on the top of the wall is called a "horse head" (马头) or "seat" (座头). The "No-Seat" style (无座头式) horse-head wall generally does not have a seat installed, using only small green tiles for decoration, appearing clear and elegant.
"Seal-Bucket" style (印斗式) horse-head wall. In this type of horse-head wall (马头墙), the seat is a square, bucket-shaped decorative brick carved with auspicious patterns, symbolizing that "everything goes as one wishes" (万事如意).
"Sitting-Kiss" style (坐吻式) horse-head wall. This type of horse-head wall (马头墙) is named for the installation of "kissing beasts" (吻兽) on the wall top. It involves complex craftsmanship and structural requirements, often built on higher-ranking buildings such as ancestral halls (祠堂) or government offices (府县衙). Common "kissing beasts" (吻兽) include the dragon-fish (鳌鱼) and the heavenly dog (天狗), which carry meanings of praying for health, peace, and warding off evil.
"Magpie-Tail" style (鹊尾式) horse-head wall. This type of horse-head wall (马头墙) is named because the seat resembles a magpie's tail. Its structure is simple, elegant, and beautiful, widely used in residential houses and garden architecture. It is very common in Huizhou-style (徽派) architecture in Anhui (安徽) and Zhejiang (浙江). The "Magpie-Tail" style (鹊尾式) horse-head wall carries the meaning of praying for good luck and "seeing joy upon looking up" (抬头见喜).
"Court-Tablet" style (朝笏式) horse-head wall. This type of horse-head wall (马头墙) uses the "court tablet" (朝笏)—held by officials during audiences with the emperor in ancient times—as the seat. Some "Court-Tablet" style (朝笏式) horse-head walls feature exaggeratedly upturned tablet boards, formed by two overlapping tiles in an arc, inserted into the brick wall at an angle of about 60 degrees, reflecting the owner's desire for fame and the ambition to serve the country.
### Fusing Spatiotemporal Texture, Creating Oriental Artistic Conception
With the freehand brushwork of "ten thousand horses galloping" (万马奔腾), the horse-head wall (马头墙) depicts a majestic beauty of high spirits and progress—from its inception, it was endowed with a vibrant cultural life beyond its architectural function.
The horse-head wall (马头墙) embodies the combination of architectural wisdom and social governance. The exquisitely shaped horse-head wall (马头墙) is an important innovation in the theory and practice of fire prevention in Chinese dwellings over thousands of years. Its creation also reflects the harmonious and benevolent governance of grassroots society. Through neighborhood cooperation to build fire-sealing walls (封火墙) and achieve public safety, this is a direct reflection of the social governance concepts of "benevolence and concession as the foundation" (仁让为本) and "neighborly friendliness" (睦邻友好) in architectural form.
The horse-head wall (马头墙) demonstrates the inherent fit between architectural aesthetics and nostalgia for one's hometown (桑梓之情). "Thirteen in the town, seventeen in the world"—the horse-head wall (马头墙) of the hometown is the passion of a Huizhou (徽州) wanderer "the horse spurs itself on" (马自奋蹄) when leaving home, and it is also the welcome of "ten thousand horses in formation" (万马列阵) when returning. The horse-head wall (马头墙) in a place of sojourn is like a gaze toward the hometown; it is an unbreakable nostalgia and a witness to connected bloodlines and shared culture.
Today, many modern buildings incorporate elements of the horse-head wall (马头墙). The new Suzhou Museum (苏州博物馆), completed in 2006, is a classic work that reinterprets traditional Jiangnan (江南) dwellings using modern architectural techniques. Ming (明代) and Qing (清代) Huizhou merchants (徽商) had centuries of accumulation in Suzhou (苏州); through the construction of gardens and dwellings, Huizhou-style (徽派) architecture has long been integrated into the urban texture of Suzhou (苏州), and the horse-head wall (马头墙) has become an important cultural gene of the city. Although the roof of the new Suzhou Museum (苏州博物馆) hides the concrete horse-head wall (马头墙), it achieves abstract reconstruction through simple lines and a black-and-white color scheme, integrating the horse-head wall (马头墙) element into the modern metropolis.
As an architectural symbol, the horse-head wall (马头墙) is also often used in film and television works to create a distinct "Oriental artistic conception" (东方意境). For example, in the animated work *The Legend of Luo Xiaohei* (罗小黑战记), the creators use animation techniques to show the organic fusion of classical architectural elements such as horse-head walls (马头墙), blue bricks, gray tiles, and carved beams with anime scenes. This innovative expression of traditional architecture allows more young people to feel the charm of excellent traditional Chinese culture.
Huizhou charm reflects on dark tiles, the towering horse-head wall (马头墙). Whether amidst natural landscapes or between urban skyscrapers, the horse-head wall (马头墙) has become a sign of the harmonious coexistence of modern civilization and traditional culture, continuously releasing a sense of the times and growth in the long river of history, highlighting a cultural charm that remains fresh despite the passage of time.
(The authors are a professor at Anhui Normal University (安徽师范大学) and the chairman of the Huangshan City Architectural Society (黄山市建筑学会), respectively; organized by our reporter Xu Jing (徐靖))
Return to TopBy: 王 方
"化干戈为玉帛" (huà gān gē wéi yù bó - "turn shields and spears into jade and silk," to turn hostility into friendship) is a common idiom in our daily lives. What exactly do "gan" (干) and "ge" (戈) refer to here?
In fact, "gan" in "gange" (干戈) usually refers to a shield, while "ge" (戈) is an ancient weapon, symbolizing war or conflict. In "yubo" (玉帛), "yu" (玉) refers to jade artifacts, and "bo" (帛) refers to silk; these were precious gifts used in ancient diplomacy, symbolizing peace and friendship. The overall meaning of "化干戈为玉帛" (huà gān gē wéi yù bó - "turn shields and spears into jade and silk," to turn hostility into friendship) refers to transforming conflict into peaceful coexistence.
In the bronze inscriptions and oracle bone scripts of the Shang (商) and Zhou (周) dynasties, the character shape of "gan" (干) often appears as a cross, symbolizing the act of holding a shield and confirming its defensive function. In terms of material, "gan" (干) evolved from early versions made primarily of wood, rattan, and leather to those made mainly of iron. Many "gan" (干) have been discovered in archaeological excavations. For example, several leather lacquer shields were unearthed in the Tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng (曾侯乙墓). They featured wooden frames covered with multiple layers of leather, with the surfaces coated in black lacquer and painted with vermilion geometric patterns, serving as rare, well-preserved examples of physical shields.
"Ge" (戈) was prevalent in China (中国) from the Shang Dynasty (商代) to the Warring States period (战国时期). It was initially inspired by stone, bone, or pottery sickles from the Stone Age. Later, it was also crafted into jade, with jade "ge" (玉戈) becoming a type of ceremonial implement.
In the Yinxu (殷墟) ruins of the late Shang Dynasty (商代), jade "ge" (玉戈) appeared that integrated bronze, jade, and turquoise craftsmanship into ornate decorations—specifically those with jade blades and bronze tangs. These are among the earliest examples of "gold-inlaid jade" (金镶玉) in ancient China (中国). After the Spring and Autumn period (春秋), jade "ge" (玉戈) became rarely seen in ruins and tombs.
A wealth of jade "ge" (玉戈) has been discovered in sites related to the Ancient Shu (古蜀) culture. In the Sanxingdui (三星堆) and Jinsha (金沙) sites, over 5,000 exquisite jade artifacts have been found, including hundreds of jade "ge" (玉戈). Additionally, a large number of jade "zhang" (玉璋), as well as ceremonial weapons such as jade "yue" (玉钺), jade knives (玉刀), jade spears (玉矛), and jade swords (玉剑), have been unearthed. One type of jade "ge" (玉戈) is wide in shape with a thick center, a triangular tip, and thinly polished edges; its overall design is similar to those unearthed from the Erligang culture (二里岗文化) of the early Shang Dynasty (商早期) in the Central Plains (中原) and the Panlongcheng (盘龙城) site in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River (长江), reflecting the interaction, exchange, and integration between the Ancient Shu Kingdom (古蜀王国) and surrounding regions.
A uniquely shaped jade "ge" (玉戈) was also unearthed in the No. 1 Sacrificial Pit at Sanxingdui (三星堆). It features an openwork carving of a standing bird on the front fork, demonstrating the deep connection between the Ancient Shu (古蜀) people and birds. The body of this artifact is also engraved on both sides with jade "zhang" (玉璋) patterns, further highlighting the important status of the "ge" (戈) and "zhang" (璋) in the sacrificial activities of the Ancient Shu (古蜀) people.
The jade weapons discovered to date in the residential sites and other remains of the Ancient Shu (古蜀) culture, while sharp, show almost no signs of use. Instead, they served as symbols of status and wealth, acting as important items for gifting and trade among the royal families of the Central Plains (中原) and other regions. No longer applied to actual warfare, these jade "ge" (玉戈) perhaps interpret the connotation of "化干戈为玉帛" (huà gān gē wéi yù bó - "turn shields and spears into jade and silk," to turn hostility into friendship) in another form, embodying the values of "valuing harmony" (以和为贵) and "winning people over with virtue" (以德服人) in traditional Chinese culture.
(The author is the Deputy Director of the Chengdu Jinsha Site Museum (成都金沙遗址博物馆), Sichuan Province (四川省); interviewed and compiled by our reporter Wang Yongzhan (王永战))
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 谷业凯
"Please help me find a route that includes unpaved sections."
Following the voice prompt, navigation information was immediately "embedded" into the field of vision: "Two routes have been found for you: Anding Mountain (安顶山), with 3.4 kilometers of unpaved road; and Tiaoxi (苕溪), with 1.4 kilometers of unpaved road."
"Select the first one."
"Understood, planning the route for you now."
Xiao Li (小李), a cycling enthusiast living in Hangzhou (杭州), Zhejiang (浙江), recently purchased a pair of AI (Artificial Intelligence) glasses. Compared to using a mobile phone for navigation, the AI glasses allow him to avoid looking down at his phone while cycling and do not interfere with observing road conditions, providing a better cycling experience.
"AI glasses are smart wearable devices that use traditional glasses as a carrier, integrating technologies such as artificial intelligence, sensors, and wireless communication, opening up a new 'realm' of fusion between virtual and reality for people," said Li Shuanglong (李双龙), an industry insider engaged in the development of AI glasses.
The application scenarios for AI glasses are becoming increasingly widespread: when visiting an exhibition, with a simple gesture of spreading one's hands, an "enlarged version" of the exhibits in the museum appears in the glasses, accompanied by a "virtual tour guide" providing commentary; at work, it supports displaying multiple windows side-by-side and features functions like teleprompting and real-time translation; in daily life, the equivalent of a 215-inch "large screen" in front of one's eyes can provide an excellent movie-watching experience, and generative AI also supports "answering based on what you see"...
Li Shuanglong (李双龙) introduced that AI glasses can provide a more convenient interactive experience by inputting information through various forms such as voice, eye movement, camera imagery, and gestures, combined with AI algorithms.
AI glasses also have the function of collecting environmental data. By using cameras, microphones, gyroscopes/accelerometers, and other sensors to collect environmental data, they rely on edge-side chips to quickly process basic tasks and utilize cloud-based large models to handle complex scenarios, thereby achieving edge-cloud collaboration.
"Some AI glasses products also use optical waveguide technology to achieve lightweight, high-definition displays," said Li Shuanglong (李双龙). To display images on a lens that looks like an ordinary pair of glasses, complex micro-nano optical structures must be created on the lens.
"Compared to the AR glasses of the past, the combination of AI and AR technology will allow virtual content to better integrate into the real world, empowering a new generation of products," said Xu Xu (许诩), who works at a technology company in Hangzhou (杭州). In his view, the application scenarios for AI glasses are currently expanding continuously. "In industrial automatic inspections, the combination of AI and AR can automatically read data on instruments and perform summary analysis. When encountering difficult problems, one can also remotely call an expert to teach you step-by-step from the same 'first-person perspective'," Xu Xu (许诩) exemplified.
"AI glasses are accelerating their transition from a 'technical concept' to 'scenario-based applications,' gradually forming a closed-loop experience of 'perception—analysis—action'," stated Li Shuanglong (李双龙). Xu Xu (许诩) believes that from the perspective of the upstream industrial chain, breakthroughs are still needed in battery density, chip computing power, and the volume and power consumption of the complete device; downstream, efforts must be made to improve interaction fluency and application richness, so as to create products that are more attractive to consumers.
Layout Design: Shen Yiling (沈亦伶)
Return to TopAs the Summer Solstice (夏至) arrives, coinciding with the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节) holiday, the convergence of these solar terms and festivals carries a unique and refreshing charm.
The Summer Solstice (夏至) marks the peak of Yang energy, when all things flourish; the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节) serves to bolster this Yang energy, traditionally celebrated with herbal baths. Since ancient times, the proximity of these two events has been regarded as a moment of cosmic interaction and the transition between Yin and Yang. Folk customs such as eating Zongzi (粽子), hanging mugwort, and wearing scented sachets reflect the wisdom of living in harmony with the seasons, as well as the aspiration to ward off pestilence and welcome good fortune. At this time, the sunlight is at its most intense, the flora is at its most fragrant, and the human heart is at its most tender.
Today, this publication has invited experts and scholars to join our readers in savoring the profound depth and fragrance of these millennial-old customs amidst the long daylight hours: unfolding letters from revolutionary martyrs (红色家书) to experience the sincerity of faith; reading the *Li Sao* (离骚) to feel the vastness of the spirit of Qu Yuan (屈原); observing modern people stitching scented sachets needle by needle to comprehend the solemnity and warmth of craftsmanship; arranging mugwort bouquets with creative flair to interpret the graceful transformation of tradition into modernity; and perusing the elegant old customs depicted in the *Duan Yang Story Album* (端阳故事图册) to witness the authenticity of folk traditions. Let the refreshing fragrance of the Dragon Boat Festival (端阳) continue to nourish the spiritual world of people today.
— The Editor (编者)
Return to TopBy: 孟庆星
Dragon boat races, the fragrance of zongzi leaves—the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节) has arrived once again. For thousands of years, this festival has not only contained a rich cultural heritage but has also accumulated a spiritual strength that transcends time, with a profound sense of patriotism (家国情) being a particularly significant part of it.
Ninety-seven years ago, during the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节), 21-year-old Chen Jingxing (陈景星) bid farewell to his mother and traveled from Liaoning (辽宁) to Nanjing (南京), Jiangsu (江苏), to study at the University of Nanking (金陵大学). While at school, he resolutely joined the Communist Party of China (中国共产党) and embarked on a revolutionary path. A year later, as the revolutionary situation deteriorated, Chen Jingxing (陈景星), then a member of the Nanjing Action Committee (南京市行动委员会), voluntarily gave up the chance to return home for the summer and remained in Nanjing (南京) to help lead revolutionary activities. Shortly after the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节) that year, perhaps anticipating the dangers ahead and the possibility of sacrifice at any moment, Chen Jingxing (陈景星) wrote a heartfelt, lengthy letter to his mother, who was thousands of miles away.
"Mother, you have endured much fatigue and suffered much hardship for me... Yet, how can I ever repay the affectionate love of a devoted mother? However, Mother, I dare say that your son is living with integrity in every aspect while away, never daring to slacken for a moment. I often think, if I have studied so many books but cannot seek some happiness for the trampled people of society, then how could I face you, Mother? How could I be worthy of the love you have shown me?!" On the yellowing letter paper, the elegant and dignified handwriting is neatly arranged, each word condensing the traveler's deep longing for his mother and highlighting the ambitious aspirations of a young patriot to save the nation and its people. Two months after this letter was sent, Chen Jingxing (陈景星) sacrificed his life heroically. Every stroke of the pen reveals his state of mind, and every character displays his strength of character. Reading this final family letter from a Yuhua martyr (雨花英烈) today, one finds that between the ink and paper, filial piety and patriotic devotion are fused into one, making this profound sense of patriotism feel as fresh as ever.
Moving stories of expressing emotions through letters during the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节) continued to unfold throughout the years of war. On June 10, 1948, four days before her arrest, Jiang Zhuyun (江竹筠) (Sister Jiang (江姐)) wrote a family letter while in Wan County (万县), Chongqing (重庆). She wrote: "How have you all been lately? Tomorrow is the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节), and 'every festive season makes one miss their loved ones more' (每逢佳节倍思亲). Today, with a heart full of longing, I am writing this letter to you and wishing you happiness and health from afar." The simple, plain words overflow with concern for her relatives and family; the smooth, flowing handwriting outlines her determined spirit despite the hardships she endured. This thin sheet of paper not only contains tender warmth but also reflects the firm faith of a Communist, allowing the "small self" and the "greater cause" to shine together.
As the revolutionary situation continued to develop, the dawn of victory gradually illuminated the land of Huaxia (华夏). On the night of the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节) in 1949, Yuan Zhichao (袁志超), a secretary in the Political Department of the 18th Army (第十八军) of the Second Field Army (第二野战军) of the Yangtze River Crossing Army (渡江大军) West Group, who was at a historical turning point, wrote a letter of over 6,000 characters to his younger brother in his hometown of Linyi (临沂), Shandong (山东) (for a partial view, see image, provided by the Family Letter Culture Research Center of Renmin University of China (中国人民大学家书文化研究中心)). He detailed what he had seen, heard, and thought before and after crossing the Yangtze River (长江). At the end of the letter, he wrote: "Today is the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节), you must be having a lively time at home! I am now also serving as an instructor, so I am even busier. The New China (新中国) is about to be born; I hope you will continue to study culture so that you can better serve the people in the future. Even if you are just helping with farming at home, don't forget to read." This precious "Letter from the Yangtze Crossing" sets aside personal sorrow throughout, with every line filled with the courage and responsibility of a revolutionary and beautiful expectations for the nation, fully displaying the simple, honest character of a Communist.
Each of these red family letters written and sent during the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节) expresses an eager and deep attachment to "home," while simultaneously sublimating this emotion and linking it to the fate of the nation and its people. In the field of calligraphy, there is a saying that "the quality of one's calligraphy reflects the quality of one's character" (书品即人品). Through these letters, it is not difficult to imagine the spiritual realm and noble personality of the writers. This spiritual pursuit of caring for the nation and the people actually originates from the cultural bloodline of the Chinese nation (中华民族) that has spanned thousands of years.
More than 2,000 years ago, Qu Yuan (屈原) embraced a stone and plunged into the Miluo River (汨罗江), carving the words "home and country" into the spiritual foundation of the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节) in the most resolute way; this patriotic sentiment permeates and flows through the romantic, passionate, and magnificent literary tradition of the Chu songs (楚骚文脉). The Chu culture (楚文化) of the pre-Qin period (先秦时期) was the culmination of all pre-Qin cultures in the Yangtze River (长江) basin. It possesses not only romantic, magnificent, and mysterious regional characteristics but also cultural traits such as an open-mindedness that is "great formless" (大象无形), an innovative consciousness that "startles with a single cry" (一鸣惊人), and an unwavering belief in one's ideals even unto death (九死未悔). Literary works of the Chu Ci (楚辞), represented by "Li Sao" (《离骚》), not only connect the creator's inner world with objective nature through unique techniques but also express reflections on home and country, which later scholars and literati easily resonated with. Su Shi (苏轼) of the Northern Song Dynasty (北宋) once wrote in his "Chu Song Tie" (《楚颂帖》): "Qu Yuan (屈原) wrote 'Ju Song' (《橘颂》). If my garden is completed, I shall build a pavilion and name it 'Chu Song' (楚颂)." Although the original manuscript of this calligraphy no longer exists, Su Shi's (苏轼) reverence for Qu Yuan (屈原) has been widely spread because of it.
After the Song Dynasty (宋代), taking Su Shi (苏轼) as a model, a group of calligraphers creatively transformed the literary artistic conception of the Chu Ci (楚辞) into a world of dots, strokes, and ink. This not only increased the humanistic connotation of calligraphy art but also expanded the field of influence and penetration of the Chu song literary tradition (楚骚文脉), Yangtze civilization (长江文明), and Chinese civilization (中华文明). If the world of Chu Ci (楚辞) calligraphy constructed by Su Shi (苏轼) in running script was relatively singular, then by the Yuan (元) and Ming (明) dynasties, thematic calligraphic creations of classic Chu Ci (楚辞) passages—incorporating various scripts such as regular, cursive, clerical, seal, and running—formed a unique historical and cultural landscape. Wu Rui's (吴叡) clerical script of "Li Sao" (《离骚》) is elegant and steady; Dong Qichang's (董其昌) running script of "Li Sao Lanting Juan" (《离骚兰亭卷》) is dashing and graceful; Ni Yuanlu's (倪元璐) running script of "Chu Ci Ju" (《楚辞句》) is vigorous and powerful... Calligraphers integrated their own aesthetic experiences and life stories into their creations, using the thoughts of home and country as a thread to form a diverse Chu Ci (楚辞) calligraphy culture. Among them, the most representative is Wen Zhengming (文徵明). He was skilled in both calligraphy and painting; he not only painted "Xiang Jun Xiang Furen Tu" (《湘君湘夫人图》) based on the "Nine Songs" (《九歌》), but also repeatedly wrote passages from "Li Sao" (《离骚》) and "Jiu Zhang" (《九章》). His "Li Sao Jiu Ge Juan" (《离骚九歌卷》), written in small regular script at the age of 87, is delicate, upright, and possesses a unique spirit, reflecting his profound, perfected skills and the unyielding integrity of a literatus.
"The great river flows eastward, its waves washing away the heroes of a thousand ages" (大江东去，浪淘尽，千古风流人物). From ancient literati expressing their feelings through Chu Ci (楚辞) to modern revolutionary martyrs entrusting their emotions through family letters, the patriotism flowing between the ink and paper is a continuous thread, lingering in the wisps of zongzi fragrance, echoing in the shouts of the dragon boat races, and deeply embedded in the blood of every Chinese person.
(The author is the Vice Chairman of the China Calligraphers Association (中国书法家协会))
Return to TopBy: 江胜信
As the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节) arrives, one’s thoughts drift to Qu Yuan (屈原). The elegant custom of wearing sachets during the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节) is also linked to the fragrant herbs mentioned in the *Li Sao* (离骚). Many cannot help but wonder: are the aromatic ornaments described in Qu Yuan (屈原)’s lines, "I gather wild angelica and fragrant iris, braiding autumn orchids to wear as adornments," the same as the sachets of today?
Tracing their form, the Chu (楚) region during the Warring States period (战国) had no brocade pouches made of cut fabric filled with incense; what Qu Yuan (屈原) wore at his waist were merely ornaments fashioned from wild orchids and irises. Yet, it is precisely this wisp of botanical fragrance that infused the noble character of a gentleman—self-disciplined and unwavering—into the soul of the sachets of later generations.
Others may wonder: "It is academically recognized that sachet culture has a history of about 3,000 years. Before Qu Yuan (屈原), sachets already existed." Indeed, the Central Plains (中原), which viewed the State of Chu (楚国) as a "barbaric land," had long incorporated sachets into its system of rites and music; at that time, they were called *rongchou* (容臭). The character "臭" (chòu) is pronounced "xiù" and means fragrance. The Confucian classic *Book of Rites: Internal Regulations* (礼记·内则) states: "For men and women who have not yet reached the age of capping or pinning, at the first crow of the rooster, they must all wash and rinse, comb their hair, tie it up, and wear *rongchou*." It required the younger generation to wear *rongchou* when serving their elders at close quarters, to maintain a fragrant and clean appearance and to observe respectful etiquette.
Although the sachet culture has deep roots, it was initially limited to mere objects and rituals. It was not until Qu Yuan (屈原) chanted by the riverside, using fragrant herbs to symbolize his inner heart and their pure scent to clarify his integrity, that the sachet transcended being a mere object and acquired a spiritual core that would endure for millennia.
During the Han (汉) and Wei (魏) dynasties, the custom of wearing incense spread throughout the court and the public. Silk embroidery techniques became increasingly refined, and hemp pouches transformed into brocade bags. As life’s fortunes rose and fell, and remaining together proved difficult, sachets became tokens of affection. Fan Qin (繁钦) of the Eastern Han (东汉) dynasty wrote in his *Poem of Settled Love* (定情诗): "What shall I give to show my devotion? A fragrant sachet tied behind the elbow." The woman’s emotional attachment to the sachet in the poem is exactly like Qu Zi (屈子)’s attachment to the fragrant herbs at his waist.
During the Great Tang (大唐) dynasty, with the world at peace, sachets became increasingly magnificent. Shapes such as peach fruits, lotus flowers, and auspicious beasts emerged, utilizing intricate techniques like gold filigree, silver inlay, and colorful embroidery. From imperial relatives and nobles down to commoners in the marketplace, everyone wore sachets, and the fragrance lingered in palace gardens and city streets. Literati and poets often featured sachets in their poetry, such as Bai Juyi (白居易)’s "Light powder and fluff brush the chest, a small sachet warms the hand," and Yuan Zhen (元稹)’s "The breeze secretly passes, the sachet turns; the hazy moon slants through the lattice, shining bright."
In the elegant Song (宋) dynasty, folk customs were well-established, and wearing incense during the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节) became a seasonal routine. The sachets were simple in design, with patterns often featuring orchids, irises, and spiritual herbs, fitting a detached and indifferent temperament. Every Dragon Boat Festival (端午节), children wore tiger-head pouches to pray for the warding off of evil and for good health; the elderly hung longevity peach pouches to bless themselves with long lives; literati and refined scholars favored plain pouches, eschewing elaborate carving, using only fragrant herbs to hone their character, and regarding Qu Yuan (屈原) as a soulmate from another age.
Extending into the Ming (明) and Qing (清) dynasties, embroidery arts reached their peak, with Suzhou (苏), Xiang (湘), Shu (蜀), and Yue (粤) each displaying their own unique beauty. Artisans used needles as brushes, threads as ink, and fabric as paper, embroidering the vastness of mountains and rivers, the myriad postures of flowers and birds, and the diverse aspects of human life onto square-inch brocade pouches. Making and gifting sachets during the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节) became a trend of the time. While various schools of sachet-making emerged across different regions, their core values of kindness, sentiment, and nobility remained unchanged.
In modern times, as Western influence spread eastward and Western accessories entered daily life, handmade sachets once fell into silence, and ancient techniques gradually declined. However, the wisdom and deep affection embedded in the cultural context of folk customs never dissipated. Today, with the revival of traditional culture and the resurgence of intangible cultural heritage, contemporary artisans are building upon the past to create the new. They inherit the spirit of Qu Zi (屈子)—using fragrant herbs to clarify one's ambitions and pure character to establish one's standing—while innovating in form, pattern, scent formulas, and functionality. They have transformed the millennial sachet into a brand-new cultural carrier, rooted in traditional craftsmanship, centered on the wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine (中医), dressed in the aesthetics of the "National Trend" (国潮), set in the context of modern life, and enlivened by human emotion.
Some take the rustic charm of Northern Shaanxi (陕北) paper-cutting and blend it with the pure, mellow scent of Jiangnan (江南) blended incense to launch simple, *ruyi*-shaped sachets, like a gentleman restraining himself to cultivate virtue. Others select the elegant colors of the Song (宋) dynasty and pair them with gold and silver threads to create bamboo-joint dragon boat sachets, responding to the custom of the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节) races and conveying wishes for continuous advancement. Some have improved the traditional tiger-head sachet, turning the fierce tiger into a guardian deity to be hung on door lintels or used in cars. Others, based on the *Compendium of Materia Medica* (本草纲目), formulate incense recipes for calming the mind, repelling mosquitoes, purifying odors, and dispelling dampness, expanding the sachet into a fragrant pillow. Still others invite the fragrant herbs of the *Chu Ci* (楚辞) into the pouch, making every wisp of faint fragrance a messenger conveying the character of Qu Zi (屈子)...
I occasionally walk through universities and communities to teach needlework skills, leading others to make sachets together. The process of threading needles, cutting fabric, and filling them with incense is like a prescription for a calm mind. Unlike the cold uniformity of assembly-line products, hand-sewn sachets carry warmth in every uneven stitch, and the depth of their fragrance tells of genuine emotion.
In the *Jihai* (己亥) year, on the occasion of the 95th birthday of Ye Jiaying (叶嘉莹), an expert in classical literature, I created a lotus-pod sachet pendant for her (see image), adorned with lotus flower, bright moon, and dragonfly accessories. One aspect captures the poetic imagery of the professor’s "Alone, I accompany the bright moon to watch the lotus flowers," and another matches the artistic conception of the ancient poem "The small lotus has just revealed its sharp tip." It symbolizes both the scholar’s sincere heart in serving the country and the teacher’s profound virtue in nurturing others, while also manifesting an indomitable vitality. The pouch is filled with lotus leaves, mint, and lavender, clear and detached, blending with the elegant atmosphere of poetry. The professor loved this sachet deeply and used it as a door hanging in her study. That year, on Teachers' Day, Nankai University (南开大学)’s Jialing Academy (迦陵学舍) held a gathering to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the professor’s return to teach in China. I brought hundreds of lotus-pod sachet pendants sewn by fellow needlework enthusiasts from the Chinese Poetry Society (中华诗词学会)’s Poetry Education Committee to distribute to guests. The sachet felt like a covenant, inviting you and me to walk the path of poetry education together.
A tiny sachet, coming from 3,000 years ago and heading toward 3,000 years into the future, will linger in your palm and mine for an eternal moment.
(The author is a senior reporter for the *Wen Hui Bao* (文汇报))
Return to TopBy: 孙石磊
Throughout history, countless poems, books, and paintings have been dedicated to the Duanyang Festival (端阳节). Among them, the *Album of Duanyang Festival Stories* (端阳故事图册) by the Qing Dynasty (清代) court painter Xu Yang (徐扬) stands out as a particularly charming collection of seasonal vignettes. The eight-leaf album features themes of shooting at flour balls (射粉团), bestowing owl soup (赐枭羹), gathering medicinal herbs (采药草), raising mynas (养鸲鹆), hanging mugwort figures (悬艾人), tying colorful silk threads (系彩丝), wrapping zongzi (裹角黍), and watching dragon boat races (观竞渡). Like eight elegant, short lyrical songs, they unfold sequentially on silk, echoing one another to form a complete seasonal landscape; opening the album is akin to leafing through a diary of the passing year.
The sense of seasonality, phenology, and playful interest in the paintings is **先声夺人** (xiān shēng duó rén - "first sound seizes people," to gain the upper hand by making a strong first impression). The first leaf, *Shooting at Flour Balls* (射粉团), depicts court ladies drawing bows to aim at flour balls on a platter, their excitement and anticipation captured vividly on the silk. The custom of "shooting at flour balls" during Duanyang dates back to the Tang Dynasty (唐代). Why "flour balls"? The *Accounts of the Kaiyuan and Tianbao Eras* (开元天宝遗事) notes that "flour balls are slippery and difficult to hit." *Bestowing Owl Soup* (赐枭羹) illustrates the custom of making soup from owls to be bestowed upon officials, implying the expulsion of wicked people and treacherous ministers. *Gathering Medicinal Herbs* (采药草) shows people climbing mountains to collect various herbs, as the ancients believed that the medicinal potency of plants was at its peak on the day of Duanyang. *Raising Mynas* (养鸲鹆) draws upon the old custom of keeping mynas and teaching them to mimic speech. In *Hanging Mugwort Figures* (悬艾人), the mugwort figures tied to the door lintels are full of rustic simplicity. The elegance of the palace and the simplicity of the wilderness coexist in this album without conflict.
The brushwork then shifts to the most moving human sentiments of the Duanyang Festival. In *Tying Colorful Silk Threads* (系彩丝), a youth bows to tie five-colored silk threads—blue, red, yellow, white, and black, symbolizing the Five Elements (五行)—onto an elder, known as the "Longevity Thread" (长命缕). This custom has a long history, with records dating back to the Han Dynasty (汉代); people believed it could ward off plagues and evil. *Wrapping Zongzi* (裹角黍) is a vivid depiction of domestic labor, with a mother and child washing zongzi leaves and preparing ingredients together. This educational and entertaining lifestyle interest is quietly captured by the painter. By the time we reach *Watching Dragon Boat Races* (观竞渡), viewers on the bank are craning their necks to look into the distance while dragon boats surge forward in the water—this is the grand spectacle of watching boats by the water, and also a collective memory passed down by the Chinese people for thousands of years.
Viewing the eight leaves as a whole, one can better appreciate the ingenuity of Xu Yang (徐扬) in curating this series. In terms of composition, he uses a tranquil perspective to lay out palace gardens, wilderness, waterfronts, and courtyards. Though the scenes vary, the atmosphere remains consistent, making the viewer feel as if they are wandering between deep palaces and the countryside. In terms of technique, the figures are mostly outlined with concise and vigorous strokes, unadorned yet elegant and vivid. The coloring is light and refined, with vermilion railings and green trees dotted throughout—bright but not gaudy—demonstrating the neat and elegant aesthetic of court painting at the time. Each leaf of the album is only about 20 centimeters square, yet it demonstrates the skill of "a universe within a square inch" (方寸之间有天地) in every detail—every tree, every wall, every emotion, and every scene has been carefully selected, with no redundant strokes.
Particularly intriguing is the fusion of the "Academy Style" (院体) and literati taste in the paintings. Xu Yang (徐扬) was a native of Suzhou (苏州), born into a commoner family, and later served in the Imperial Court (内廷). His brushwork possesses both the neatness and rigor of the Academy Style and the elegant, airy quality of the Jiangnan (江南) region. Recording seasonal customs through painting was already popular in the Song (宋) and Yuan (元) dynasties, and became even more infused with the "smoke and fire" of daily life during the Ming (明) and Qing (清) dynasties. Xu Yang (徐扬) inherited this tradition, maintaining the stability of court painting while introducing the vivid atmosphere of common life onto the silk. Thus, the refined interest of court games and the rustic simplicity of gathering herbs in the wild coexist peacefully in the same series. This "harmony between elegance and vulgarity" (雅俗相融) is exactly what makes the *Album of Duanyang Festival Stories* (端阳故事图册) unique compared to ordinary seasonal paintings. Next to each leaf, there is a short inscription pointing out the origins of the customs and the names of the objects. Attentive readers will also notice seals such as "Appreciated by the Qianlong Emperor" (乾隆鉴赏) and "Seal of the Sanxi Hall" (三希堂精鉴玺), showing that even the emperor, deep within the palace, used this album to observe folk customs and savor the flavor of human life. The combination of painting, calligraphy, and seals makes the album not only a visual and literary experience but also a subject for study—observing the interest of customs, reading the changes of the seasons, and examining the thousand-year-old sentiments behind these traditions.
Seasons do not linger, but paintings endure. Those simple moments in the paintings—the joy of drawing a bow to shoot at flour balls, the focused gaze of a woman wrapping zongzi, the respectful bow of a junior tying colorful silk threads—have long transcended time, becoming cultural genes passed down through generations in the spiritual world of the Chinese people.
Return to TopBy: 张建军
The last day of this year’s Dragon Boat Festival (端午) holiday happened to coincide with the Summer Solstice (夏至). The Dragon Boat Festival (端午) and the Summer Solstice (夏至)—one a festival, the other a solar term—both fall during midsummer, and thus share a common designation: the "Summer Festival" (夏节). Today, the popularity of the Dragon Boat Festival (端午) far exceeds that of the Summer Solstice (夏至). In reality, however, the Summer Solstice (夏至) originated as early as the Yin (殷) and Shang (商) dynasties, while the Dragon Boat Festival (端午) emerged much later. Fundamentally, the Dragon Boat Festival (端午) evolved based on the assimilation of the customs of the Summer Solstice (夏至), and both share a logical framework for managing the "waxing and waning of Yin and Yang" (阴阳消长).
Midsummer refers to the middle month of summer, which is the fifth month of the lunar calendar. The *Book of Rites: Monthly Ordinances* (礼记·月令) describes the month of midsummer: "In this month, the days reach their longest, Yin and Yang contend, and life and death are distinguished." This means that the midsummer month welcomes the day with the longest daylight hours, which is the Summer Solstice (夏至). At this time, Yin energy and Yang energy begin a new round of competition, and all things exist on the boundary between growth and decay. However, because "Yang wanes and Yin waxes" (阳消阴长) after the Summer Solstice (夏至), many cultural rituals and folk customs focus on supporting Yang and avoiding Yin.
The Dragon Boat Festival (端午) represents the peak of Yang energy, which is why it is also called "Duan Yang" (端阳). The Summer Solstice (夏至) usually falls on June 21 or 22 in the Gregorian calendar. If the fifth day of the fifth lunar month of the Dragon Boat Festival (端午) is converted to the Gregorian calendar, its average date is June 11, with the earliest being May 27 and the latest June 26, primarily fluctuating between the solar terms of Grain in Ear (芒种) and the Summer Solstice (夏至). Therefore, broadly speaking, the Dragon Boat Festival (端午) sits right within the temporal scale of the transition between day and night and the contention between Yin and Yang.
Entering summer, one should be "still," but supporting Yang energy emphasizes "movement." Thus, "contention" and "struggle" have become the thematic keywords for Dragon Boat Festival (端午) customs, with the typical activity being dragon boat racing, which is frequently depicted in handed-down paintings. A farming proverb says, "Grain in Ear (芒种) and Summer Solstice (夏至) are the water festivals." From Grain in Ear (芒种) to the Summer Solstice (夏至), the rain belt moves northward from South China (华南) to the Jiangnan (江南) region. These areas successively welcome the season with the highest annual precipitation, and since the dragon boat races of the Dragon Boat Festival (端午) are held at this time, the regions of South China (华南) and the Southeast Coast (东南沿海) call this peak of precipitation "Dragon Boat Water" (龙舟水).
In addition to heavy rainfall, the rain of the "water festival" has a characteristic called "summer rain across the ox's back" (夏雨隔牛背), meaning that summer rain is "partial"—on either side of an ox's back, one side may experience a torrential downpour while the other enjoys bright, sunny weather. In the past, people commonly believed this was caused by too many dragons failing to manage the water properly and raining indiscriminately without regard for regional boundaries. Consequently, people held the "Dragon Division Festival" (分龙节) around the Summer Solstice (夏至), asking the various Dragon Kings (龙王) to delineate their territories and perform their duties, allowing rain to fall but not to "run wild." Today, some places still carry on this festival custom.
During the humid and hot "water festival," poisonous insects are active, and the Dragon Boat Festival (端午) is also known as the "Five Poisons Day" (五毒日). The "Five Poisons" (五毒) refer to five common "poisonous insects" in daily life. The "Five Poisons" (五毒) depicted on the Qing (清) dynasty copper-bodied cloisonné flower-and-grass box include scorpions, snakes, centipedes, toads, and spiders. Among the folk, geckos are also sometimes included in the "Five Poisons" (五毒). To avoid harm from the "Five Poisons" (五毒), parents dress their children in "Five Poisons" (五毒) vests and shoes during the Dragon Boat Festival (端午), primarily relying on the principle of "using poison to combat poison" (以毒攻毒).
Warding off evil and preventing epidemics is the main theme of the Dragon Boat Festival (端午). The Yuan (元) dynasty work *Beautiful Scenery of the Heavenly Center* (天中佳景图) is a piece created for the occasion of the Dragon Boat Festival (端午). "Heavenly Center" (天中) is another name for the Dragon Boat Festival (端午), referring to the sun being at the zenith of the sky. In the painting, the vase is filled with flower branches such as pomegranates and hollyhocks, with sachets tied to the tips to ward off foul air. The plate contains seasonal foods like *zongzi* (粽子) and lychees, with calamus placed to the side, which carries the meaning of dispelling filth. At the top of the painting are four spiritual talismans and Zhong Kui (钟馗), making the implication of warding off evil and inviting good fortune even more profound.
*Zongzi* (粽子) are highly iconic in the diet of the Dragon Boat Festival (端午), but in fact, this dietary custom was "absorbed" from the Summer Solstice (夏至). Tasting *shu* (黍) during the Summer Solstice (夏至) was an ancient custom. *Shu* (黍) is commonly known as broomcorn millet. During the Spring and Autumn (春秋) period, ancestors wrapped *shu* (黍) in *jiao* (茭) leaves, creating a food shaped like an ox horn, hence the name "horn *shu*" (角黍). During the Summer Solstice (夏至), the ancients used *jiao shu* (角黍) to offer sacrifices to ancestors and then shared them. Later *zongzi* (粽子) were a "remake" of *jiao shu* (角黍), where the yellow millet was replaced with glutinous rice, and after several developments, it became the "standard" food custom of the Dragon Boat Festival (端午).
There are various theories regarding the origin of the Dragon Boat Festival (端午), including commemorations of Qu Yuan (屈原), Cao E (曹娥), Wu Zixu (伍子胥), and Goujian (勾践). The legend of Qu Yuan (屈原) throwing himself into the river cleverly integrated the two classic symbols of the Dragon Boat Festival (端午)—*zongzi* (粽子) and dragon boats—and infused them with patriotic sentiment, which is why it has been passed down to this day. From the Summer Solstice (夏至) to the Dragon Boat Festival (端午), within the traditions of the midsummer season, the wisdom of nature and the warmth of the nation have spanned a thousand years, reflecting upon each other through the changing of the seasons, **生生不息** (shēng shēng bù xī - "life life not cease," growing and multiplying without end, enduring forever) and leaving a long-lasting resonance.
(The author is an associate researcher at the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Research Center of the National Agricultural Museum of China (中国农业博物馆二十四节气研究中心))
Return to TopBy: 徐文治
This year, during the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节), the "New Chinese-style" mugwort bouquet, which blends traditional folk customs with modern aesthetics, has quietly become popular, serving as a "ritualistic centerpiece" for decorating homes and conveying well-wishes. The beauty of Dragon Boat Festival (端午节) culture is constantly being renewed within the context of contemporary life.
The custom of hanging mugwort during the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节) to ward off evil has a **源远流长** (yuán yuǎn liú cháng - "source far flow long," long-standing and well-established) history, and it has continuously spawned new cultural connotations as time has evolved. The *Dongjing Menghua Lu* (东京梦华录) records that in Bianjing (汴京), the capital of the Northern Song Dynasty (北宋), starting from the first day of the fifth lunar month, vendors would sell seasonal items such as peach branches, willow branches, calamus leaves, and "Buddha-Daoist mugwort" on the streets. By the day of the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节), "every household would display them at their doorways... and nail mugwort figures to their doors. Scholars and commoners would visit each other to feast and appreciate them." It is evident that items originally used to ward off evil at the threshold, such as willow branches, mugwort, and calamus, already possessed aesthetic value during the Northern Song Dynasty (北宋).
"Usually, there are no flowers for offerings, yet no one laughs; only during the Double Fifth (重午) must there be flowers for offerings." During the Southern Song Dynasty (南宋), purchasing mugwort, calamus, hollyhocks, pomegranate flowers, and gardenias for floral arrangements became one of the most important customs of the year. This flourishing scene continued through the Ming (明) and Qing (清) dynasties. In the *Zhangwu Zhi* (长物志) by Wen Zhenheng (文震亨) of the Ming Dynasty (明代), the section "Hanging Paintings for the Monthly Calendar" (悬画月令) records: "For the Dragon Boat Festival (端午), it is appropriate to use 'True Man Jade Talismans' (真人玉符), as well as Song (宋) and Yuan (元) dynasty masterpieces depicting Dragon Boat (端阳) scenes, dragon boats, mugwort tigers, and the 'Five Poisons' (五毒)." "Dragon Boat Scenes" (端阳景) are an important category of seasonal paintings. There are numerous creations of "Dragon Boat Scenes" (端阳景) in Ming (明) and Qing (清) dynasty paintings, such as *Dragon Boat Scene* (端阳景图) by Chen Tian (陈恬) of the Ming Dynasty (明代) and *Heavenly Center Painting* (天中图) by Bian Shoumin (边寿民) of the Qing Dynasty (清代). These paintings reflect that Dragon Boat (端午) flora had already appeared in residences and elegant gatherings in the form of vase arrangements and bouquets. Creators recorded daily secular culture through artistic means, making them sparkling ripples in the long river of Chinese (中华) culture, providing a window for later generations to explore history.
Culture is not an empty theory found in high-minded lectures, but rather the daily life of the people. Today, the goal is to integrate the life aesthetics contained within excellent traditional Chinese (中华) culture into contemporary life, satisfying the people's growing needs for a better life. Therefore, in my daily research and creation, I emphasize "continuing the ancient to create trends" (续古为潮), which means conducting in-depth academic research on historical culture with the purpose of allowing traditional aesthetics to form new trends in the contemporary era, enabling the masses to feel the charm of traditional culture, enjoy its nourishment, and subsequently add poetic beauty to today's life.
The popularity of Dragon Boat Festival (端午节) mugwort bouquets aptly interprets how Chinese (中国) traditions can "continue the ancient to create trends" (续古为潮) and form new aesthetic fashions.
Today, people, especially the younger generation, pay more attention to life aesthetics. When festival rituals merge with traditional aesthetics, it facilitates the phenomenal spread of Dragon Boat Festival (端午节) cultural traditions in the internet age. Fresh cut flowers such as mugwort, calamus, and privet leaves are mixed and matched, accented with red strings, tassels, origami, and linen, and paired with carefully designed Dragon Boat Festival (端午节) well-wishing cards. The originally simple plants are transformed, and while retaining their original cultural connotations, they achieve a light and vivid expression of life aesthetics.
Calamus to ward off evil and mugwort to dispel filth have been old customs through which the Chinese (中国人) have entrusted their feelings for thousands of years. Today, they have returned to our lives in the new artistic form of fashionable bouquets, allowing Dragon Boat Festival (端午节) culture to bloom with new radiance. For a long time in the past, the aesthetic standards for seasonal flowers were almost monopolized by heterogeneous cultures: roses represent romance, lilies represent purity, and carnations represent maternal love—this is the language of others. Where is our own language? It is in that bundle of mugwort our ancestors hung on the door lintels, and on the offering tables during traditional festivals like the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节), the Double Ninth Festival (重阳), and the Lunar New Year (岁朝). This set of language has always been there; it is just that for a long time, we forgot to use it.
Bundles of inconspicuous medicinal herbs are being re-selected, arranged, and packaged by people today—this process itself is an aesthetic continuation, a quiet return of Chinese (中式) aesthetics to seasonal life. Mugwort is still the same mugwort, with a bitter scent and effective mosquito-repelling properties, but when it is carefully designed into a bouquet and solemnly gifted to others, it transcends from a medicinal herb into a carrier of life aesthetics.
Return to TopEmail for this edition: msfk@peopledaily.cn (人民日报)
Return to Top