Spring Festival consumption demonstrates resilience, vitality of Chinese economy

By He Yin, People’s Daily

During this year’s Spring Festival holiday, there has been a significant increase in cross-regional personnel movement across China, and the consumer market was full of vitality. This has presented the resilience and vitality of the Chinese economy to the international society.

Hundreds of millions of people took trains, planes, and other means of transportation to reunite with their families and friends, and it reflected the dynamism of the Chinese economy.

It is believed that the Spring Festival travel rush reflected the vitality of China’s economic development, and the growing consumer demand brought about by the large-scale movement of the people has injected strong momentum into a good start for the Chinese economy this year.

The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, is one of the most important traditional festivals in China and serves as a key indicator of consumption. During the Spring Festival holiday this year, both domestic tourism and total expenditure in China have seen significant year-on-year increases.

The national box office and number of moviegoers have set new records for the same period. The average daily sales revenue in service consumption-related industries across the country has grown by 52.3 percent compared to the previous year.

This showcases a dynamic China to the world, bolstering international confidence in the country’s economic growth.

The international community has been closely following China’s consumption data during the Spring Festival, with many noting that tourism and consumption during the holiday this year have exceeded pre-pandemic levels, further indicating an improvement in consumption in the world’s second-largest economy. Some said that the surge in consumer spending and travel during the holiday gave a boost to the Chinese economy.

The just-concluded Spring Festival holiday also mirrored China’s open cooperation with other countries.

Freight trains were running between China and Europe and between China and Laos, while bustling large ports operated 24/7 during the holiday. Enterprises were working at full capacity to produce foreign trade orders, and over 1,800 cross-border e-commerce overseas warehouses spread across more than 220 countries and regions,

As China implemented a visa-free policy for a larger circle of friends, inbound and outbound tourism has been on the rise. During the Spring Festival holiday, China’s border inspection agencies nationwide saw nearly 13.52 million entries and exits by Chinese and foreign nationals, with an average of 1.69 million per day, a 2.8-fold increase compared to the same period in 2023.

The two-way flow of Chinese and foreign tourists during the Spring Festival holiday has led to a peak in global tourism consumption, which serves as a vivid example of China’s win-win cooperation with other countries.

An article on the website of the AsianTraveler magazine said that the strong recovery of the Chinese tourism data during the Spring Festival holiday not only reflected the resilience of the tourism industry but also demonstrated the strategic measures implemented by the Chinese government.

As the Spring Festival spread joy and harmony to the world, the Chinese economy also brought hope and warmth. Against the multiple uncertainties in the global economy, China’s GDP grew by 5.2 percent year-on-year in 2023, demonstrating a stable and positive trend.

Recently, several global financial institutions have released economic outlook reports for 2024, all of which believe that the foundation for China’s economic stabilization and recovery has been further consolidated. They expected that continuous internal driving forces, such as technological innovation and industrial transformation, would be unleashed.

Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam recently pointed out that despite challenges, China’s fundamental strength is beyond doubt and continues to grow and consolidate. He believed that China possesses a robust manufacturing system and export competitiveness, as well as a wealth of talent including engineers, scientists, and skilled labor forces. These factors are considered China’s significant advantages, he added.

The vibrant Spring Festival economy has set a positive tone for China’s economy in the new year. China will comprehensively implement the new development philosophy, accelerate the building of a new development pattern, promote high-quality development, and consolidate and enhance the positive momentum of economic recovery.

As pointed out by Spanish market analyst and columnist Julio Ceballos, as long as China persists in deepening reforms, continuously expanding opening up, better leveraging its advantages in education and technological innovation, and fully tapping into the potential of the domestic market, the Chinese economy will have strong confidence in its development.

Xiamen a vivid example of beautiful China

By People’s Daily

The clear waters and green shores of the Yundang Lake, the white egrets playing in Xiatanwei Coastal Wetland, and the azure sky above the Wuyuan Bay…These ecological masterpieces in Xiamen, southeast China’s Fujian province serve as a vivid portrayal of the coordinated development of ecology and economy, as well as the harmonious coexistence between man and nature.

Xiamen is a key birthplace and early adopter of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization. In March 1988, seeing the polluted Yundang Lake where almost no trace of aquatic animals could be found, Xi Jinping, who then served as a member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China Xiamen Municipal Committee and vice mayor of Xiamen, put forward the request to carry out a plan that detailed legal governance, stopping pollution, dredging work, revitalization of the body of water and improvement of the surrounding environment.

After five phases of large-scale treatment, the once “stinky lake” has been transformed into a “green lung” of the city. Starting with the comprehensive treatment of the Yundang Lake, Xiamen has actively promoted ecological protection and restoration of sea, river basins, and the entire region for over 30 years.

It has explored a path to ecological civilization that well coordinates high-quality development and ecological protection, and promotes the harmonious coexistence between man and the sea, which shapes a beautiful ecological environment, promotes high-quality development, and improves the quality of life. This mirrors the positive progress made by Xiamen in development philosophy and approach, and serves as a vivid example of advancing ecological civilization.

A sound eco-environment is the fairest public product and the most inclusive public benefit. From carrying out beach restoration projects to keep the most beautiful beaches for the people, to constructing marine and wetland parks, beautiful shorelines, and recreational trails around lakes and bays, and to exploring an ecological management model of co-construction, co-governance and co-sharing to benefit the people with a sound ecology, Xiamen has consistently prioritized addressing the most pressing environmental concerns that directly impact and are of utmost importance to the public, so as to better practice the notion that “Every person is a protector, contributor, and beneficiary of the environment,” and fully motivate the initiative and creativity of the people.

Over the past 30 years, Xiamen has been committed to building a community of life that incorporates mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands and deserts. The city has take a law-based, science-based, holistic and coordinated approach to governance and tried to resolve root causes of problems in environmental protection.

This has led to continuous improvement in the modernization of ecological environment governance, achieving a positive interaction between high-level ecological protection and high-quality development. Xiamen has successfully embarked on a path of high-quality development that prioritizes environmental optimization for growth and uses development to enhance the environment.

Respecting nature, adapting to nature and protecting nature to promote harmonious coexistence between man and nature is a distinctive feature of Chinese modernization. Currently, China’s economic and social development has entered a stage of accelerated green and low-carbon development, and it is an important period for building a beautiful China.

China is planning and promoting ecological and environmental protection, continuously enhancing the potential and momentum of high-quality development, and promoting harmonious coexistence between man and nature with a higher perspective, broader vision, and greater efforts. It is striving to build a beautiful homeland with blue skies, green landscapes, and clean waters, and to compose a magnificent chapter of Chinese modernization.

Xiamen takes multiple measures to promote harmony between human, sea

By Liu Yi, Chang Qin, People’s Daily

Xiamen, capital of southeast China’s Fujian province, is a typical bay city. It rises from the sea, drawn into its embrace.

The ecological conservation of bay cities is a global issue. These cities feature dense populations and industrial clusters, with significant pressure on resources and the environment. The challenges such as environmental pollution and biodiversity reduction often hinder their economic and social development.

How has Xiamen tackled these challenges and promoted harmony between human and the sea?

In June 2002, Xi Jinping, then deputy Party chief and governor of Fujian, proposed the idea of shifting Xiamen’s urban planning from island-based to bay-based.

A development strategy was made to combine the development of Xiamen with the expansion of bays, combine urban transition with economic transition, combine rural industrialization with urbanization, and combine urban characteristics with the protection of bay ecology.

Xiamen has pioneered the concept of comprehensive bay-area governance in domestic coastal regions. It adopts a tailored approach for each bay.

Since 2002, the city has undertaken a succession of comprehensive renovation and development projects in five bay areas, namely Haicang Bay, Wuyuan Bay, Xinglin Bay, Tong’an Bay and Maluan Bay. By dredging seawall openings, restoring mangrove shorelines, and revitalizing beaches, Xiamen has created a pleasant living environment around the bays.

In the past, a large area of water in Maluan Bay was transformed into shrimp ponds and fish farms, leading to deteriorating water quality. To address the issue, Xiamen rolled out a comprehensive “combo” of initiatives, including returning reclaimed land to the sea, watershed management, and ecological water replenishment.

“The birds know the best about ecological conditions. Rare bird species like the oriental stork and black-faced spoonbill now flock to Maluan Bay to overwinter,” said Guo Qiang, director of the bird-watching association in Xiamen, while snapping photos of the birds.

Guo told People’s Daily that an ecological park has been built in the bay after dredging, and now it has become the top bird-watching spot for him.

Daitou Creek in Xiamen’s Tong’an district was once heavily polluted. The district implemented initiatives like full collection and treatment of sewage, clearing sediments from all waterways, and constructing wetland parks, to strengthen ecological protection and restoration.

The once black and stinky creek has now become a sound place for citizens, and its water quality was maintained at Class IV throughout last year.

Xiamen has carried out coordinated advancement in water resources, water environment, and water ecological management, to improve urban sewage collection and treatment capabilities, provide whole-area rural wastewater treatment, and prevent land-based pollutants from entering the sea. The proportion of wastewater discharge reaching standards into the sea has increased to 99.3 percent across the city.

The Xiatanwei Mangrove Park in Xiamen’s Xiang’an district presents a beautiful seaside scene with mangroves flourishing on the tidal flats, which sway gently when brushed by sea breeze.

Through a series of ecological restoration projects, the total mangrove area in Xiamen has increased from 32.6 hectares in 2000 to 173.9 hectares in 2023, with the ecological vitality and resilience along the coastline significantly enhanced.

Peter Thomson, the United Nations secretary-general’s special envoy for the ocean, has visited the Xiatanwei Mangrove Park twice. He highly commended the balance achieved by Xiamen between ecological protection and economic development, saying he looked forward to Xiamen providing a model for international marine ecological governance.

“Look! White dolphins!” On a boat ride to a rescue and breeding center for Chinese white dolphins in Xiamen’s Huoshaoyu Islet, people saw some Chinese white dolphins in the sea.

They joyfully swam in the water, occasionally leaping out of the sea. People couldn’t help but cheer excitedly, snapping photos and videos.

The Chinese white dolphin is guarded under first-class state protection in China. Since 2000, Xiamen has established a national nature reserve for 12 rare marine species, including the Chinese white dolphin and European lancelet, as well as their living environment, with an area of 7,588 hectares.

Chinese white dolphins like to inhabit and breed in bays at river estuaries, precisely where human activities are most frequent, posing huge protection difficulties.

Xiamen enacted China’s first local rules and regulations on Chinese white dolphin protection and built the first Chinese white dolphin rescue and breeding center. After years of efforts, the Chinese white dolphin population in Xiamen has gradually increased, from 60 in the early 1990s to over 80 now.

The Chinese white dolphin is an indicator of the marine environment, and Xiamen is one of the few cities in China where the Chinese white dolphin can be frequently observed from the urban area, said Wang Xianyan, a researcher with the Third Institute of Oceanography under the Ministry of Natural Resources.

“Over the past 36 years, Xiamen has invested a total of 105.6 billion yuan ($14.68 billion) in marine ecological conservation and restoration, achieving significant ecological, social, and economic benefits. This vividly demonstrates that blue seas and beautiful beaches are invaluable assets,” said Lu Lihua, an official of the Ministry of Natural Resources.

China’s thriving outbound tourism contributes to global economic recovery

By Zhang Jinruo, Huang Peizhao, Xu Hailin, People’s Daily

The past Chinese New Year holiday just witnessed a surge in China’s outbound tourism. According to statistics released by China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, around 3.6 million overseas trips were made by Chinese tourists during the holiday.

International observers said that this increase has not only contributed to the growth of the international tourism industry, but also provided a boost to the global economic recovery.

On the second day of the Chinese New Year, the Siam Square, a shopping mall in Bangkok, Thailand, was crowded with tourists. Xiaolan, a tourist from Shanghai, told People’s Daily that there has been a noticeable increase in the number of people travelling to Thailand ever since Thailand announced a five-month visa-free policy for Chinese tourists last September.

“I am planning a trip to Malaysia in a few days. It’s much easier to travel abroad nowadays,” Xiaolan said.

To attract more Chinese tourists, several Southeast Asian countries have successively implemented visa-free policies.

Starting from Dec. 1, 2023, Malaysia has implemented a 30-day visa-free policy for Chinese citizens. On Jan. 28 this year, China and Thailand signed an agreement on visa exemption for holders of ordinary passports, which will officially take effect on March 1.

On Feb. 9, an agreement between China and Singapore on visa exemption for holders of ordinary passports officially took effect. On that day, many Chinese tourists entered Singapore, experiencing the convenience brought by the visa-free policy. During the Chinese New Year, Singapore’s landmark Gardens by the Bay specifically hosted a special lantern fair, attracting many Chinese tourists.

Egypt was one of the main destinations for Chinese tourists during the Chinese New Year holiday. On Feb. 10, a special ceremony was held at the Cairo International Airport to welcome Chinese tourists spending the Chinese New Year in Egypt.

Ibrahim, marketing manager of a travel agency in Egypt, said that Chinese outbound tourism has brought tremendous benefits to his company.

“Compared to the same period last year, the number of Chinese tourists we received from late January to early February has surged four-fold. Everyone in our company was happy to see the sudden increase,” he noted.

In mid-January, China announced unilateral visa-free treatment for Switzerland, and Switzerland also provided visa convenience for Chinese citizens and companies investing in Switzerland.

Hannah, a coach at a skiing school in Davos, Switzerland, said that Davos attracts many Chinese skiing enthusiasts every year.

“Chinese skiing enthusiasts are friendly, kind, and passionate about skiing,” Hannah said. With the increased convenience of travel between the two countries, she looks forward to experiencing ski resorts in China.

According to the World Travel Market Global Travel Report, the value of China’s outbound tourism is projected to increase by 131 percent from 2024 to 2033.

Thai government spokesperson Chai Wacharonke said that with the Thailand-China visa exemption agreement set to take effect on March 1, it is expected that more Chinese tourists will choose Thailand as their destination. This will further boost the growth of Thailand’s tourism industry and bring more vitality to the country’s economic development.

Bojan Lalic, director of the Institute for Belt and Road Studies in Belgrade, noted that since the visa exemption policy between Serbia and China came into effect in 2017, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Serbia has been continuously increasing, promoting economic development and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

He said China ranks among the top in terms of outbound tourism, and has contributed to the economic development of relevant countries.

“Since last year, China’s outbound tourism has been steadily recovering. This is a clear testament to the vitality of the Chinese economy and adds momentum to the global tourism industry and economic recovery. We look forward to more Chinese tourists visiting our country,” Lalic said.

In recent years, Chinese tourists have become more diverse and individualized in their outbound travel preferences and demands. They now place greater emphasis on experiencing the natural environment, cultural history, and local lifestyle of their destinations.

Li, who traveled to Egypt from China’s Sichuan province during the Chinese New Year holiday, said she spent two days at the Egyptian Museum and the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization.

Liu, who works in Beijing, chose to have a trip to France during the Chinese New Year holiday and spent the entire vacation in Paris.

“I saw the romantic Seine River and experienced history at the Palace of Versailles and the Arc de Triomphe,” Liu said. This trip allowed him to feel a resonance between Chinese and French cultures, making it an unforgettable cultural and artistic journey.

Harry Hwang, director of the Regional Department for Asia and the Pacific, United Nations World Tourism Organization, noted that in recent years, Chinese tourists have placed a greater emphasis on travel experiences. Chinese tourists are now more interested in exploring the attractions, cultural heritage, and history of different countries and regions, which indirectly contributes to the preservation of local cultural heritage.

Nasarawa Football in Limbo as Stakeholders Urge Nasarawa FA to Address Administrative Failures

In a recent development, football stakeholders in Nasarawa State have raised concerns over the operational efficiency and organization of the Nasarawa Football Association (NFA), labeling it as the most disorganized Football Association (FA) in Nigeria.

Expressing their dismay, stakeholders highlighted the absence of a physical office for the NFA, which hampers effective communication and engagement with the football community.

They lamented the inability of the association to send correspondences directly to them, relying solely on soft copies for communication. Additionally, stakeholders are barred from utilizing the same digital channels to send correspondences to the NFA, exacerbating communication barriers.

In a brief interview, Chairman of AYD FC Doma, A Division1 club in NLO a prominent figure among the stakeholders Mr Abdullahi Y Doma (AYD), emphasized the urgency of the matter, urging the NFA to promptly disclose their office address to the general public. He voiced his discontent, stressing the importance of transparency and accessibility within the football administration.

AYD stated firmly, “I am calling on them to, as a matter of urgency, disclose their office address to the general public. We cannot continue in this manner where vital communication is hindered by lack of transparency and accessibility.”

“We will not stand idly by and watch our football association crumble due to administrative inefficiencies,” AYD added.

The football stakeholders have called for immediate action from the NFA to address these pressing issues, underscoring the need for transparent and accountable governance within the football administration.

As the voices of discontent grow louder, the future of football administration in Nasarawa State hangs in the balance, awaiting swift and decisive action from the authorities concerned.

Youth Leaders List Strategies for Youth Empowerment, Development

Prominent Northern Nigeria youth leaders, led by the Chairman of the Council of Traditional Youth Chiefs of Nigeria (CTYCN), Alhaji Abdulhamid Haleru (Sarkin Samarin Nigeria) and its Secretary, Amb. Danjuma Usman Tanze (Sarkin Samarin Wamba) have outlined pragmatic steps towards the empowerment, advancement, and development of youth in Nigeria.

Using the instrumentality of traditional institutions, the CTYCN hopes to prepare youths across the country to enable them take advantage of and benefit from the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The CTYCN Chairman and Sarkin Samarin Nigerian, made this known when he led a delegation of yohng traditional Chiefs on a courtesy call to His Royal Highness, Alhaji Iliyasu Bashar, the Emir of Gwandu, Kebbi State, at his palace.

He maintained that “a functional education system and the acquisition of bankable skills were key to sustainable youth empowerment especially in the face of rising unemployment. You, our traditional rulers, with your vast influence and control can, therefore be instrumental to making this a reality, that is why we seek to partner with you.

“We are set to give our best towards advancing the cause of the teeming Nigerian youths without recourse to one’s region or religion.
As the Chairman of the Council, I want to say that we are prepared to partner, cooperate and collaborate with relevant stakeholders to give youths the necessary exposure and opportunities to enable them excel”.

Responding, the Emir of Gwandu, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Iliyasu Bashar thanked the youth leaders for deeming it fit to pay him a courtesy visit and expressed the readiness of the Gwandu Emirate Council to partner with CTYCN and indeed any group towards the development of youths in the state and the country in particular.

According to the monarch, “it is always an honour when young men with vision and mission come calling on us. As traditional rulers, we have a great deal of work to do but we cannot do it alone. This partnership and many others to come will therefore be welcomed by the Emirate and given the needed support”.

Alhaji Abdulhamid Haleru, a seasoned youth leader and philanthropist known for his patriotic zeal for youth development was recently crowned the Sarkin Samarin Nigeria and named the Chairman of CTYCN because of his sterling leadership qualities.

He was accompanied on the courtesy call by the Secretary of the Council, Comrade Usman Tanze and numerous Council members with a brief stop at the palace of His Royal Highness, .Alhaji Ibrahim Bello, the Emir of Gusau, Zamfara State.

Lawyer with visual impairment in N China’s Tianjin inspires many like him

By Gong Xiangjuan, People’s Daily

At an accessibility communication center named Xinzhiguang, which means “the light of heart,” in north China’s Tianjin municipality, Wang Hui was sitting in front of a computer, preparing for a speech to be delivered at a conference in the afternoon.

Wang was invited by Tianjin’s municipal health commission to provide an interpretation of relevant policies in internet information accessibility, so as to assist in the construction of accessible medical service information platforms.

Wang is the first person with visual impairment in Tianjin to obtain a legal professional qualification. In high school, Wang was diagnosed with optic atrophy, and doctors advised him to transfer to a school for visually impaired students, as they believed he would not be able to pass the college entrance exams.

However, Wang refused to give up and said, “How would I know if I don’t even try?” In the end, with several times the effort of an average person, he was admitted to Lanzhou University, a renowned higher institution in northwest China’s Gansu province.

In his sophomore year, Wang’s eye disease worsened, forcing him to take a one-year leave from university. However, he decided to go back to campus, hoping to graduate successfully like his fellow classmates. Unable to see, he relied on recording and listening repeatedly. In 2008, he became the first graduate of his university with visual impairment.

Wang Hui is optimistic and loves to ponder. Whenever he encounters problems in mobility, daily life, or work, he takes note of them and seeks out others to discuss possible solutions. His go-to phrase is, “There’s always a way, and I just need time to find it.” If he doesn’t know how to use a new product, he requests a user manual from customer service. And if he notices design details that overlook the practical needs of individuals with visual impairment, he isn’t hesitant to provide direct feedback.

In the past, what persons with visual impairment read was only barille and their entertainment is nothing else but listening to the radio. To solve this problem, Wang has spent over a decade working with friends to develop screen reading software, tackle information barriers and teach persons with visual impairment to use cell phones and computers.

Zhao, 60, who lost her sight due to illness, came to Wang to learn how to use a cell phone. Staying from 9 am to 5 pm, she told Wang, “It’s so great to have your help, and this makes me confident again in my future.”

An elderly learner with full visual impairment sent a poem to a friend through his mobile phone after learning there. Upon receiving a reply, he expressed his gratitude to Wang, holding the latter’s hand. “Wang, thank you! You are the eyes for us,” the elderly learner said.

In the past, Wang’s focus was on technology. However, the gratitude and expectations for him from his learners made him realize he could do even more.

The power of an individual is limited, so Wang started thinking how to make the society pay more attention to the visually impaired group and build an accessible environment for persons with disabilities. He believes in addition to technology, legal protection is also needed.

Ten years after graduation from university, Wang decided to take the legal professional qualification examination. He got up at 4 am every day in order to complete the over 1,500 hours of audio courses. He took electronic notes while listening to the courses, and after finishing work, he kept listening until late at night. This compressed his daily sleep time to only four to five hours.

Being afraid that examinees with visual impairment would be denied entry to examination rooms, Wang wrote a letter to the justice bureau of Tianjin municipality explaining his situation. To his surprise, three or four days later, he received a notification allowing him to participate in the exam.

The justice bureau of Tianjin municipality arranged a separate examination room for Wang, who independently completed all the subjects using screen reading software.

In 2019, Wang successfully passed the exam and joined a local law firm in Tianjin, becoming the first lawyer with visual impairment in Tianjin. Wang’s story has inspired more people with visual impairment to build confidence and make a change.

Wang, after careful consideration, established a Xinzhiguang smart classroom as an online platform that aims to break geographical barriers and expand the coverage of public services for visually impaired individuals.

To cater to visually impaired individuals with no prior experience in using the internet, he also keeps the brick-and-mortar Xinzhiguang accessibility communication center to provide legal education, and share knowledge about smart devices and practical life skills. The Yunyangli community in Nankai district, Tianjin, provides a venue for the Xinzhiguang accessibility communication center.

In 2023, Wang was appointed as an observer for public interest litigation at the People’s Procuratorate of Tianjin. During his tenure, Wang handled an administrative public interest litigation case, which aimed to ensure barrier-free access for visually impaired individuals in public transportation. This case was selected as a typical example of accessibility environment construction in public interest litigation by the Supreme People’s Procuratorate in 2023.

With unwavering determination and relentless efforts, Wang illuminated a beacon of hope and strength for other persons with visual impairment through concrete actions. He brought light into their lives, instilling them with renewed hope and resilience.

Digital technologies accelerate innovation in China’s tourism market

By Wang Ke, People’s Daily

At the National Museum of Classic Books, an immersive exhibition hall has been launched to present a fascinating journey exploring the past and present of the Yongle Encyclopedia, the largest encyclopedia in ancient China commissioned by the Yongle Emperor of the Ming dynasty(1368-1644).

Based on the history of the Yongle Encyclopedia, this exhibition hall incorporates rich science fiction elements and utilizes digital technology to lead the visitors through different time and space dimensions in history.

With six viewing routes and four story endings that can be chosen by the visitors, the immersive exhibition presents an interesting plot that brings the visitors closer to the charming traditional culture.

Currently, immersive cultural and tourism experiences are favored by Chinese tourists, such as immersive performing arts, immersive night tours, immersive exhibitions, and immersive cultural blocks.

A tourism enhancement plan for the period between 2023 and 2025 issued by China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism in 2023 proposed to accelerate the development of smart tourism and create new immersive and smart tourism experiences and scenes.

An official of China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism noted that immersive and smart tourism spaces use technologies like augmented reality, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence to create interactive experiences for tourists. By combining digital elements with cultural and creative features at destinations like tourist attractions, resorts, museums, and heritage sites, this will produce new tourism products and consumer experiences. The goal is to deeply engage tourists and allow them to interact with these blended virtual and real environments.

Recently, China’s National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and Ministry of Industry and Information Technology jointly announced the first pilot list on cultivating national new spaces for smart tourism and immersive experience.

Nearly 1/3 of the projects on the list were related to culture and museums, including the Yongle encyclopedia-themed immersive exhibition at the National Museum of Classic Books, the “Magnificence and Grandeur: Immersive Experience of Grotto Art” at the National Museum of China, “The Dreams of Lady Xin Zhui” digital exhibition featuring the restoration of cultural relics unearthed from the Changsha Mawangdui Han Dynasty Tombs, and an immersive smart tourism space initiated by the Dunhuang Academy.

Statistics released by Meituan and Dianping, two Chinese shopping platforms for locally found consumer products and retail services, indicated that “immersive” has become a hot search term and booking for cultural and tourism products over the Spring Festival holiday in major tourism cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou and Chengdu.

“The popularity of immersive tourism is driven by efforts on both the supply and demand sides,” said Liu Min, a professor at the Tourism College of Beijing Union University.

On the supply side, new technologies like the internet and virtual reality are accelerating their application in the cultural and tourism sector, driving continuous innovation in immersive and smart tourism offerings. On the demand side, tourism consumption shows a clear trend towards personalization and diversification. Tourists have a stronger demand for new cultural and tourism integrated products, providing ample room for innovation and development in culture and tourism.

Lu Mengxi, head of Meituan cultural and tourism research institute, believes that tourism is gradually shifting from rushed sightseeing towards in-depth travel and interactive leisure. Immersive tourism allows people to gain knowledge and appreciate culture through immersive interactions, providing tourists with a brand new experience. This is the main reason behind its continuing popularity.

Experts believe immersive tourism has immense room for development. Cultural and tourism enterprises should keep up with consumer trends and create more diverse, high-quality immersive tourism products to tap the greater potential of cultural and tourism consumption.

Chinese market boosting growth in Brazilian coffee exports

By Shi Yuanhao, People’s Daily

Brazil exported more than 39.24 million 60-kg bags of coffee last year, on par with those in 2022, according to the the Brazilian Coffee Exporters Council.

Of these, 1.48 million bags were exported to China, a significant 278.6 percent increase over 2022, making China the 6th largest export destination for Brazilian coffee.

“In 2017, Brazil’s coffee exports to China were less than 83,000 bags. In recent years, coffee consumption in the Chinese market has achieved continuous growth, and Brazilian coffee is gaining more popularity,” said Marcos Antonio Matos, director general of the Brazilian Coffee Exporters Council.

He said that with its large population, China still has great room for growth in coffee consumption. Brazil values the Chinese coffee market and hopes more Chinese merchants will purchase Brazilian coffee beans.

Minas Gerais is one of Brazil’s main coffee producing states. It said on its news website that the Chinese market provides important opportunities for the Brazilian coffee industry.

Specialty coffee is one of the key growth areas for Brazilian coffee exports to China. The Mantiqueira region, located at the junction of Minas Gerais, Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro states, has high altitudes and large diurnal temperature variation, making it a sound place for growing coffee.

Helcio Junior, Executive Director of Unique Cafes located in Mantiqueira, said that his company has cooperated with its Chinese partners for eight years and long been engaged in the promotion and sales of specialty coffee in China.

Unique Cafes has also participated in the China International Import Expo in Shanghai multiple times through the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency.

“The Chinese market is boosting growth in Brazilian coffee exports,” said Junior.

The Cerrado Coffee Growers Federation in Minas Gerais recently said that China is one of the most promising countries for importing high-quality Brazilian coffee in the future, and expanding the coffee business in the Chinese market will be an important effort going forward.

Brazil’s CarmoCoffees, mainly engaged in coffee bean exports, often sends its commercial trader for the Chinese market, Brayan Cunha Souza, to participate in relevant exhibitions held in Chinese cities.

“In many Chinese cities, you can see more and more coffee shops popping up on streets and alleys. Demand in the Chinese market for Brazilian coffee, especially specialty coffee, continues to grow,” Souza said.

Brazilian coffee brands attach great importance to the Chinese market and will continue to strengthen cooperation with Chinese partners, he added.

“There are certain differences among Brazil’s coffee-producing regions, so we can provide coffees with diverse flavors,” said Eduardo Heron Santos, technical director of the Brazilian Coffee Exporters Council.

He added that the Brazilian Coffee Exporters Council is committed to investing in research on coffee varieties and tastes to further meet the diversified demands of the Chinese coffee market.

China contributes to Antarctic studies, protection over past 40 years

By Liu Shiyao, Hu Runxin, People’s Daily

China’s Qinling Station started operation on Inexpressible Island in the Terra Nova Bay of Antarctica on Feb. 7.

Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter on the completion of the building of the Qinling Station and its operation in Antarctica. He said the completion of the building of the Qinling Station will provide a strong guarantee for scientists in China and around the world to continue to explore the mysteries of nature and bravely ascend the peak of science.

Antarctica has immense value for scientific research. It is hailed as the golden key to unlock the Earth’s mysteries and a natural science laboratory.

Because of its distinctive geographical conditions and natural environment, changes in Antarctica will have incalculable impacts on the global climate and environment.

The Qinling Station is China’s fifth research station in Antarctica, after the Great Wall, Zhongshan, Kunlun, and Taishan Stations. It is also China’s third Antarctic research base to be operational throughout the year.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of China’s polar expedition. Over the past 40 years, China has launched five stations and two research vessels for Antarctic research, entering an era of three-dimensional development across sea, land and air.

The Great Wall Station is located on King George Island, the Zhongshan Station in the Larsemann Hills, the Kunlun Station and Taishan Station in Antarctica’s inland region, and the Qinling Station in the Ross Sea area. Their geographic differences exactly bring greater value to scientific research.

The region where the Great Wall Station is located is suitable for subantarctic ecological monitoring and research. The Zhongshan Station is an ideal place to observe and study the evolution of the Antarctic ice sheet and the interactions between the ice shelf and the ocean. It is also an excellent location for research in aerophysics, geology, geophysics and other disciplines.

The Kunlun and Taishan stations in Antarctica’s inland enable frontier research in ice core science, atmospheric science and astronomical science.

The Ross Sea region features interactions between the lithosphere, cryosphere, biosphere and atmosphere – different layers of the Earth system. This helps researchers investigate important scientific questions like how changes in Antarctica affect the whole world.

Over the past 40 years, China has become a driving force in Antarctic scientific exploration, achieving many breakthroughs in fields like glaciology, space science, bio-ecology, and climate change.

Countless “firsts” have marked the fruitful achievements of China’s Antarctic expeditions.

The first Chinese Antarctic expedition team conducted the first multidisciplinary field scientific survey near the Great Wall Station.

During the 19th Chinese Antarctic expedition, China tracked and monitored changes in the thickness of Antarctic sea ice for the first time in the world.

The 21st expedition team entered the area of the Dome Argus (Dome A), the peak of Antarctica’s inland icecap, and carried out substantive scientific investigations, for the first time in the history of Antarctic research.

In recent years, China has conducted continuous observations of the atmosphere, ocean, sea ice, glaciers, soil, bio-ecology and other elements of Antarctica. This has made important contributions to the international community’s understanding of the polar regions, especially the interaction between global climate change and Antarctica.

Over the past 40 years, China has always been an active contributor to environmental protection in Antarctica.

In early September 1990, the Great Wall Station temporarily halted the use of all vehicles and required staff to walk on foot, in order to ensure a good environment for seals around the station during their pregnancy and following childbirth.

At the 31st Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting in 2008, the Antarctic Specially Protected Area around Mount Harding in the middle of the Grove Mountains proposed by China was approved. As the first Antarctic Specially Protected Area independently proposed by China, it has made positive contributions to environmental protection in the region.

China’s first independently built polar icebreaker, the Xuelong 2, is a well-deserved “green” vessel. From the control of exhaust emissions, sewage and waste discharge, to real-time regulation of air conditioning and heating, and even the use of paints, all are in strict compliance with environmental requirements.

Environmental protection was also integrated throughout the construction process of the Qinling Station. Through integrated design, domestic modular customization and pre-assembly were implemented to save energy, water and materials.

In addition, the station reduced the number of temporary facilities and construction personnel on site to minimize the scope of construction activities, aligning with the goal of building an environmentally sustainable research station.

Over the past 40 years, China has become an important participant in the international governance of Antarctica.

In 1983, China acceded to the Antarctic Treaty. In October 1985, China became a consultative party to the Antarctic Treaty, obtaining decision-making status in international polar affairs.

In 2017, China successfully hosted the 40th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting and the 20th Meeting of the Committee for Environmental Protection, where it led the proposal of an international initiative on green expeditions, which was widely recognized by the international community.

In 2023, China and several other countries jointly submitted a proposal to promote international cooperation on aerial surveys of the Antarctic ice cap and improve the accuracy of global sea level rise projections. Since 2012, China has submitted over 80 proposals individually or jointly to relevant polar international organizations, comprehensively participating in the formulation of rules and regulations related to polar environmental protection and resource conservation.