Editor's Note:

Mid-Autumn Festival, a celebration that has spanned centuries in China, is synonymous with the ancient practice of moon worship. Falling on the 15th day of the eighth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, when the moon is at its fullest and brightest, the festival has been bestowed with the meaning of unity, with legends such as Chang'e and the moon rabbit enriching its heritage. For Chinese people, the festival is of special ethical significance, while the thought of reuniting with family on this occasion has been a sentiment and mind-set for hundreds of years. The symbolic snack known as mooncake, a traditional offering to the lunar deities and a seasonal treat, has now evolved into a cultural brand representing China.

In this special issue, Global Times reporters Chen Xi, Li Hang and Sun Langchen will help you understand how and why Chinese celebrate this day even though many customs are changing with the times. As the Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls on Tuesday this year, is being celebrated across the whole world nowadays, the festival has also evolved in different ways.

Looking at the Moon and Longing for One Far Away

Zhang Jiuling (Tang Dynasty)

"Over the sea the moon grows bright;

We gaze on it far, far apart.

Lovers complain of long, long night;

I rise and long for my dear heart.

Candles blown out, fuller is light;

My coat put on, I'm moist with dew.

As I can't hand you moonbeams white,

I go to bed to dream of you."
In ancient times, the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival was marked with grand altars adorned with mooncakes, fruit, and other offerings. Families would gather under the lunar glow, positioning the image of the moon god in the direction of the full moon. As red candles burned brightly, family members would take turns paying homage to the moon as the matriarch of the household sliced into a round, reunion mooncake, a gesture signifying the completeness of family bonds.

Nowadays, people celebrate the festival in more creative ways. Experts told the Global Times that both innovative and traditional forms of celebrations are ways to express one's cultural identity and communicate feelings, and these are better expressed through objects or certain mediums.

In Beijing, Tianjin, and Shandong Province, the Tu'er Ye, or Lord Rabbit, emerged as a new festival symbol after the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911). The rabbit god represents a secularized imagination of the Jade Rabbit that lives on the moon and is traditionally depicted pounding medicinal herbs.

"We can see that this is a trend with a certain global significance. The Lord Rabbit can serve as a globally shared deity figure during the Mid-Autumn Festival. In the West, the rabbit also symbolizes trust , making it a universally shareable symbol," Xiao Fang, head of the Department of Anthropology and Folklore Studies at Beijing Normal University, told the Global Times.

Moon-viewing tours

As this is the time of the year when the moon is at its fullest, "Chinese-style night tours" have become a new choice for people to celebrate the holiday, including spending the night with family and friends in a garden, or even taking a moon-viewing flight to admire the moon from a closer vantage point.

This year, China will celebrate with a three-day holiday running from September 15 to September 17.

Popular among younger travelers, activities such as moon gazing and exploring historical sites have drawn crowds to cities across the country, particularly to boat tours, ancient gardens, and bustling night markets.

According to data from Tongcheng Travel, in the week leading up to September 5, searches related to domestic ancient towns and garden night tours during the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday saw a 77 percent week-on-week increase, while searches for night cruises increased by 42 percent.

In Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu Province, a city renowned for its classical gardens, a series of moon-viewing night tours are being introduced, offering travelers a visual feast.

As night falls and lanterns illuminate the streets, the thousand-year-old Tiger Hill Pagoda in Suzhou shines brightly under the lights. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, visitors can enter the lower level of the pagoda, without reservations, to experience the ancient structure up close and appreciate its historical significance.

With the moon-viewing tradition at the heart of these celebrations, an increasing number of travelers are also flocking to take special "moon-viewing flights." Multiple airlines have launched unique routes designed to offer passengers a closer view of the moon from the cabin during flight.

For example, China Southern Airlines' Hunan branch plans to operate over 80 flights during the Mid-Autumn Festival to provide moon-viewing opportunities, taking into account factors such as moonlight and flight routes.

In ancient times, the Mid-Autumn Festival was one of the few occasions when night markets were held, making it an important time for socializing. In the past, as people crafted and lit paper lanterns, scholars dreamed of achieving fame, while the young prayed for love. Today, the tradition continues, with people across China enjoying evenings out with their friends.

Cultural fusion mooncakes

Besides trendy night tours during the festival, the traditional mooncake has also transcended its identity as a simple festival snack to become a vessel for well-wishes.

From the plain, round pastries adorned with simple patterns to the myriad fillings of recent years, and now to the creative mooncakes that artfully incorporate cultural elements, the cultural "flavor" of mooncakes has grown increasingly significant.

This year, creative mooncake products in major universities have been a feast for the eyes. From mooncakes featuring Peking University's iconic campus landscapes to ones from Beijing University of Chinese Medicine that have been infused with traditional Chinese medicinal ingredients, the creativity of these academic institutions has been remarkable. Museums have also joined the trend, launching their own cultural and creative mooncakes. For example, the Chinese Archaeological Museum has incorporated five representative "dragon" motifs from its collection into the design of their mooncakes.

A standout mooncake gift box this year is the "Clasp the Moon in the Heaven Mooncake Gift Set," a collaboration between the Suzhou-style mooncake maker, Daoxiangcun, and the popular video game Black Myth: Wukong.

Zhou Liyuan, a manager with the time-honored brand, told the Global Times that the overall design draws inspiration from cultural elements in Journey to the West, upon which the game is based, and combines traditional pastry-making skills with modern aesthetics. The gift box unfolds like a flip-book when opened and features not only the game's characters but also scenes from the game.

"Currently, the gift box is mainly sold domestically and is a hot-seller with supply not meeting demand. However, some foreign customers in China are purchasing this gift box and sending it to their relatives and friends overseas by mail," Zhou said.

Zheng Changling, a research fellow at the Chinese National Academy of Arts, told the Global Times that the popularity of cultural and creative mooncakes, especially among young people, stems from their transformation of the traditional, somewhat rigid image of mooncakes. However, the real reason for their appeal lies in the way they embed culture within these pastries.

"It can be said that while mooncakes once represented the warmth of family reunion, they now offer a taste of national trends, cultural styles, and even cultural confidence," he said.

A global festival

As more people both in China and abroad celebrate the traditional festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival highlights both new and traditional ways of honoring this beloved holiday, reflecting its continued significance in contemporary life.

In Wuhan, Hubei Province, a Chinese-style mecha show at Happy Valley marks a groundbreaking approach to celebrating the festival. This show features interactive mechanical representations of legendary Chinese figures such as Zhao Yun, a military general who lived during the late Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220) and early Three Kingdoms (220-280) period, Erlang Shen, a god in Chinese folk religion and Taoism. Visitors can engage with these larger-than-life characters, offering a fresh and captivating way to experience Chinese mythology and cultural heritage.

In addition, the lantern festival in Beijing also promises to be the largest lantern display in the city's history. It will showcase over 200 creative lantern displays, including a remarkable 10-meter-tall phoenix lantern made from colored blow-molded paper and transparent acrylic. The festival will also feature more than 150 specialty shops and various themed activities, including performances and interactive events. This extensive and imaginative presentation of lanterns reflects a deep appreciation for both traditional craftsmanship and modern design.

"Modern urban life is becoming increasingly atomized, and we should use the Mid-Autumn Festival as an opportunity to encourage more interaction among people," said Xiao.

The global significance of shared figures is also reflected in other countries. The light-up ceremony in Singapore's Chinatown has introduced a novel feature: a digital riddle-solving activity. This new addition aims to engage younger generations by combining traditional festival elements with modern technology.

Josephine Teo, Minister for Digital Development and Information of Singapore, emphasized the importance of blending tradition with innovation, noting that this approach not only preserves cultural heritage but also makes the festival more relevant to the diverse demographics of today.

"Family and national unity, as well as the integrity of the nation, are deeply significant concepts in Chinese thought. No matter where Chinese people go, they carry with them this sense of national togetherness. This national psychological factor is not easily abandoned just because they are abroad," Li Hanqiu, a veteran folk custom expert who first proposed the Mid-Autumn Festival be designated a public holiday, told the Global Times.

He noted that through the moon, emotions are conveyed, and in this way, the feelings of reunion also merge into a sense of national identity. The shared act of gazing at the moon from afar is not only an expression of longing for loved ones but also a longing for one's homeland.

Editor's Note:

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Chinese president, and chairman of the Central Military Commission, stressed that the environment concerns the well-being of people in all countries. During his many inspections, Xi has always emphasized the importance of ecosystems, spanning from cities to rural areas, and from enterprises to communities.

Under the guidance of President Xi Jinping's Thought on Ecological Civilization, China has been advancing the green transition of its economy over the last decade. Regions across the country are actively promoting the construction of an ecological civilization and advancing Chinese modernization featuring harmony between humanity and nature. These efforts go toward creating a "Beautiful China."

The coming five years will be critical to the building of a "Beautiful China." The Global Times is launching a series of stories to explore the progress of ecological civilization projects inspired by Xi's words, delving into the positive environmental changes occurring now, and offering valuable insights and references for both national and global efforts. Through this prism, we can see how Xi's thoughts on ecological civilization is being put into practice and further inspiring public action.

Recently, the Global Times reporter visited an island village in Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang Province, delving into the secrets behind the village's success in achieving "net-zero carbon" goal and looking into how the coastal village is implementing Xi's concept that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets." 

Upon entering the island village of Xinjian in Zhoushan, an archipelago city in East China's Zhejiang Province, the Global Times was welcomed by a picturesque rural scene of verdant mountains, babbling brooks, fluttering butterflies, and chirping birds, alongside impressive modern features such as photovoltaic panels adorning rooftops, electric sightseeing vehicles, and a state-of-the-art sewage recycling system.

Twenty years ago, this small village was unnoticed, impoverished, and isolated. The only link to the outside world was a rough, bumpy road. On rainy days, the road became so muddy that villagers hesitated to wear their new shoes. On sunny days, groups of villagers would trek up the mountain to chop down trees and haul them through the village via this road to sell to brick kiln operators to eke out a living. Due to poverty, most young adults left the village to find work elsewhere, leaving only a few senior citizens to tend to their old homes and the stream in front of their doors.

Was there a way out? What kind of life did the villagers want to live?

An innovative initiative dubbed the "Thousand Villages Demonstration and Ten Thousand Villages Renovation" project provided an answer. 

In June 2003, under the guidance of Xi Jinping, who once served as the provincial Party chief, Zhejiang launched the Green Rural Revival Program, which selects 10,000 administrative villages in the province for comprehensive improvement, and plans to turn 1,000 of them into demonstration villages of moderate prosperity in all respects. 

This project has created a large number of beautiful villages in Zhejiang, benefiting countless farmers and jumpstarting a new era of building a "Beautiful China." 

Xinjian village is one such example. 

A decade later, on May 25, 2015, Xi, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, visited Xinjian village for inspection, believing it to be a typical representative of a "beautiful economy" and a confirmation that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets." Xi emphasized, "It is scientific and sustainable development that we should strive toward." 

Net-zero carbon, also known as carbon neutrality, refers to offsetting greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide generated by human activities through energy conservation and emission reduction, industrial adjustment, afforestation, and other forms of environmental conservation, ultimately achieving the goal of "net-zero emissions." 

During a recent field visit, the Global Times delved into the secrets behind the village's success in its "net-zero carbon" goal and gained a deeper insight into how this island village is effectively implementing Xi's concept that "A 'Beautiful China' is built upon beautiful villages. It is imperative that we steadfastly adhere to this path, ensuring that lucid waters and lush mountains yield continuous ecological, social, and economic benefits."

Power station in the sky

Under the guidance of Lu Haifeng, deputy secretary of the Xinjian village Party branch, the Global Times visited the Nandong Homestay Area in the village and heard an interesting story. At the beginning of construction, the branches of a plum tree reach toward the windows on the second floor of building No.9. Due to lighting issues, this tree was supposed to be removed. However, it was already a century old, so local villagers decided not to remove it. The designers then changed their approach and doubled the size of the windows on the side of the room, preserving the existing tree while ensuring adequate lighting.

During the construction process, local materials were utilized with idle old wood mostly being used to reduce material transportation. The entire homestay building is fitted with double-layer insulated glass, with the summer air conditioning demand being 63 percent less than that of buildings fitted with single-layer glass. The homestay building also has an exhaust heat recovery unit, which can recover energy from the air being exhausted outside, minimizing the loss of cold or heat sources indoors in summer or winter.

It is estimated that compared with Shanghai, the homestay building in the village can save up to 15.7 percent more energy than the hotel with the lowest energy consumption in Shanghai, according to data provided by Ge Linlu, a staff member at the publicity office of Ganlan township, Dinghai district. 

After leaving the Nandong Homestay Area, Lu took the Global Times reporter to see the wind power energy storage project. Walking to the parking lot, Lu pointed to the gray solar panel on a farmhouse rooftop, saying that this is a special "power station in the sky" that provides shade while being environmentally friendly. 

"This is the wind power energy storage project that we have started building since the development of clean energy," Lu told the Global Times. "The solar and wind energy resources in Dinghai district (which administers Xinjian village) are abundant, and by combining wind power equipment on mountain tops with installing photovoltaic equipment on the roofs of farmhouses, we can provide clean energy for the village's landscape facilities, electric vehicles, and more."

The photovoltaic rooftop panels also utilize roof space without taking up land resources, Lu added.

Among the completed projects, the average annual power generation of photovoltaic modules can reach 21,000 kW per hour, and annual carbon emissions can be reduced by about 12.14 tons.

At present, the village is working with an expert team from Tongji University in Shanghai to plan the construction of new energy projects in the Nandong reservoir, train station square, and other points, and realize the functions of heat insulation, lighting, and power generation through the introduction of green technology such as photovoltaic tiles, she said.

Disappeared foul-smelling ditch

Passing through the Nandong Daxi pit in the village, a bay of clear water flows gently.

"In order to prevent sewage from affecting the environment and promote water recycling, we dispose of domestic sewage and septic tank water centrally every day. After more than 10 treatment processes, the sewage is then used for irrigation," Lu said. "In this way, the once foul-smelling sewage ditch has disappeared, and a lot of water has been saved."

Not far away, the Global Times noticed that the water in the pit comes from the upstream reservoir. The water flows down in a step-like manner along the terrain, passing through ecological swimming pools, ponds, pits, and households, and is finally purified through the sewage treatment plant before being used for irrigation.

"Our sewage treatment plant can process 10 tons of sewage per hour, and operates 24 hours a day during peak season," said Lu. Along with Lu's introduction, the Global Times saw the water that had undergone multiple treatment processes flowing clearly from the outlet.

With the rolling out of the "Thousand Villages Demonstration and Ten Thousand Villages Renovation" project, villagers and tourists have gradually developed green living habits, and enhanced their environmental awareness.

Local villagers told the Global Times that they spontaneously participate in cleaning up garbage, dismantling pig farms, relocating outdoor manure pits, among other environmental improvements and infrastructure construction. "It's like participating in an 'ecological revolution' to protect the environment and change the appearance of the village."

"This is a natural oxygen bar, a 'beautiful economy,' confirming that 'lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets.' We always keep Xi's words in mind," said Lu.

This is not an empty phrase.
On the embankment of the Nandong Reservoir, the Chinese characters "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets" shine brightly in the sunlight, and on the walls of villagers' houses, Xi's quotes left during his inspection of the village can be seen everywhere.

Compared with the mainland area, the islands are relatively short of fresh water, energy, food, and other resources, and the economic and social development mainly depends on supplies from the mainland, so they are more vulnerable to the impact of climate change on water supply security, food security, tourism, local economies, and human health.

In 2019, Xinjian village was selected as the UN-Habitat "Net-Zero Carbon" rural planning case in China. At the forefront of addressing climate change, the exploration and practice of Xinjian village in achieving its net-zero carbon goal provide valuable experience for rural low-carbon development in other small islands and coastal areas.

Chinese experts on Thursday slammed India's plan to impose tariffs on some steel products imported from China, noting the move will backfire and further damage China-India economic and trade relations. They also urged the Indian side to take a correct approach to its cooperation with China, as the two countries' trade has strong complementarity.

According to Reuters, India will impose tariffs of 12 percent to 30 percent on some steel products imported from China and Vietnam in a bid to safeguard and boost the local industry, an Indian finance ministry order showed on Tuesday.

Welded stainless steel pipes and tubes from China, the world's largest producer of steel, and Vietnam will be taxed for the next five years, according to the order.

"India's move is intended to implement import substitution. The country hopes that with the improvement of its own technology, India's industry can achieve the replacement of Chinese products through trade protection measures, so as to develop the so-called Make in India initiative," Liu Zongyi, secretary-general of the Research Center for China-South Asia Cooperation at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, told the Global Times on Thursday.

However, raising tariffs doesn't guarantee that these products will flourish in India, Liu noted.

"The plan to impose tariffs... could adversely affect China-India economic and trade relations and have a long-term negative impact on India's industrial development, as raising import tariffs may increase production costs," Wang Peng, an associate research fellow at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Thursday.

Despite India's previous targeted crackdowns against Chinese companies since the conflicts between China and India in June 2020, China-India trade has shown overall upward momentum in the past three years, data from Chinese customs showed.

"The nature of China-India economic and trade relations is complementary. India mostly imports intermediate products from China, and after further processing or assembling, it then exports them to other countries and regions," Liu said, noting that by avoiding Chinese companies and trade with China, India's exports would be worse off.

The "Abay Poetry Recitation" event was held at the Embassy of Kazakhstan in China on August 9 to commemorate Abay Qunanbayev, a great poet, philosopher, statesman, and founder of modern Kazakh literature.
In his speech, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to China Shakhrat Nuryshev highlighted Qunanbayev's historical significance to the Kazakh people lies in his important cultural heritage and instructions to the next generation. The ambassador explained the poet's philosophical thoughts to the audience by reciting Qunanbayev's poems.

Qunanbayev was not only a poet, but also a learned thinker and outstanding genius, who laid the foundations of Kazakh written literature in the second half of the 19th century and introduced new and unprecedented poetic forms to Kazakh poetry, the ambassador introduced.

Today, Qunanbayev's creative legacy has become an integral part of world culture, and his wise personality has found a place among the great philosophers respected around the world.

As a guest, Liu Jiangping, deputy director-general of the Chinese Foreign Ministry's Department of European-Central Asian Affairs, gave a speech, recalling that in September 2013, during Chinese President Xi Jinping's address at the Nazarbayev University in Astana, Kazakhstan, Xi quoted the great Kazakh poet and philosopher Qunanbayev who noted, "The world is like an ocean and our time is like strong wind. Waves in the front are the cider brother while those behind are the younger brother. Driven by wind, the waves from behind constantly press on those in the front. This has been the case since ancient times."

During the event, student representatives recited Qunanbayev's poems in Kazakh and Chinese, and artists from the Youth Philharmonic Orchestra affiliated with the Beijing Chinese Orchestra played Abay's songs using traditional Kazakh and Chinese national instruments.

Born on August 10, 1845, Qunanbayev is considered one of Kazakhstan's most important poets who played a central role in the development of Kazakh as a legitimate written language.

Participating in the annual "Abay Poetry Recitation" event has become a fine tradition for lovers of literature, art, and artistic calligraphy in Beijing.

A new digital platform that merges technology with cultural heritage was unveiled on Monday in Changsha, Central China's Hunan Province. The Shanhai App brings tens of thousands of artifacts from across the globe into a unified digital space, overcoming the physical limitations of traditional museum collections.

The launch of the Shanhai App comes at a time when interest in museums and cultural preservation is at an all-time high. 

The platform breaks down the barriers between museums, regions, and even countries, creating an open, digital environment where cultural treasures can be accessed, shared, and appreciated by a global audience. 

The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco is one of the museums that has joined the platform. 

"If this platform can succeed, it will not only be beneficial for domestic audiences but also help global audiences gain a better understanding of China's cultural treasures," said Jay Xu, director of the museum.

The "Museum Digital Intelligence Alliance" was formed, comprising 14 museums that joined the app. The alliance represents a commitment to building bridges between institutions and advancing the future of digital cultural preservation. 

"I believe the most important role of a platform like Shanhai is to enable more people to participate in the creation of museum content," said Hou Ningbin, director of the Shaanxi History Museum. 

"It connects the platform with museum ­professionals and links professionals or creators in society who have an interest in museum culture. For museums, this significantly strengthens our ability to promote China's rich cultural heritage."

The efficiency of digital artifact collection on the Shanhai App was the highlight of this launch event. During the event, a digital artifact collection ­process was live-streamed. The team conducted the digitization of an artifact in Shanghai, transmitted the data back to the lab in Changsha, and then sent the results in real-time to the launch event venue.

Looking ahead, the Shanhai App aims to digitize hundreds of thousands of cultural artifacts from museums nationwide. 

In addition to artifacts, the platform will integrate related historical documents, archaeological records, and academic research, constructing a structured data system for cultural heritage. 

The data will be applied to research, education, entertainment, and the creative industries. For example, in educational settings, teachers and students can easily use the app to find historical figures, stories, and related concepts associated with a particular artifact.

Eight attractions, 30,000 steps, 300 photos, dozens of iPhone video clips…traveler Qin concluded her 12-hour trip in Qingzhou county, East China's Shandong Province.

"It was a perfect journey," Qin shared on social media from a railway station in Qingzhou. Minutes later, she jumped onto a train leaving this time-honored small county.

Qin is among the growing Chinese tourists who are keen on being "special forces travelers." "Special forces travel" has grown into a new trend in China's tourism market over the past two years. The trend describes a travel style characterized by racing against the clock to hop from one destination to another, trying best to visit as many places as possible within an extremely limited time (and budget).

Why did this seemingly rushed, exhausting, military-training-like travel trend become popular? What will the trend bring to the Chinese tourism market? The Global Times spoke with some tourism experts and individual entrepreneurs engaged in related industries, who shared their personal experiences and thoughts on this booming craze.

Tiring but enjoyable

Qin calls herself a big fan of "special forces travel." Busy work and family chores have increasingly limited personal space of this seasoned traveler, so she decided to take full advantage of her weekends.

Including Qingzhou, this Shanghai resident has taken full advantage of her weekends and traveled to cities as far as 1,000 kilometers away, including the Tianjin Municipality, Shijiazhuang in North China's Hebei Province, and Changchun in Northeast China's Jilin Province. Excluding time spent sleeping and on the road, she typically only has about 10 hours to spend in the destination city.

In order to cover as many places as possible within an extremely limited time frame, each time, Qin meticulously plans her itinerary. This includes her arrival time, distances between attractions, and the estimated time she can stay at each attraction.
Qin doesn't find her itineraries tedious. "I enjoy the sense of accomplishment deriving from completing the 'tasks' one by one," she told the Global Times.

Different from Qin's solo weekend escapes, tourist Betty (pseudonym) enjoys embarking on road trips with her family, relishing in the precious moments of togetherness during their travels, however hectic and fast-paced they may be.

Betty travels on statutory holidays, when every member in her family is available. During the Chinese New Year holidays this year, Betty and her family drove to some 10 cities in southern China, including Nanning, Beihai and Zhuhai. To save time and money during the trip, they hit the road before 6 am, limited themselves to only one meal a day, and nibbled bread while on the road. "Like field training," she joked.

Betty explained that her family members are often busy and rarely get the chance to travel. "So each time we plan our family trip, we include as many destinations as we can," she told the Global Times. "It's tiring, but I really enjoy the time on the road with my loved ones."
Youth-friendly

The rise of "special forces travel" spurred the growth in related tourism services such as local guides and snacks trending on social media are blooming as well.

In Jieyang city of South China's Guangdong Province, a Gen-Z local guide nicknamed "Unicorn" uses her scooter and camera to show tourists around the city's key attractions.

"Unicorn" said many of her customers are "special forces travelers" particularly young females, who want to cover as many must-visit spots as possible in their short trips. "For them, I'm a good choice because I grew up here, and I'm very familiar with this city," she told the Global Times. "Also, I have a camera and can take photos for them."

"Unicorn" charges her customers 50 yuan ($7) per hour, which is affordable even for students, as it only takes one or two hour(s) to visit the city downtown, she said.

More than 85 percent of the "special forces travelers" are college students, said a report released by China Tourism Academy in December 2023.

It's not surprising that "special forces travel" is gaining momentum especially among young people, said tourism industry expert Yang Yong, who is a professor of the Faculty of Economics and Management at East China Normal University.

"This travel style allows tourists to visit many attractions in a short time, catering to the modern need of taking photos at the destinations and sharing them on social media, which has become a way people socialize nowadays," Yang told the Global Times. "Let alone the relatively lower cost of the 'special forces travel' is very friendly to young people."

Double-edged sword

The booming "special forces travel" has brought prosperity to some lesser-known destinations in China. For example, Zibo and Tianshui cities, which experienced a sudden surge in popularity overnight respectively due to their signature barbecue and malatang (a street hotpot), used to attract a large number of "special forces travelers" to visit; nonetheless, when these temporary local food crazes later cooled, travelers left, and once some snack shops had to close their doors, people started to realize that "special forces travel" is a double-edge sword bringing both opportunities and challenges.

Today many people travel according to the latest trends, but trends tend to change quickly. "Tourism practitioners must improve service quality to attract and retain visitors," Yang said, adding that "The industry needs to innovate and improve to better serve "special forces travelers and sustain the local tourism economy."

After ending his four-year ban in May due to an anti-doping rule violation, China's three-time Olympic champion Sun Yang returned to competition with an emotional victory at the national summer swimming championships.

Representing his hometown Zhejiang Province, Sun won the second-tier race with a time of 3:49.58, after clocking a 3:54.98 in the heat earlier on Sunday. Sun burst into tears twice after finishing each of the races while passing the media zone for an interview.

Fans were thrilled to see Sun's return as the topic "Sun Yang wins 400m free" quickly dominated Chinese social media on Sunday evening. 

Looking at the times of athletes at the national championships held in early 2024, Sun's result in the final made him the fifth fastest in the discipline. 

In June 2021, a panel of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) announced that Sun committed an anti-doping rule violation "when an unsuccessful attempt was made to collect blood and urine samples from him at his residence on September 4-5, 2018." 

The CAS Panel banned Sun from competition on February 28, 2020 for four years and three months.

Born in December 1991 in Zhejiang's capital Hangzhou, Sun became China's first-ever men's swimming Olympic champion at London 2012, where he won both the 400m and 1,500m freestyle events. Sun remains the Olympic record holder in the men's 400 meters freestyle. 

At Rio 2016 Olympics, Sun won the men's 200m freestyle and  became the first-ever male swimmer to win Olympic gold medals in the 200m, 400m and 1,500m freestyle.

Several elite Chinese swimmers, including Fei Liwei and Zhang Zhanshuo who represented China at the Paris Olympics in men's 400 meters freestyle, skipped the national summer swimming championships for vacations after Olympics. 

According to the national anti-doping management regulations enforced in 2021, Sun is unlikely to be included in future Chinese swimming squads at international competitions as any athletes who have been banned for more than one year due to a doping violation are not eligible to be selected for the national team.

Chen Xinyi, a female swimmer who was able to achieve a top-five performance in national swimming events, has not participated in any international competitions since serving a two-year ban after testing positive for banned substances at the Rio Olympics in 2016.

The national summer swimming championships, running from Sunday to Wednesday, has attracted 499 athletes from 24 teams nationwide. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping lauded the "outstanding contributions" of late leader Deng Xiaoping and urged advancing socialism with Chinese characteristics initiated by Deng, as the country marked Deng's 120th birth anniversary on Thursday.

Addressing a meeting held to mark the anniversary, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, said the country must continue to thoroughly study and apply Deng Xiaoping Theory.

"Deng made outstanding contributions to the Party, the people, the country, the nation and the world," Xi said, adding that Deng's achievements have been immortalized in history and will always inspire future generations.

Deng was the core of the second generation of the Party's central collective leadership, the chief architect of China's socialist reform, opening up and modernization, and the trailblazer of socialism with Chinese characteristics, Xi said, adding that Deng was also a great internationalist who made major contributions to world peace and development.

"Comrade Deng Xiaoping had lived a glorious, fighting and extraordinary life," he said.

Xi noted that, after the Cultural Revolution, a decade-long turmoil that ended in 1976, Deng had led the Party and the people in achieving China's historic transformation.

Deng pushed China to achieve a new breakthrough in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context, break new ground in socialist modernization, and set a correct path for the country's complete reunification, Xi said.

Deng's historical achievements are comprehensive and groundbreaking, with profound and lasting impacts on both China and the world, Xi said.

"We will forever remember his great historical achievements and forever revere his noble revolutionary conduct," Xi said.

The most important intellectual legacy left by Deng is Deng Xiaoping Theory, Xi said, calling for thoroughly studying and applying the theory to address real-world problems.

"The best way to honor Deng is to continue advancing the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics that he initiated," Xi said.

Xi called for further comprehensively deepening reform to continuously provide strong momentum and institutional safeguards for Chinese modernization.

He urged moving faster to build a modernized economy, working toward greater self-reliance in the science and technology sector, and developing advanced socialist culture.

Xi also urged efforts to achieve more notable and substantive progress in promoting common prosperity for all.

Realizing China's complete reunification has long been the aspiration of Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping and other members of the older generation of revolutionaries, Xi said.

He urged resolute efforts to promote the peaceful development of relations across the Taiwan Strait, and demanded firm opposition to "Taiwan independence" to safeguard China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

On Friday afternoon, China's men's national 3x3 basketball team conducted its first open media session of the year during their training camp for the Paris Olympic Games. Head coach Wang Zhanyu underscored the urgency of preparing effectively for the upcoming games in Paris.

Zhang Ning, who resumed training on Thursday after completing his university studies during his vacation, will join Zhao Jiaren and Lu Wenbo next weekend at the Chengdu Basketball Masters Tournament.

"The primary challenge for the team right now is time," emphasized Wang. "Some players have just rejoined the team, so we need to capitalize on every moment to refine our tactics and strengthen team chemistry."

The 3x3 basketball competition at the Paris Olympic Games is scheduled from July 30 to August 5 at Place de la Concorde. With slightly over a month left, the training squad plans to participate in three tournaments to simulate competitive conditions.

"We will compete in Chengdu next weekend, Canada in early July, and Langfang in mid-July. Following these tournaments, we intend to proceed to a training camp in France for our final preparations before the Olympics," Wang added.

Last year, under the national team's strategy, Zhang Ning and his teammates played with various teams, partnering with international players and achieving significant success in top-tier FIBA events.

"Our players have gained invaluable experience from their international counterparts. We aim to showcase our distinctive style of play during our preparations," said Zhang Ning.

Yan Peng, participating in his second Olympic preparation cycle, observed that the team's competition has grown stronger since the last Olympics. However, he noted that the team's preparation this time is more comprehensive.

"Zhang Ning's skills in driving and shooting are exceptional, and he remains the core of our team," Yan emphasized.

The coaching staff will thoroughly assess the players' performance in both games and training sessions to determine the final roster for the Paris Olympic Games, considering their on-court combinations and effectiveness.

Chinese fans expressed mixed reactions to the Paris Olympics opening ceremony on Saturday. The celebrations of French culture and history was warmly cheered but also criticized in some parts.

The Chinese delegation, led by flagbearers Ma Long, a five-time Olympic gold medalist in table tennis, and eight-time artistic swimming world champion Feng Yu, joined the athletes' fleet of barges on a six-kilometer ride on the River Seine before arriving at Trocadero square.

"Considering the pouring rain, what if our athletes catch a cold during this four-hour opening ceremony?" a Chinese fan Li Jianqiu posted on Weibo. "The Olympics is supposed to showcase the athletes' best performance, but the opening ceremony is risking their health."

As the fleet passed through Paris landmarks, the fire-damaged Notre Dame caught attention. A large troupe of dancers, accompanied by music composed using sounds from the cathedral's reconstruction, received wide praise as a salute to firefighters and construction workers who saved the iconic building.

One of the most debated parts of the ceremony was the appearance of headless Marie Antoinette. Some argued it demonstrated the revolutionary history of France, while others felt showing beheaded figures to young audiences was "extremely dreadful."

The 10 new statues of historic French women lining the river were well-received by Chinese fans, providing a fresh angle on the country's rich history.

The ceremony concluded at Trocadero, where the Eiffel Tower lit up. The flame, which had been on an elaborate journey with a masked torchbearer and a mechanical horse, was passed on to French football legend Zinedine Zidane. Assassin's Creed video game enthusiasts widely celebrated the torchbearer's masked appearance.

Though some fans noted the Olympic flag was upside down at the ceremony, they saw it as a "mistake" rather than a sign of the organizers' relaxed attitude.

France's three-time Olympic gold medalist Marie-Jose Perec and Teddy Riner then lit the Olympic cauldron, a seven-meter diameter ring suspended on a 30-meter hot-air balloon. Canada's Celine Dion sang Edith Piaf's "Hymn to Love" in her first public performance in years, drawing huge cheers from the crowd and fans from afar.