Pakistan takes "immense pride" in its unique and "time-tested friendship" with China. The two countries are not only connected by land, rivers, and mountains, but also by a heart corridor, founded on the shared values of mutual respect, trust, solidarity, and support, said Pakistani Ambassador to China Khalil-ur-Rahman Hashmi.
Hashmi also stressed that as Ambassador of Pakistan to China, he and his team are committed to "implementing the consensus reached between the two countries' leadership to fortify the strategic trust between the two countries, strengthen ties across multiple domains, and build an even stronger China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future in the New Era.
The Pakistani diplomat made the remarks during an event to celebrate the 84th National Day of Pakistan hosted by the Pakistani Embassy in Beijing on Monday. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong was also present at the event.
"China and Pakistan are good neighbors, good friends, good partners, and good brothers. The ironclad friendship between the two countries, deeply rooted in the hearts of the two peoples, remains rock solid and keeps growing from strength to strength," Sun said.
"China is glad to see that Pakistan's general election was smoothly held, and a new government has been formed. We sincerely hope that Pakistan will enjoy social stability and economic growth and open up a new prospect for national development," he noted.
According to Hashmi, Pakistan and China and the peoples of the two countries have overcome hardships and celebrated triumphs, standing shoulder to shoulder in good and difficult times, in the true spirit of the iron brotherhood.
"Our relationship remains a source of peace and stability in the region and beyond. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a crown jewel of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), stands as a shining testament of win-win cooperation," he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Hashmi also paid great tribute to Pakistan's Founding Fathers, especially Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah. Underscoring the significant strides the country has made over the decades across multiple fields, the ambassador highlighted the resilience and ability of Pakistan to bounce back stronger in the face of challenges.
He also recalled the groundbreaking diplomatic initiatives undertaken by Pakistan on the international stage for the promotion of peace, harmony, and development. The ambassador lauded the contribution of the Pakistani community in the promotion of China-Pakistan ties, while calling for further expansion of business and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.
The event attracted several senior Chinese officials, resident ambassadors, diplomats, Pakistani community members, representatives of Chinese state-owned and private enterprises, intelligentsia, and leading media figures.
A troupe of Chinese and Pakistani children also performed at the reception, symbolizing the enduring bonds of friendship between the two countries. Pakistan is the fifth-most populous country with a population of 240 million people, and a rich and diverse cultural heritage spanning over five millennia. Some glimpses of this heritage were on display at the event.
There has been a sharp surge in searches for flights to Cuba, rising 30-fold month-on-month according to data from travel platform Fliggy, with direct flights between China and Cuba set to resume on Friday.
Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Beijing, Hong Kong, and Shanghai are among China's top cities in terms of travelers seeking flights to Cuba, the platform said. It comes after Cuba's recent announcement of a visa-free policy for Chinese citizens holding ordinary passports.
Direct flights between China and Cuba are set to resume on Friday, operated by Air China, according to Cuba's Minister for Tourism Juan Carlos Garcia.
The flights will provide a seamless travel experience, with transit through Spain, eliminating the need for a transit visa and enhancing convenience for travelers between China and Cuba, Pan Deng, director of the Latin American and Caribbean Region Law Center of the China University of Political Science and Law, told the Global Times on Thursday.
Xinhua reported on May 5 that Cuba's tourism industry has been creating travel products specifically for Chinese tourists since the visa exemption was announced, citing Cuba's minister for tourism.
The eagerness for travel between China and Cuba reflects the desire in both countries to promote personal exchanges and foster closer ties, Pan added.
Many localities in China have recently launched major investment projects for the second quarter, with a focus on new quality productive forces, and observers believe the trend will help stabilize overall investment in the period.
Analysts said on Wednesday that the new wave of major projects, along with an emphasis by localities on developing new quality productive forces, expanding domestic demand and improving the business environment, is to inject momentum into the economic recovery in the second quarter.
South China's economic powerhouse city Shenzhen started work on 236 projects slated for the second quarter with total investment of 176.65 billion yuan ($24.45 billion). Among those breaking ground on Wednesday were 51 industrial projects and 85 infrastructure projects.
On Tuesday, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region called for further development of eight industrial clusters including oil and gas, green mining and new materials, and speeding up the development of strategic and emerging industries.
Localities including Central China's Hubei Province, East China's Anhui Province and Northwest China's Shaanxi Province have all held meetings to summarize economic work in the first quarter, and rolled out new projects for the second quarter with total investment exceeding the trillion-yuan mark.
Analysts noted the intense launch of projects will further fuel economic growth and overall investment - including foreign investment - in the second quarter.
Pan Helin, a Guangzhou-based economist, told the Global Times on Wednesday that these projects are being given special attention by local governments as they will form the nodes of regional economic development, aligning industrial chains and contributing to the build-up of industrial clusters. The overall result will be enhanced competitiveness in the corporate sector.
Pan predicted that fixed-asset investment could grow as fast as about 5 percent during the second quarter, gaining pace from the January-March period, as the industrial sector contributed much of the momentum.
In the first quarter, fixed-asset investment rose by 4.5 percent to 10 trillion yuan, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics in April.
"In the second quarter, manufacturing and infrastructure will remain the ballast stone to underpin the recovery," Zhou Maohua, a macroeconomist at China Everbright Bank, told the Global Times on Wednesday. Zhou noted that consumption is still in a recovery process, while investment into the property sector has abated.
Along with the faster roll-out of special-purpose bonds for local governments and the implementation of trade-in programs for equipment upgrades and consumer goods, as well as robust automobile production and sales, it is expected that fixed-asset investment may grow at a faster pace in the second quarter, Zhou said.
The Chinese economy got off to a good start in 2024, with first-quarter GDP exceeding estimates to grow at 5.3 percent year-on-year.
The country also recorded a brisk number of trips, spending data and box-office revenue during the just-ended five-day May Day holidays, reflecting growing momentum in the country's economic recovery.
Experts noted that efforts to further improve the business environment are equally important, as they allow for further vitality of market entities.
As the defense chiefs of the US, Australia, Japan and the Philippines are set to meet again in early May in a meeting that is believed to focus on South China Sea issues, Chinese analysts warned on Sunday the quadrilateral clique is unsustainable and bound to show cracks and divisions as their moves will ultimately lead to a deterioration of the Philippines' strategic security environment.
According to Japanese media outlet The Mainichi Shimbun, Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara said Friday he is set to hold a meeting with his counterparts from the US, Australia and the Philippines in Hawaii during his visit from May 2 to 4, citing "China's increasing maritime assertiveness" in the Asia-Pacific region.
It will be the second quadrilateral gathering of those defense ministers since June 2023, when the defense chiefs held a meeting in Singapore on the fringes of the annual Asia Security Conference known as the Shangri-La Dialogue, The Mainichi Shimbun reported.
During his regular Friday press conference, Kihara said they will share their understanding of the regional security environment and common challenges, along with discussing measures to improve collaboration among the four countries.
The US Naval Institute (USNI) News reported on Friday that Kihara and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles and Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro are likely to discuss next steps following the joint patrol in the South China Sea earlier this month.
On April 7, the four countries carried out their first full-scale joint naval exercises in the South China Sea, which analysts said was a highly defiant and aggressive muscle-flexing move against China amid the rising tensions between Beijing and Manila.
Chinese analysts predict that during the upcoming quadrilateral defense talks, the main discussions are likely to cover plans for future joint exercises, training, rotational deployment of troops and short-term deployments in the region, with a focus on the South China Sea.
The US is clearly trying to rally its allies - Japan and Australia - to support the Philippines, encourage the Philippines to engage in more military provocations in the South China Sea, exacerbate the complexity of the regional situation, and then find excuses to strengthen the military presence of the US, Japan and Australia in the South China Sea, Wei Dongxu, a Beijing-based military expert and media commentator, told the Global Times on Sunday.
Wei warned that the involvement of external countries and forces in South China Sea issues will only further complicate the situation in the region, and flaunting their military power will not only affect normal regional cooperation but may also lead to conflicts.
But those provocative moves will ultimately lead to a deterioration of the Philippines' strategic security environment. Once the Philippines realizes this, this military clique is bound to show cracks and divisions, Wei said.
It is believed that the Japanese defense minister will voice a tough message on the issues during his visit to Hawaii.
The Mainichi Shimbun, citing government officials, revealed that Kihara is also arranging bilateral and trilateral talks with Austin and Marles.
Within the framework of the "Indo-Pacific Strategy," the US wants to maximize the use of Japan's military forces as a pawn. Therefore, regarding South China Sea issues, Japan's subsequent military actions will become more proactive, more aggressive and may involve more provocations, Wei believes.
Following in the military footsteps of the US, Japan's flaunting of military power and strengthening of its military presence, especially in the hot spots within the South China Sea, will undoubtedly lead to increased distrust from its neighboring countries, Wei said. He also warned that Japan's expanding military ambitions will further exacerbate the escalation of hot-button issues.
China is very disappointed with the US decision, emphasizing that the urgency of accepting Palestine as a full member of the UN is now more apparent than ever. China will continue its efforts and play a constructive role to ensure that Palestine enjoys the same rights as all other UN member states, said China's permanent representative to the UN, following the US veto of Palestine's request for full UN membership.
The US stopped the UN from recognizing a Palestinian state by casting a veto in the Security Council on Thursday to deny Palestinians full membership of the world body, Reuters reported.
It vetoed a draft resolution recommending to the 193-member UN General Assembly that "the State of Palestine be admitted to membership" of the UN. Britain and Switzerland abstained, while the remaining 12 council members voted yes, according to the media report.
"Today is a saddening day. The application for Palestine to become a full member of the UN was rejected due to a US veto, crushing the decades-long dreams of the Palestinian people. China is profoundly disappointed with the US decision," said Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the UN.
Independence has been the enduring aspiration of the Palestinian people for generations, and becoming a full UN member is a crucial step in this historical process, Fu noted.
Palestine submitted its application as early as 2011, but due to opposition from certain countries, action by the Security Council was postponed. 13 years have already been long enough, yet these countries still complain that there is not enough time and that action should not be rushed. This argument is insincere. "Now, more than ever, the urgency of accepting Palestine as a full member of the UN is apparent," Fu said.
Deputy US Ambassador to the UN Robert Wood told the council that the US continues to strongly support a two-state solution. This vote does not reflect opposition to Palestinian statehood, but instead is an acknowledgment that it will only come from direct negotiations between the parties, according to the media report.
Certain countries do not support Palestine's membership, claiming that it lacks the capacity to govern a state, a position we cannot agree with, the Chinese diplomat said.
Over the past 13 years, there have been many changes in the situation in Palestine, the most fundamental being the continuous expansion of settlements in the West Bank, which increasingly compresses the living space of Palestine as a nation, eroding the foundation of the two-state solution.
These countries turn a blind eye, adopting an attitude of tacit approval or even encouragement, and now they question Palestine's governance capabilities, which is nothing but a distortion of facts and logic, Fu said.
What is even more unacceptable is that these countries also question whether Palestine meets the qualifications for UN membership as outlined in the UN Charter, implying doubts about Palestine's commitment to peace, Fu noted.
Such accusations are excessively harsh and amount to "pouring salt on the wounds of the Palestinian people," who suffer under occupation—an enormous insult, he said. If opposing Palestine's membership for political reasons, it would be more honest to state this directly rather than using excuses to inflict further harm on the Palestinian people.
The Palestinian Authority President, Mahmoud Abbas, sharply criticized the US veto, saying in a statement that it was "unfair, immoral, and unjustified, and defies the will of the international community, which strongly supports the State of Palestine obtaining full membership in the UN," CNN reported.
The right of the Palestinian people to statehood is an inalienable national right, beyond dispute and not for trade. Insisting that direct negotiations between Israel and Palestine are a precondition, and claiming that UN membership for Palestine can only be the result of negotiations, are putting the cart before the horse, Fu said.
As Israel increasingly rejects the two-state solution, admitting Palestine as a full member state of the UN would provide it with equal status to Israel and help facilitate the resumption of negotiations. All countries genuinely supporting the two-state solution should not oppose Palestine's full membership in the UN, the Chinese diplomat said.
"We believe that one day, Palestine will enjoy the same rights as all other UN member states, living peacefully alongside Israel as a neighbor. Both the Palestinian and Israeli people will lead secure and happy lives. To hasten this day, China will continue its unremitting efforts and play a constructive role," Fu said.
"History and the peoples of the world will remember this regressive action by the US," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Friday commenting on the US veto.
Despite the US veto, the urgent regional demand for an immediate ceasefire cannot be denied, the basic needs of Gazan civilians for humanitarian aid cannot be denied, and the international community's widespread desire for a just and lasting resolution of the Palestinian issue cannot be denied, the spokesperson said.
Lin further stated that the international community should fully implement the relevant resolutions of the UN General Assembly and Security Council, fully respect the will of the Palestinian people, return to the correct track of the two-state solution, and promptly establish an independent Palestinian state.
Only in this way can peaceful coexistence between Palestine and Israel be achieved, harmony between the Arab and Jewish peoples be fostered, and lasting peace in the Middle East be realized, the spokesperson added.
China has always stood on the side of peace, justice, and conscience in the Palestinian issue. We firmly support Palestine becoming a full member of the UN and will continue to work with relevant parties to quell the fires in Gaza at an early date, alleviate the humanitarian situation, promote the implementation of the two-state solution, and play a constructive role, the spokesperson added.
Former chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang party Ma Ying-jeou returned to the island of Taiwan on Thursday after having led a delegation of young people from Taiwan on an 11-day visit to the mainland. Analysts said that while the mainland has shown positive signs to promote the cross-Straits peace and development, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities are purposely misinterpreting the goodwill of the mainland to reject reunification. People in Taiwan should be cautioned against the DPP's such acts, they said.
At theTaoyuan airport in Taipei, Ma told reporters that his visit to the mainland allowed Taiwan's youth to deeply understand Chinese history and culture. He said that although Taiwan and the mainland have different political systems, as well as different perspectives and values, we are all descendants of the Yan and Huang emperors, according to a report from Taiwan's news outlet und.com.
Taiwan's youth should set aside ideological differences and recognize the historical and cultural connections between Taiwan island and the mainland. These connections cannot be severed by politics. Ma said he believes that people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits, as Chinese, can resolve disputes peacefully as long as there is a common political foundation - the 1992 Consensus, which allows for continued dialogue between the two sides.
When Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, met with Ma in Beijing on Wednesday, Xi also noted that people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits are all Chinese and the distance of the Straits cannot sever the bond of kinship between the compatriots.
Jack Chang, a young man from Taiwan who now lives in the mainland, said that the mainland's goodwill can be seen and felt throughout Ma's trip. And more young people in the island would be encouraged to come to study or work in the mainland.
"I have confidence in the cross-Straits exchanges," Chang told the Global Times, noting that the DPP's deceitful tactics to manipulate the public and to fool the people are crumbling.
Aside from the DPP-led green camp and "Taiwan independence" separatists, the Taiwan society, in general, took note of the mainland's goodwill and positive attitude overtures to ease cross-Straits tensions and promote exchanges between the two sides during Ma's trip, Wang Wu-lang, secretary-general of the Cross-Straits Peace Forum, told the Global Times on Thursday.
Wang noted that Xi's remarks made when meeting Ma was heartfelt and sincere, highlighting his concern and goodwill toward compatriots in Taiwan. Xi's great cares about the recent earthquake in Hualien also deeply touched the people in Taiwan.
Some analysts said that as the cross-Straits situation continues to escalate due to the DPP's rejecting reunification stance, Ma led a delegation of Taiwan youth to visit the mainland and emphasized the historical and cultural connections between Taiwan and the mainland throughout his trip. This showed that the connection between the mainland and Taiwan cannot severed by the DPP's political "de-Sinicization" moves.
Some of the DPP politicians' rhetoric, responding to Ma's remarks in the mainland, did not represent the concerns of the majority of the people in Taiwan. Wang said that the majority of the people in the island fear that the DPP's "Taiwan independence" separatist stance may lead the island to wars, and what the people desire for is normal exchanges across the Straits as well as peace and stability.
Aside from showing goodwill, the mainland also sent clear message to compatriots in Taiwan, calling on them to jointly safeguard the common homeland of the Chinese nation, to advance toward the historical direction of peaceful reunification and national unity, while opposing the separatist activities of "Taiwan independence" and external interference, said Wang.
Supporters of peace in Taiwan and those advocating for increased cross-Straits exchanges also support Ma's visit to the mainland. They recognize that only through communication can misunderstandings be dispelled and tensions diffused. Those who criticized Ma's trip have their own political calculations, said Shaw Chong-hai, an honorary professor of Macao Polytechnic University, and former dean of the College of Social Sciences of the Chinese Culture University in Taiwan.
Shaw told the Global Times on Thursday that people-to-people exchanges, especially among the youth, has always been important in promoting cross-Straits ties. Shaw also expressed hopes for more young people in Taiwan to pay a visit to the mainland and see the fast and prosperous developments of the mainland cities with their own eyes.
Echoing Shaw's sentiments, Wang also noted that although the DPP authorities remain steadfast in their stance of rejecting reunification, efforts demonstrated by Ma's trip to accumulate positive momentum to promote peaceful development of cross-Straits relations are strong and well defended.
The Chinese meteorological authority issued an orange alert for severe convective weather on Tuesday, marking the first such alert since 2013. It stated that many regions in the country are expected to experience thunderstorms, strong winds, hail, or heavy rainfall from Tuesday to Wednesday, with wind speeds potentially reaching level 12 in some areas.
According to China's National Meteorological Center (NMC), the orange alert for severe convective weather was issued at 6 pm on Tuesday. This marks the first orange alert for severe convective weather since 2013 and the first time that the highest level of warning for this type of weather condition has been issued since the establishment of meteorological disaster warning standards by the NMC.
The meteorological authority said that from Tuesday evening to Wednesday evening, some areas in provinces and regions including Anhui, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Hubei, Hunan and Jiangxi will experience thunderstorms or hail with wind speeds exceeding level 10. In some areas, wind speeds may reach 12 or above, with hailstones exceeding 20 millimeters in diameter.
Additionally, some areas in Jiangsu, Hunan, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guizhou and Guangxi are expected to experience short-term heavy rainfall, with hourly rainfall amounts ranging from 30 to 50 millimeters, and locally exceeding 70 millimeters.
The NMC reminded the public to limit outdoor activities during windy weather. It is advised to steer clear of narrow and lengthy pathways surrounded by tall buildings if one must go out, as the wind intensity tends to escalate in such areas, posing a risk to pedestrians.
People should also stay away from loosely installed billboards, withered street trees, and residential buildings cluttered with debris to prevent accidents caused by falling objects from heights, the NMC said. Besides, people should wear masks, scarves, and other dust-proof items to prevent damage to the eyes and respiratory system from sand and dust stirred up by strong winds.
Starting from Saturday, thunderstorms, strong winds, or hail have been reported in various areas in the southern part of China, with extreme severe convective weather occurring in Nanchang, East China's Jiangxi Province, amid record-breaking wind levels.
The meteorological observatory in Nanchang on Tuesday afternoon issued a red alert for hailstone, saying that some areas of the city are expected to experience severe hail weather, while thunderstorms, strong winds, and heavy rain warnings are also in effect simultaneously. The meteorological authority called on the public to suspend all outdoor activities.
Due to the severe hailstorms and strong convective weather on Tuesday, a house collapsed in Honggutan district in Nanchang, trapping people inside. After receiving the report, the local fire department dispatched seven rescue vehicles and 50 rescue personnel to the scene. As of now, all trapped individuals have been rescued, and a total of 11 people were injured, who have been sent to the hospital for treatment.
According to the NMC, as extreme strong convective weather occurred in Nanchang on Sunday, 13 local meteorological observation stations registered record wind breakthroughs and lightning 2,783 times. More than half of the city's meteorological stations observed winds exceeding level eight. Four people in Nanchang died and more than 10 were injured on Sunday due to the extreme strong convective weather, according to media reports.
The meteorological bureau in Jiangxi Province on Tuesday initiated a level IV emergency response to cope with the expected strong winds and hail, as some areas will experience heavy rain and thunderstorms with wind speeds of around level 10.
Meteorological experts noted that the recent high temperatures and active warm and humid air currents in the southern region have accumulated enough energy. When they meet cold air from the north, it can easily lead to the development of strong convective weather.
According to Weather China website, severe convective weather is the most difficult type of weather to forecast, as it comes quickly and is extremely destructive. In May 2020, East China's Shandong Province suffered three rounds of wind and hail disasters, affecting 13 cities and 867,000 people. Nearly 100,000 hectares of wheat and fruit crops such as apples and cherries in the fruiting period were also affected, resulting in direct economic losses of 3.9 billion yuan ($0.54 billion).
As the Qingming Festival approaches, the national meteorological authorities said on Tuesday that most of the northern regions are expected to have sunny weather during the holidays, while the southern regions will still see heavy rainfall, with some areas also experiencing short periods of heavy precipitation, thunderstorms, strong winds, hail and other severe convective weather. Attention should be paid to preventing secondary disasters that may be caused by continuous rainfall, according to media reports.
A reading material in a Chinese test for junior high school students in Chengdu, Southwest China’s Sichuan Province, has recently sparked controversy for allegedly glorifying Japanese invaders and insulting China’s Eighth Route Army in their fight during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1931-1945). The author of the controversial material has since been dismissed from his position, the Global Times learned on Tuesday.
According to photos circulated on the internet by netizens, the reading comprehension material in the Chinese language test for junior high school grade three students in Xindu district titled “Dujuanhualuo,” which literally translates to “falling azaleas,” depicted a story from the perspective of a Japanese invader who attacked and bombed the Eighth Route Army for capturing his son who was on the way to visit him but accidentally killed his own son.
The article used a series of inappropriate words with negative connotation to describe the actions of the Eighth Route Army such as “flee” and described the Japanese invader holding his son’s corpse with blood spewing “like peony flowers withering,” which was criticized for portraying the death as overly moving and tragic.
The official WeChat account of Xindu district released a notice on Monday evening stating that in response to the negative influence of the reading material, a joint investigation team has been established to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident. The relevant teaching and research staff, as well as the head of the district education science research institute, have been suspended from duty. According to the probe results, the personnel responsible for the incident will be seriously dealt with in accordance with related regulations.
Netizens pointed out that according to the information revealed on the test paper and the information on the internet, the essay was written and posted online by a middle school headmaster named Li Jiaqian from Tangyin county in Central China’s Henan Province in 2023. Tangyin county is the hometown of Yue Fei, a military commander during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), who was famous for his loyalty and courage.
The Global Times learned on Tuesday from an employee from the education bureau in Tangyin county that Li had been dismissed from his position and that the local authorities are currently dealing with this matter with great importance attached to it.
The test paper has been called “poisonous” and sparked heated discussions on the internet, with many netizens expressing their anger over how such material could appear in a test.
“I initially thought that the criticism was just nitpicking the wording and exaggerated interpretation, but after reading the whole article, I felt horrified. How dare they forget about the suffering and bloodshed of so many Chinese compatriots and soldiers!” a netizen commented.
Other netizens pointed out that all the parties involved should be held accountable for including such material in the test paper. They also noted how terrifying it was that someone like Li existed in the educational system.
The world recently celebrated a splendid Chinese New Year, welcoming the Year of the Dragon.
During the holidays, Global Times reporters returned to their hometowns where they were reacquainted with old traditions and introduced to new post-pandemic experiences. To share their experience, we have launched the "Hometown Diary" series. Spanning from north to south, east to west, six articles will focus on different provinces, exploring the development and evolution from traditional to modern, and from economic to cultural dimensions.
This series is not only a comprehensive review of China's vast territory and diverse regional cultures but also a profound reflection of how different areas across the country maintain their identity and embrace changes.
Through the lens of hometown observations, we hope to touch the hearts of our readers, allowing everyone to find resonance in these stories and feel the warmth and vitality that hometowns provide, regardless of changes brought about by time.
This is the first installment in the series, in which we gain the perspectives of our reporters to understand how North China's Shanxi grabs cultural heritage to attract tourists after its green energy revolution, and how East China's Shandong strikes a balance between tradition and modernity amidst intense population mobility. Whenever the Spring Festival approaches, people walking on the streets always discuss the "festive vibe."
"The festive feeling is fading," some people would say, especially when one starts a conversation with a distant relative or a taxi driver.
In the context of rapid change, people often lament the dilution of the festive spirit, worrying that the essence of traditional festivals is gradually dissipating amid the flood of modern living.
But this is far from reality. With the convenience of transportation and overall societal progress, I find that the festive spirit is alive and well. These changes have made our Chinese New Year celebration more colorful and diverse.
Although the forms have changed, the longing for a reunion and the core significance of celebrating the Spring Festival remain unchanged: Tradition and modernity can coexist, jointly creating happy and joyful memories.
Reunion is always the theme
My hometown of Shandong in eastern China is known as the land of propriety, where Confucius and Mencius, the most important founders of Confucianism, were born. Their thoughts have shaped the culture and etiquette of China and even permeated through the entire East Asia.
Therefore, Shandong has inherited the most solemn rituals and customs, some of which have even evolved into urban legends that awe people from other regions.
For example, one of the most typical traditions is an obsession with the specific seating arrangement for people of different statuses around a round dining table, to which Shandong people adhere earnestly.
Only second to this adherence is the Shandong people's obsession with returning to their hometown for the New Year. They may work and live in big cities like Beijing, but during the festive season, they return to their small county towns or villages where their parents still reside.
Confucius explained filial piety many times. He said: "While his parents are living, a son should not go far abroad; if he does, he should let them know where he goes."
Since I was one year old, I have traveled back to my "old hometown" in Juye county, Heze, every Spring Festival, where my father is from and his parents were living, from the provincial capital Jinan where I lived.
Juye has almost no claim to fame, though locals claim it to be the birthplace of the Qilin, a legendary creature in Chinese mythology.
When I was young, the biggest form of entertainment in Juye, this small county, was a Xinhua bookstore. So every New Year, when people working outside the city returned and children were on holiday, it became a lively and busy playground. As a child, I looked forward to every aspect of the Spring Festival - posting Spring Festival couplets, buying snacks, playing fireworks, watching the Spring Festival Gala, and, of course, receiving red envelopes, a traditional gift for children or elderly people during Chinese New Year.
I had a great time, but it came at a cost. The only way traveling there from Jinan, the capital city of Shandong, 25 years ago was by the "green trains." They were slow, featuring a five- to six-hour journey spent in crowded conditions, often without seats, and prone to delays.
Such arduous journeys became a source of anxiety in my childhood. Once, because it was too crowded to board the train, my dad tried to pass me through the window, and strangers were willing to catch me. But I refused, I was too scared.
In the year before China downgraded its management of the COVID-19, this unknown county of Juye got its own high-speed railway station. It was a result of Shandong Province's campaign to develop its transportation network.
Now, from one of the high-speed rail stations near my home in Jinan to Juye county is a two-hour journey. And it is on a comfortable 'Harmony' high-speed train, where everyone has a sofa seat.
Today, as of the end of 2023, total operating mileage of high-speed rail in Shandong has surpassed 2,800 kilometers, jumping to first place in the country. Meanwhile, with the commencement of full operation of the Jinan-Zhengzhou high-speed railway route on December 8, 2023, 15 out of 16 cities in Shandong have access to high-speed rail.
The issue of crying children aboard is also a thing of the past. On a recent high-speed rail trip from Beijing to Shanghai, I experienced the quiet carriage. The train attendant was on high alert like a middle school teacher, immediately stopping any attempts to talk or make phone calls. You can sleep or work in peace.So, has the festive spirit faded? Perhaps the children of today do not look forward to returning to their rural hometowns as much as I did in my childhood, because of the ease of reunions that has transformed them almost quotidian-like. Amid the sound of firecrackers
Since I was eight, the Spring Festival has always held the promise of jubilant fireworks displays and blasts.
Gunpowder is one of the four great inventions of ancient China. Legend has it that the sound of firecrackers scares away the "Nian" beast that lurks during the Chinese New Year, and now people feel that the sound and light of fireworks portend good luck.
However, due to fire prevention and environmental protection measures, the setting off of fireworks and firecrackers has been banned in many places, including my hometown of Jinan.
However, in recent years, these bans have been relaxed.
In early January, the Legislative Affairs Commission of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, upon review, considered that there are divergences in understanding regarding the comprehensive ban on sales and burning, and it is also difficult to implement in practice. Amendments should be made in accordance with the spirit of the superior laws, according to china.com.
More flexible management methods have also emerged.
For example, this year in Jinan, some locations on the outskirts of the city were designated as firecracker zones. This makes it safe and easy to manage, and citizens who want to watch fireworks displays can also come here to observe.
For the children of today, their childhood is both different and similar to ours. Adults buy them firecrackers on the roadside. There are "flying monkeys" that can shoot into the sky, fairy sticks that transform into magic wands, and little bees that can spin rapidly on the ground and scream… just like the ones I played with as a child.
This year, a new type of firework called the handheld Gatling became particularly popular. As big as a baseball bat, holding it in your hand, you can shoot fireworks into the sky, with colorful beams drawing arcs in the sky, like dazzling ribbons.
I opened the Blue Map - as an environmental journalist, I always want to learn about pollution - and watched the surrounding AQI soar. Even without such a precise app, you could tell what was happening from the smell of fireworks in the air and the hazy visual effect.
The police just casually patrolled, ensuring that no danger arose.
I know that when the New Year's celebration is truly over, the city will return to its normal operations, but people will start the new year with confidence and good expectations.
