Cranes sway their giant arms, railway tracks crisscross, containers are stacked up... walking in the Guoyuan port in Southwest China’s Chongqing, one can feel the strong pulse of the mountainous city’s development. And for foreign journalists, seeing the bustling activities up close brings fresh understanding of China’s economic story. 

During several field trips organized by the All-China Journalists Association, nearly 100 heads of journalists’ organizations and media representatives from 50 countries and regions witnessed Chongqing’s thriving industries, after visiting local logistics hubs, tourist attractions and intelligent automotive manufacturing factories.

As some Western media outlets step up their smearing campaign targeting China, some foreigners’ perception of China has been clouded, though they have never been to China. 

However, hearing about something 100 times is not the same as seeing it once. The mountainous city blends traditional culture and modern development, showing the vitality and charm of China in the midst of incessant reform and opening-up. For foreign journalists, a visit to Chongqing city is not merely an assignment, but also an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of China’s diversity and Chinese modernization.

A number of journalists were struck by the stunning natural beauty as they saw three massive natural stone bridges in the Fairy Mountain in Wulong district. Marveling at the breathtaking karst landscape there, the strong connection between local residents and the nature also amazed them. 

When they were impressed by local government’s efforts to promote tourism and protect ecologic diversity, they can personally witness how China upholds the principle that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets" and strives to maintain harmony between humanity and nature in the country’s pursuit of modernization in the past many years.

When taking the bus to Guiyuan town in Wulong district, foreign journalists were attracted by signs erected on the mountain promoting rural vitalization efforts.

At first, they did not fully understand the meaning of the slogan. After they saw a small town deep in the mountains gradually embarking on the road to prosperity by taking advantage of local scenery to develop tourism, they got to know the true meaning of rural vitalization. 

Visiting Guiyuan town, foreign journalists experienced tie-dyeing and tasting local tea. They saw local young people return home to start their own businesses, and farmers can also earn more money by making coffee and operating homestay industry.

As they sat in the local library, sipping coffee and enjoying the magnificent landscape, they truly appreciated China’s efforts and achievements in promoting comprehensive rural revitalization.

Meanwhile, the journalists felt the country’s efforts to develop green industry in China’s leading electric vehicle (EV) maker Seres Group’s super factory.

During a visit to the intelligent auto manufacturing factory, they couldn’t wait to get into the newest model of Seres vehicles for a test driving and turn on the engine to learn about China’s EV technology. While walking through the welding workshop, they observed that each assembly procedure was carried out smoothly and precisely, with minimal human involvement.

When they were told that a new car rolls off the assembly line every 30 seconds, they were amazed at the efficiency of the factory and deeply appreciated the development speed and modernization level of China’s manufacturing industry.

Enjoying the Two-River Cruise on the Yangtze and Jialing rivers, the journalists were impressed with an unforgettable experience when taking in Chongqing’s cityscape at night. 

Looking from the cruise ship to the shore, they saw the brightly lit buildings and the traffic flow of the streets. At that moment, they appreciated the actual economic vitality of the city.

Through the Chongqing trip, the foreign journalists deeply experienced the diversity and inclusiveness of China. They hailed the development model of the city - increasingly driven by green development and new quality productive forces. 

Chinese modernization aims to promote green and low-carbon ways of production and life by adjusting and improving the structure of the industrial, energy, and transportation sectors, pursuing high-quality development built on a healthy, sustainable nature. 

Moreover, China is working with other countries to foster an international environment that is conducive to development and creating new drivers for global growth.

If foreign journalists, or anyone from around the world, want to truly understand China, the best way is to experience it firsthand. As the proverb says, seeing is believing.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday met with Kenyan President William Ruto, who is in Beijing for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe here on Monday. 

She is called China's Sleeping Beauty as the 2,200-year-old lady looks nearly as good as when she was buried after she died at the age of about 50, in China's Western Han Dynasty (206BC-AD25).

The tombs, which contain the well-preserved remains of the lady, Xin Zhui, also known as Lady Dai, and 3,000 artifacts, which were discovered in 1971 in Mawangdui, Central China's Hunan Province have been seen as among the most important archaeological findings in the 20th century.

As 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of the evaluation of the archaeological excavation of the Mawangdui Han Tombs, a new documentary that provides a portal into the life of the Han Dynasty for young audiences started being aired on Mango TV on Monday.

"The charm of the project not only lies in the well-preserved Xin Zhui and her family's story, but also the continued connection between the ancient Chinese and us," Li Dongshen, the documentary's director, told the Global Times.

"The early Chinese people's understanding of life and its relationship to the world as well as the cultural impact from the early texts found in the tombs and unique versions of Chinese philosophical classics like I-Ching and Tao Te Ching… all matter to today's world."
Life of 2,000 years ago

The excavation of the Mawangdui site started in 1970s, and three tombs dedicated to the family of Li Cang, the Marquis of Dai, a nobleman who boasted significant power in the Western Han Dynasty were discovered.

Buried in a separate tomb to Li Cang was his wife Xin Zhui,with thousands of artifacts from the ancient Han Dynasty, such as delicate silk manuscripts, lacquered vessels, and herbal medicines made from cinnamon, magnolia bark, and peppercorns.

According to the director, more than 3,000 cultural relics buried underground for over 2,000 years present a panoramic view of the daily life of the Xin Zhui family. There are many types of dishes recorded on the bamboo slips, and we can also see the dining preferences of the Xin Zhui's family from more than 2,000 years ago. The three characters "Jun Xing Shi" written on small lacquer plates, lacquer ear cups and other cultural relics, meaning "having a good meal" reflect the ancients' attitude toward life. The daily emphasis also conveys the blessing of "eating well" from people more than 2,000 years ago to modern young people who also love food; the many cosmetics unearthed from Tomb No. 1 reveal that people have never stopped pursuing beauty since ancient times.

Xin is thought to have lived a wealthy lifestyle with private musicians and access to a variety of imperial foods, including various types of meat. Most of her clothes were made of silk and other valuable textiles, and she owned many cosmetics.

From 3,000 to 26,937

The Hunan Museum announced on August 13 that the collection of artifacts unearthed from the Mawangdui Tombs includes a total of 26,937 items, covering three primary categories: Lacquerware, textiles, as well as bamboo and silk manuscripts.

Among the unearthed artifacts, 1,017 pieces of lacquerware were cataloged, with 869 appearing to be very well-preserved. The textile collection, predominantly silk, includes 24,490 items, 212 of which are intact, while the remaining are fabric fragments. Additionally, 1,430 bamboo and silk manuscripts were identified, including silk books and paintings, wooden tablets, and bamboo slips.

Initial reports, published in October 1973 and July 2004, documented over 3,000 artifacts from the tombs. The leap from "over 3,000" to 26,937 artifacts highlights the advancements in research methodologies and technological capabilities in the field of archaeology.

The museum also released a 3D digital image of Xin Zhui in May as her body was found to be intact and in a remarkable state of preservation. Her skin remained moist, her subcutaneous soft tissue has retained its elasticity, and some joints are still movable. Even her eyelashes are still in place and the lines on her fingers and toes are discernible, leading to the estimation that she was about 50 years old when she died, says Duan Xiaoming, curator of the Hunan Museum.

High technology means including CG tools introduced in the documentary to display these findings and the achievements. Director Li said that under the high-definition lens, the textures and color details on the silk artifacts emerge vividly, and the movements of auspicious animals and gods are clearly discernible.

Compared with the traditional museum viewing perspective, the documentary presents more vivid and rich details, bringing the audience a viewing experience that goes beyond the physical object. It is through such innovative shooting techniques that the documentary perfectly integrates documentary shooting, painting, and CG special effects, uses the power of science and technology to amplify the beauty of cultural relics, and turns the entire museum into a large studio full of creativity and imagination.

Young perspective

When filming in the museum for dozens of days, the director said the museum is like a studio, which has not only recorded the life of the Xin Zhui family and the philosophy of ancient Chinese, but is also a witness to young people's love for museums and their cultural confidence.

As the documentary starts with the scene of the narrow elevator in the museum, the audiences open a tour route as the wisdom of ancient and modern times runs through. "Upward, it is the day and night over 2,000 years ago; downward, it is the undisturbed dream."

Director Li Dongshen told the Global Times that Japanese architectural designer Arata Isozaki drew inspiration from the Mawangdui Han Tombs and Chinese culture and incorporated it into the design of the new museum.

"I really hope to have a personal dialogue with the late designer as he had a very good understanding of Chinese culture and the understanding of life and death," added Li, who was known for his documentaries series including the China and Hexi Corridor.

In August, the Daping Moutai Organic Sorghum Base brims with the possibility of a bountiful harvest, as fields of sorghum turn golden. The heavy heads of the sorghum bow down, transforming the landscape into a golden carpet meticulously woven by nature, quietly unfurling while heralding another year of abundant harvest.
On August 16, an event was hosted by the Moutai Group and the Renhuai Municipal Government, and undertaken by the Moutai Liquor Co Ltd, and the Moutai Hongyingzi Company. The event was themed "Honoring the Grain Farmers with a Harvest: Committing to Quality for Generations," and took place at the Daping Organic Sorghum Base in Maopo village, Changgang township, Renhuai.

Over 2,000 participants including grain farmers, inheritors, distributors, and workshop representatives from Moutai were present. The Hongyingzi sorghum symbolizes the harvest of this land and the essence of Moutai's traditional brewing craftsmanship. As a special variety used in the production of Moutai liquor, Hongyingzi sorghum is closely linked to the Chishui River. The soil, water quality, and climatic conditions of the Chishui River basin provide an exceptional cultivation environment for Hongyingzi sorghum, playing a crucial role in shaping the unique flavor of Moutai liquor.

This variety of sorghum, originating from the local traditional Hongyingzi, is small grains, thick skin, and has a firm, plump structure. These characteristics enable it to perform exceptionally well in Moutai's multiple rounds of cooking and fermentation processes.

Agricultural experts participating in the Moutai Hongyingzi Sorghum Harvest Season event shared with the Global Times that Hongyingzi sorghum features "eight highs, one low, and one moderate" - high in starch, phenolic compounds, fats, branched-starch ratio, crystallinity, gelatinization temperature, calorific value, long-branch chain ratio, along with a low retrogradation of starch and moderate content of tannins. These unique structural characteristics make it the ideal choice for brewing Moutai liquor, crucial in achieving its signature aroma, full-bodied richness, and lingering finish.

"The harvest of Hongyingzi sorghum marks the hard work of farmers bearing fruitful results, and a solid foundation for Moutai's raw brewing materials," Zhang Deqin, the Party Secretary and Chairman of the Moutai Group, said.

The Hongyingzi Sorghum Harvest Season conveys Moutai's respect for natural and humanistic stories. Moutai liquor closely integrates its production and brewing with agricultural timing and activities, embodying the traditional brewing concept of "following nature and seasonal harmony, and co-brewing with the cosmos."

Crafting legendary quality

The Moutai Hongyingzi Sorghum Harvest Season both celebrates agricultural bounty and epitomizes Moutai's belief that "quality is the soul of life."

Moutai regards this land as the "primary workshop," enforcing strict quality control throughout the entire process to ensure the high-quality and stable production of brewing materials. In collaboration with the Renhuai People's Government, Moutai has embarked on a five-year project, investing heavily in the establishment of a high-quality sorghum cultivation base to guarantee a long-term and stable supply of raw materials.

The base's construction includes land consolidation, water conservancy projects, electrical infrastructure, and pest control, enhancing the quality of farmland and achieving full mechanization of sorghum production, thus significantly increasing the per-acre yield.

With steadfast dedication to artisanal management, Moutai has made history once again: It became the first Chinese company to receive the highest level of seven diamonds at the EFQM Global Award under the new evaluation standards and is also the first in the liquor industry to achieve this honor.

China's traditional brewing culture

Hongyingzi sorghum serves both as a material basis for the long-term sustainable development of Moutai liquor and as an important vessel for cultural heritage and innovative growth, contributing uniquely and profoundly to Chinese brewing culture.

The brewing of Moutai liquor is an ancient ceremony that breathes and shares its fate with the natural seasons. The cultivation of Hongyingzi sorghum follows the natural rhythm of sowing in spring and harvesting in autumn, closely intertwined with the changing of the seasons. In spring, farmers sow seeds of hope amid gentle rains; in summer, the sorghum robustly grows under the nurturing sun and dew; and by autumn, with the refreshing breeze, the sorghum ripens to a deep red, signaling optimal harvest time.

As Moutai liquor gains global prominence, an increasing number of people are beginning to understand and appreciate China's traditional brewing culture. The ancient brewing techniques of Hongyingzi sorghum and Moutai liquor not only showcase the allure of Chinese brewing to the world but also reveal the depth and breadth of Chinese culture.

With the conclusion of the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris, France, the focus in Chinese sports has begun shifting toward winter sports, especially with the 2025 Asian Winter Games to be hosted in Harbin, Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, just six months away and the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, looming on the horizon. 

One of the recent notable developments is the upcoming second season of the Women's Chinese Ice Hockey League (WCIHL), which is set to commence on September 1, according to the Chinese Ice Hockey Association (CIHA). 

The WCIHL, initiated in November 2023, was a milestone for Chinese women's ice hockey, as historically China's women's ice hockey has faced challenges due to limited exposure and opportunities for domestic players. 

"The teams participating in the inaugural season gained valuable experience through 71 matches, significantly improving their overall competitive level," Wang Xuan, head of the CIHA, told a news conference on Wednesday. "This has made an outstanding contribution to the cultivation of talent, and the professional development of teams and clubs." 

Previously, a women's ice hockey club that featured mainly the Chinese national team's players relied on competing in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) to hone the players' skills.
Now the domestic league is poised to play a significant role in enhancing the level of competition within China and ensuring a steady pipeline of talent for the national team. 

Li Yutian, a senior official with the CIHA, told reporters that although the Chinese women's ice hockey team was unable to maintain its position in the top tier during the year 2024's Women's Ice Hockey World Championship, they still demonstrated strong competitiveness. 

The women's national team has a tight schedule in the lead-up to 2026, with the Asian Championship to be held in Beijing in late October, the Milan Winter Olympics qualifiers in Japan in February 2025, followed by the back-to-back Asian Winter Games at home in Harbin, Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province.

The Chinese women's ice hockey team recently completed a two-month training session. The players are expected to immediately begin preparations for the league, according to Li. With the league's regular season running till December, the national team will also participate in important events such as the Asian Championships in Beijing from late October to early November. 

Ripple effect

The success of the WCIHL could also have a ripple effect on the development of ice hockey more broadly in China. Plans are already underway to launch a men's professional league later this year, further cementing the sport's growing presence in the country. 

"The establishment of domestic ice hockey leagues addresses the need for a platform that could sustain and grow the sport in China," Mao Jiale, a Chengdu-based sports commentator, told the Global Times. 

"The league's consistent schedule will help players refine their skills, build team chemistry, and gain valuable experience under pressure, which also provides the national team with a broader pool of talent to draw from when selecting players, ensuring that the team is well-prepared to face the world's best." 

As the league grows, it is expected to not only elevate the standard of play, but also  increase the visibility and popularity of ice hockey across the country. 

In addition to the professional leagues, a series of grassroots initiatives are being rolled out to increase public participation in ice hockey. 

These include programs such as "hockey in schools" and "hockey in communities," which aim to introduce the sport to a wider audience and inspire the next generation of players.
These efforts are part of a broader strategy to capitalize on the legacy of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, which was a pivotal moment for winter sports in China. 

Beijing 2022 legacy

The Beijing Games sparked a nationwide surge in interest in winter sports, with the government committing to the ambitious goal of "engaging 300 million people in winter sports." 

Since then, the country has made significant strides in expanding access to winter sports facilities, increasing participation rates, and raising the profile of winter sports among the general public.

One of the most visible manifestations of this effort is the National Winter Sports Week, which was launched on August 19 in Harbin. 

This event showcases a variety of winter sports activities, including off-season training methods such as roller skiing, dry-land ice hockey, and curling. 

These activities not only offer fun and engaging ways for people to stay active during the warmer months, but also help maintain the momentum generated by the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and keep winter sports in the public eye year-round.

In addition to domestic initiatives, China's national teams are also intensifying their preparation for the upcoming international competitions. 

The short-track speed skating team, for example, embarked on a 41-day summer training camp in Italy in June. 

This rigorous training program is designed to fine-tune the athletes' physical conditioning, technique, and mental endurance, all of which will be crucial in the high-stakes environment of the Asian Winter Games and the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Similarly, the national freestyle skiing and snowboard cross teams have traveled to the southern hemisphere where it is currently winter to participate in international competitions to gain experience. 

 "These overseas training programs highlight China's commitment to leaving no stone unturned in its quest for excellence in winter sports," Mao said. 

"By seeking out the best training environments and competing against top-tier international opponents, Chinese athletes are gaining the experience and confidence they need to succeed on the world stage."

On August 21, Fortune China officially released the 2024 Fortune Tech 50 list, and the world-leading solar technology company, LONGi Green Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (hereafter as "LONGi"), was selected for its outstanding performance in technological innovation, product development, and intelligent manufacturing.
The Fortune Tech 50 list aims to identify technology companies from China that are influencing the world. These companies are driven by innovation, continuously invest in research and development, actively expand application scenarios, have achieved remarkable results in the domestic market, and are even leading global trends, making important contributions to the development of future technologies.

Innovation is the soul of LONGi and the internal driving force for the continuous development of the photovoltaic industry. As a member of China's photovoltaic industry, LONGi has made systematic breakthroughs in mono-crystalline silicon rods, wafers, cells and modules, contributing to the high-quality development of the industry.

In terms of wafers, the company-led project "Key Technological Innovations and Applications of High-Efficiency and Low-Cost Manufacturing of Solar Mono-crystalline Silicon Wafers" won the second prize of the National Science and Technology Progress Award. This is the first time that a private enterprise has won the highest honor in the national science and technology field as the first completing unit and the first finisher since the establishment of this award in the field of photovoltaics in China. The newly developed LONGi TaiRay wafer has broken the dilemma of no performance breakthrough in the single-crystal silicon wafer field for nearly 10 years, becoming a weathervane for the development of wafer technology.

In terms of cells, the company has made breakthroughs in multiple technical and process difficulties of PERC and BC cells. The "Super High-Efficiency and Low-Cost Back-Contact Crystalline Silicon Hetero-junction Solar Cells" and "Super High-Efficiency Silicon-Based Tandem Cells" led by LONGi's R&D team were successfully selected as "2023 Major Scientific and Technological Progress in the Field of Photovoltaics." Since this year, LONGi has refreshed its own world records with 27.30% and 34.6%, respectively, and is currently the "Dual Champion" of the world record for single-crystal silicon cells and crystalline-silicon-perovskite tandem cells. Since 2023, the company has focused on upgrading and iterating BC technology, forming a rich BC full-scenario product matrix, creating more value for customers with technological innovation + scenario satisfaction.

While achieving technological innovation, LONGi is also actively promoting intelligent manufacturing innovation. In December 2023, LONGi's Jiaxing Production Base was selected as a "Lighthouse Factory" by the World Economic Forum, which is also the first "Lighthouse Factory" in the global photovoltaic industry. In this "Lighthouse Factory," LONGi has extensively adopted new technologies such as industrial internet, big data, artificial intelligence, and digital twins, successfully implementing more than 30 digital use cases. With the help of digital and intelligent means, the company has achieved the leap from "manufacturing" to "intelligent manufacturing."

As a global solar technology company, LONGi adheres to the concept of "seeking development through innovation," focuses on future industrial technologies, and continues to lead efficient technology iterations and industrial transformations. The company has a national enterprise technology center and eight provincial enterprise technology centers, and has established a technical R&D team of more than 5,000 people. It has formed an efficient R&D system and sufficient technical reserves for "producing one generation, developing one generation, and reserving one generation" around clean energy technologies such as photovoltaics and hydrogen energy. In the past five years, LONGi has accumulated more than 23.5 billion yuan ($3.3 billion) in R&D investment. By the end of 2023, the company had accumulated 2,879 various authorized patents.

Over the years, from technological innovation, product innovation to intelligent manufacturing innovation, LONGi has been running at the forefront of technological innovation in the photovoltaic industry. In the future, the company will adhere to independent research and development, continuously enhance core competitiveness, and continues to create value for global customers with more reliable and efficient products and services.

About LONGi

Founded in 2000, LONGi is committed to being the world’s leading solar technology company, focusing on customer-driven value creation for full scenario energy transformation.

Under its mission of 'making the best of solar energy to build a green world', LONGi has dedicated itself to technology innovation and established five business sectors, covering mono silicon wafers cells and modules, commercial & industrial distributed solar solutions, green energy solutions and hydrogen equipment. The company has honed its capabilities to provide green energy, and has also embraced green hydrogen products and solutions to support global zero carbon development. www.longi.com

The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee held a meeting on Friday to review policies and measures to open up a new vista in the large-scale development of the western region.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, chaired the meeting.

The meeting urged focused efforts to pursue well-coordinated environmental conservation, large-scale opening-up, and high-quality development, and move faster to create a new pattern of development to elevate overall regional strength and sustainable development capacity.

Efforts should be made to deepen reform comprehensively, further unleash and develop the productive forces, boost the vitality of society, and blaze a path of Chinese modernization that suits the realities of the region, according to a statement released after the meeting.

The meeting also called for developing specialty industries that leverage local strengths, enhancing technological innovation capabilities, and promoting the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries.

The meeting stressed efforts to promote high-level environmental conservation, build a beautiful western region, thoroughly carry out pollution prevention and control, and advance green and low-carbon development.

It urged the western region to enhance the openness of the economy, strengthen the guarantee capacity of energy and resources, and promote the construction of clean energy bases.

Measures will be taken to advance the new urbanization in accordance with local conditions, consolidate the poverty alleviation achievements, and make sure that there will be no relapsing into poverty on a large scale in rural areas, according to the meeting.

The meeting also noted that a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation should be forged to safeguard ethnic unity and stability in border areas.

The signing ceremony for a strategic partnership between the China Golf Association (CGA) and Golfzon China was held in Beijing on Thursday. To better promote the future development of digital golf, both parties plan to donate thousands of SwingPlay Golf Devices to primary and secondary schools nationwide.

Wei Qingfeng, secretary general of the China Golf Association, noted that through research conducted this year, the association discovered that the biggest challenges to promoting golf in primary and secondary schools are the lack of venues, facilities, and trained instructors.

“The golf devices we are donating to students are convenient to use, safe, and portable. They effectively address these issues and integrate learning, practice, and competition,” Wei remarked.

The CGA and Golfzon will engage in cooperation across various fields, including youth golf and indoor golf.

The two organizations have jointly launched the 2024 Golfzon China Open. The event boasts a total prize pool of 5 million yuan ($69,000).

Golfzon China announced that one of its practice facilities will be open to young people for free every morning until December 31, aiming to attract more youth to participate in golf.

At the ceremony, student representatives received the donated SwingPlay Golf Devices from the guests and demonstrated their swings.

Hui Chenlong, director of the events department of Golfzon China, stated that the CGA and Golfzon China will closely collaborate to advance golf in China, bringing more and better indoor golf tournaments to enthusiasts.

“Looking ahead, we will jointly explore new development strategies for golf, promote its popularity in China, foster golf culture, and build a solid foundation for the sport by nurturing more talent. This will contribute to public health, the fitness economy, and the development of healthier youth in China,” Hui concluded.

Yang Jiayu claimed the first athletics gold for China at Paris Olympics as she won the women's 20km race walk here on Thursday.