From exquisite craftsmanship to traditional medicine, and from solemn rituals to vibrant folk art, intangible cultural heritages weave a rich tapestry of Chinese identity, decorating the various facets of contemporary Chinese people's lives.
In this series, the Global Times culture desk will walk readers through China's most renowned traditions. For centuries, the essential elements of Chinese intangible cultural heritage have been passed down from master to apprentice, from generation to generation. Today, the ancestral wisdom is being reinvigorated by a new generation of inheritors with creativity. On the surface of a brown-black ebony fan, numerous patterns of golden osmanthus flowers and an ancient pagoda were intricately carved, showcasing the fan's unique Chinese aesthetics.
This fan is a "national gift" presented by the fan-making brand Wangxingji at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou. At a national banquet prior to the event, a demonstration of the making of Wangxingji's fans was held in front of numerous international guests and foreign heads of state, who expressed great appreciation for the art. Produced through 86 handcrafting processes, the "black paper fan" is also the most iconic product of Wangxingji, an Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) brand that has showcased China's fan-making artistry since the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
Unlike many other fan products, the water-resistant black fans decorated with Chinese poetry inscriptions represent the wisdom of Chinese craftsmanship and literati spirits while exhibiting a demure aesthetic taste. Traditional Wangxingji black fans are an optimal way for the public to engage with the 150-year-old local history and appreciate the continuous integration of modern elements in its designs.
Benchmark for ancient fansFans made of materials such as sandalwood and silk are part of Wangxingji's diverse products. Nowadays, the company has created 19 different kinds of fans and more than 10,000 types of decorative fan patterns. "Every single one of our products is still handmade," revealed the company's director Sun Yaqing, adding that their "handcrafted tradition in the mechanized age" is what has made their ICH legacy most valuable.
Sun is not only the brand's leader, but also the ICH inheritor of a fan-making technique called "la hua." It refers to using thin steel wires to carve intricate patterns on fans. Wangxingji's fan-making techniques are a time-honored tradition dating back to 1875, when the brand was first established in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province.
Around that time, Wang Xingzhai, the founder of the brand, created a "color painted black fan" with his wife. The piece was unique and set a clear benchmark for ancient Chinese fan-making industry.
"The whole black fan was evenly covered with a sort of glittery paint made from gold. The paint's nuanced color differences were the result of the gold's different degrees of purity. The fan's skeleton was decorated with colorful snail shells too," Wang Siyi, the deputy manager of the cultural and creative department of Wangxingji, told the Global Times.
In ancient time, artifacts such as Wangxingji's finely made fans were often given by the Chinese royals as gift to overseas guests. Liu Jiao, an insider of the Chinese arts and crafts history, told the Global Times that although it is small, a Chinese fan can "embody the country's aesthetic spirit and cultural narratives."
Wangxingji's fans often showcase visual imagery inspired by traditional Taoist philosophy. One striking example is a black fan featuring the literary classic "Four Books and Five Classics." This fan boasts an astonishing aesthetic, featuring the text inscribed in 120,000 Chinese characters, each measuring just one millimeter. "Nowadays, fans are not only a useful everyday tool. They are cultural objects that display one's aesthetic and invite people overseas to notice the depth and diversity of Chinese folk culture," Sun told the Global Times. Keeping up with times
The success of Wangxingji on the global stage has not slowed down its momentum. It has always been Sun's motto that "If the fan does not connect with people, then it is not an ICH legacy." This philosophy drives her to explore innovative ways to keep the Wangxingji fan relevant and "in-trend."
In 2010, Wangxingji established a cultural and creative park that includes facilities like a museum, workshops and also a section dedicated to cross-field cultural products. A notable example of their innovation came during the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou, during which Wangxingji launched a fan collection by collaborating with the event organizers.
Wang Suxian, the manager of the cultural and creative department of Wangxingji, told the Global Times that such presentations are aimed to attract young consumers. In order to promote the brand, the Wangxingji team has also tried to expand its scope of creative design sharing both online and in people daily lives.
The Esports Asian Champions League (ACL), Asia's first international comprehensive esports competition, was launched in Shanghai on Tuesday. Wang Xinyang, co-founder and executive director of VSPO, noted that the tournament will consolidate the relatively fragmented esports system in Asia, with esports expected to become more standardized and internationalized in the near future.
"Asia is by far, when you talk about esports, the strongest region in the world. With the ACL, to be able to bring and unite all these players together under one tournament is truly fantastic," Honorary Chairman of the ACL and Chairman of the Saudi Esports Federation HRH Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan told the Global Times.
Vice President of the International Olympic Committee Ng Ser Miang, along with esports players from around the world, participated in this summit to discuss the further maturation and development of the esports ecosystem in China and across Asia, while also preparing for the inaugural Olympic Esports Games to be held in Saudi Arabia in 2025.
Shaping future of esports
In July 2024, China initiated the establishment of an esports working group within the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), with the VSPO leading the creation of new international standards for esports. The hosting of the ACL tournament signifies that the VSPO will also begin setting benchmarks for future cloud-based, immersive virtual sports events.
The inaugural ACL tournament plans to set up "Skyring" esports arenas in several core countries and regions across Asia, once again creating a high-precision, cross-regional, and transformative XR gaming competition zone. This will provide an unprecedented level of immersion and interactivity for viewers, marking a new milestone in the esports experience.
Zeng Zhuowei, the reigning Street Fighter 6 World Champion, stressed the importance of both mass participation and professional care in the esports industry, noting that both are indispensable.
"Looking back at my first time competing abroad, since I was playing multiple events, I had very short breaks in between. I was so exhausted that I even fell asleep standing up. In such situations, it's really hard to maintain peak performance. So, a tournament that ensures a great fan experience while also giving players ample rest time would be the ideal format," he said.
To stay true to the grassroots nature of esports while ensuring professional players get enough rest, the ACL tournament offers various types of open qualifiers, providing opportunities for non-professional players. Through a rigorous selection process, it has created a dedicated path for talented "grassroots" players to rise through the ranks.
"As esports become a widely recognized form of sport, thanks to their success at the Asian Games, the Olympic Esports Week, and the Esports World Cup, we believe that international multi-title esports tournaments represent the future of the industry, and the ACL marks a commitment to that future," Ying Dino, founder of the VSPO, told the Global Times.
Ying also noted that the hosting of top-tier esports events, particularly the Olympic Esports Games, will be a milestone event for the industry, significantly enhancing the global integration of esports resources. China power
The diversification and globalization of esports have been further accelerated by the emergence of domestically produced AAA games like Black Myth: Wukong, elevating the status of Chinese games on the international stage and boosting the development and cooperation of the global esports market.
"I don't think Black Myth: Wukong represents the beginning of a new era for Chinese games, as Chinese games have long held an important position on the world stage. The arrival of Black Myth: Wukong further proves the strength of Chinese games and the country's ability to export culture," Faisal noted.
Whether it's traditional games like Black Myth: Wukong or the booming development of esports, both demonstrate that China's gaming industry is steadily increasing its global influence and competitiveness.
Esports have been officially recognized as the 99th sports category in China. In the first half of 2024, China's esports industry achieved a total revenue of 12 billion yuan ($1.8 billion), an increase of 4.43 percent year-on-year. The actual sales revenue of China's esports gaming market reached 69.143 billion yuan, a year-on-year growth of 7.24 percent. China firmly holds the position as the world's largest esports market in terms of production scale, the number of users, and growth rate.
"The inclusion of esports as a profession has not only promoted professionalization and standardization, but also led to the establishment of related majors in several universities to meet future market demand," a gaming expert and Hearthstone competitive player ranked in the top 100 in China surnamed Luo, told the Global Times.
"Chinese government has provided strong support to the esports industry, with a series of policy documents highlighting its crucial role in new consumption and economic growth," he added.
The upcoming basketball season marks the 30th anniversary of the top-tier league. To further invigorate the season , the governing body,the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), introduced a new competition the CBA Club Cup to be added during international breaks in the season.
This new competition arrives at a time when China's national basketball scene is seeking to rebuild its credibility and strength on the international stage, especially following the disappointing performance of the Chinese men's national basketball team.
While the national team now faces a dry spell without major international competitions until the 2027 FIBA World Cup, the CBA's decision to launch the Club Cup represents a crucial step in providing local players with increased opportunities to develop under competitive conditions.
The Club Cup's structure offers a refreshing departure from the standard home-and-away format of the CBA league, instead adopting a tournament-style competition during two designated international break windows: November 2024 and February 2025.
As senior players are likely to prefer a break at such times, the Club Cup competition is a pivotal moment particularly for young and homegrown players.
Many of these athletes might otherwise spend large parts of the regular season warming the bench, only get on the court when a starting player is injured or suspended. In this new competition, the younger players will have a stage to showcase their skills more frequently, allowing them more opportunities to hone their skills and grow.
More significantly, the Club Cup will adopt FIBA's 10-minute quarters, which aligns with international standards and provides domestic players with an invaluable learning experience different from the league's 12-minute quarters.
The additional 48 games that the Club Cup brings to the CBA schedule will not only serve as a proving ground for emerging talent but could also rejuvenate the spirit of a league that has faced challenges in recent years.
From a financial perspective, the nearly 10 million-yuan ($1.42 million) prize pool is an enticing incentive for CBA clubs, some of which have been struggling financially. Thanks to CBA's long-time partners such as TCL, the prize money could be a lifeline for these teams, pushing them to invest more seriously in their younger talents in the tournament.
For the league as a whole, this influx of money into the competition could fuel greater excitement and fan engagement, breathing new life into the sport.
The ultimate goal of the CBA Club Cup, however, goes beyond financial incentives or temporary relief for struggling clubs. It is about building a pipeline for young players who can one day elevate Chinese basketball to new heights.
China is still searching for its next generation of basketball stars, and the Club Cup could be the platform that produces them.
Rising talent Cui Yongxi who recently joined NBA franchise the Brooklyn Nets on a two-year two-way contract, has shown that with the right support and opportunities, young Chinese players can make significant strides, as that's what the fans are expecting the Club Cup could offer.
Recently, the 45,000-square-meter rooftop solar photovoltaic power station of Zhejiang Mingde Precision Machinery Co Ltd, located in the Deqing Economic and Technological Development Zone in East China's Zhejiang Province, was connected to the grid for power generation.
This rooftop photovoltaic power station has a total installed capacity of 5.7 megawatts, capable of generating over 5.3 million kWh of electricity annually, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 4,400 tons and generating revenue of 3.7 million yuan ($507,000) for the enterprise.
According to reports, Zhejiang Mingde Precision Machinery Co Ltd manufactures machinery and equipment components with a complete industrial chain of "casting + machining + product assembly."
During visits, staff from State Grid Huzhou Electric Power Supply Company discovered that a large portion of the company's factory roof remained undeveloped. They utilized the "Photovoltaic Sky Eye" platform to calculate the available area for rooftop photovoltaics, assess the potential of photovoltaic resources, and promote rooftop photovoltaic development for the enterprise.
In March this year, State Grid Huzhou Electric Power Supply Company fully leveraged its resources to support project advancement. They established a "Power Service Express" that provided one-stop services for business consultation and technical guidance throughout the process, from project application acceptance and access scheme formulation to construction design review and grid-connected acceptance and commissioning. The project was completed within six months, demonstrating the "acceleration" of power supply services.
Since the start of this year, State Grid Huzhou Electric Power Supply Company has focused on building the "greenest" energy consumption system. Together with government departments in Deqing county, it established the country's first county-level energy green transformation and development center to promote technological innovation, industrial upgrading, and new models in the energy sector.
The local power supply company has signed aggregation agreements for 420,000 kW of photovoltaic resources on the virtual power plant platform, with all energy storage users.
It has continued to develop the "observable, measurable, adjustable, and controllable" functions of distributed photovoltaics, enabling all 52 distributed photovoltaic dispatching terminals in Deqing county to be observable and measurable, with the total installed capacity of photovoltaic power generation reaching 201,200 kWh.
"Cognitive Warfare" has become a new form of confrontation between states, and a new security threat. With new technological means, it sets agendas and spreads disinformation, to change people's perceptions and thus alter their self-identity. Launching cognitive warfare against China is an important means for Western anti-China forces to attack and discredit the country.
Some politicians and media outlets have publicly smeared China's image by propagating false narratives in an attempt to incite and provoke dissatisfaction with China among people in certain countries. These means all serve the US strategy to contain China's rise and maintain its hegemony. The Global Times is publishing a series of articles to reveal the intrigues of the US and its allies' China-targeted cognitive warfare and expose its lies and vicious intentions.
In the 17th installment of the series, the Global Times revealed how the US military-industrial complex orchestrates cognitive warfare campaigns against China to incite the Philippines to confront China, how the US government has transitioned from the forefront to the background to exert influence on the Philippines, and what tactics have been used in these cognitive wars. From manipulating public opinion through hyping the South China Sea issue to launching smear campaign against Chinese vaccines in the Philippines, the US military-industrial complex has been exposed for persistently instigating the Philippines behind the scenes to fabricate biased or false narratives and foment public misunderstanding regarding China.
Experts warned that this strategy risks pushing the Philippines toward greater conflict and jeopardizes its own interests.
What lobbying groups are behind these cognitive warfare efforts against China? What ties do they have to the US Department of Defense, the US government, and the Philippine military? And ultimately, what tactics do they employ in their coordinated cognitive warfare assault? This investigative report aims to unravel these dirty tricks.
Military forces disguised as think tanks
In the process of supporting the Philippines in provoking disputes with China over the South China Sea, there is a non-negligible American think tank behind the scenes, known as Project Myoushu at Stanford University, which focuses on South China Sea security issues.
The project became well-known to the public due to a notorious smear campaign against the China Coast Guard (CCG) in February 2023. Project Myoushu claimed that China had harassed the Philippines Coast Guard (PCG) vessel by citing a so-called source. Subsequently, the PCG asserted that a Chinese ship had directed a laser at the PCG, while then US State Department spokesperson, Ned Price, further fanned the flames by stating that the US stands with its ally in the face of alleged laser incidents. The Chinese Foreign Ministry later clarified the facts, saying that the CCG's on-site operations are professional and res trained, and the claim made by the Philippines has no basis in fact.
Taking its name from an "inspired move" in the ancient Chinese game Go, Project Myoushu was established in 2022. Ray Powell, who served in the US Air Force and currently leads Project Myoushu at Stanford University's Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation, is an active figure in the narrative campaign against China on the South China Sea issue.
Reports show that Powell had served 35 years in the US Air Force, including a posting in the Philippines. After retiring in November 2021, Powell joined Stanford University as a research fellow.
In July 2023, Ray Powell visited with then Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos of Western Command to discuss "how to leverage emerging technologies to help improve maritime domain awareness and illuminate gray-zone activities in the West Philippine Sea," according to SeaLight's website, an organization at Stanford University that Powell led.
The term "gray zone activity" has been used by some officials and scholars in the US to discredit China's policies and legal actions in the South China Sea. They use this term to accuse China of employing non-military means to "change the status quo" or "create tension."
"This is a blatant inversion of reality. In fact, labeling China with various cognitive tags regarding the South China Sea issue is itself a manifestation of the US' use of the 'gray zone' strategy," said Ding Duo, deputy director of the Institute of Maritime Law and Policy at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies.
Powell has also given interviews to US-funded media sources to support the Philippines or levy groundless accusations against China over the South China Sea issue.
In addition to Powell and Project Myoushu, another think tank with military ties has been found to openly intervene in the South China Sea issue.
According to an article in the US Naval Institute's magazine Proceedings, the US Naval Institute initiated the Maritime Counterinsurgency (COIN) Project in July 2022, with support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York.
The project is specifically aimed at China's activities in the South China Sea, as it has claimed that "China is working below the threshold of armed conflict to subjugate the large civilian maritime population of Southeast Asia […] who depend on access to the South China Sea for their daily livelihoods."
The initial concept of Maritime COIN has sparked intense discussion in the US and its partners since 2019. Several high-ranking US military officers, including Admiral John Aquilino, Vice Admiral William Merz, and Rear Admiral Fred Kacher, have been influenced by this concept.
According to the US Naval Institute, the Maritime COIN has published 19 articles from July 2022 to April 2024, and many of the authors have US military backgrounds. A retired Philippine rear admiral is also among them.
US arms firms also have stakes in the South China Sea issue. According to the arms transfers database of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the US has transferred many pieces of military equipment including aircrafts, ships, missiles, armored vehicles, and engines to the Philippines over the last 10 years.
Manila is also planning to procure a US-made Typhon mid-range capability missile system, according to Armed Forces of the Philippines chief General Romeo Brawner Jr, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported on August 29.
Observers said that US weapon makers are eager to see tensions in the South China Sea rise, so that they can sell more of their products to make profits. Sophisticated network built on cognitive warfare players
The influence of the US military-industrial complex extends beyond the South China Sea issue, bleeding into other areas as well.
In June, Reuters published an investigative report revealing that during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the US military secretly launched a campaign to counter what it saw as China's growing influence in the Philippines. At the time, the Philippines had one of the worst inoculation rates in Southeast Asia.
Citing three former US military officials, a Reuters report referenced the operation as having been pushed by then US Special Operations Command Pacific General Jonathan Braga, who was reportedly a longtime advocate of increasing the use of propaganda operations as a tool in the global geopolitical competition.
The Pentagon's audit concluded that the military's primary contractor handling the campaign, General Dynamics IT, a US-based global aerospace and defense company, had employed sloppy tradecraft, taking inadequate steps to hide the origin of the fake accounts, according to a person with direct knowledge of the review, Reuters reported.
Why did the US launch such a cognitive war against Chinese vaccines? Reuters provides an answer: To counter what it perceived as China's growing influence in the Philippines. At the time, the Philippines had received vaccine aid from China, while US-produced vaccines had not yet been introduced in the Philippines.
These highly similar tactics lead to a suspicion of a connection between the narrative campaigns over the South China Sea and Chinese vaccines. Following the clues, the Global Times discovered that the key figures behind both operations are intricately linked.
The Global Times found that Braga, one of the initiators of the vaccine campaign, once visited the Hoover Institution in February 2020, engaging fellows in a roundtable discussion about the threats his command faced in the region. One of the fellows he met with is research fellow Joseph Felter.
The ties between the two individuals go far beyond this. Felter once served in the US Army Special Forces, while Braga was quickly reassigned to command the US Army Special Operations Command in mid-2021 after the launch of the vaccine campaign against China.
Joe Felter, as the former deputy assistant secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia, is familiar with the situation in Southeast Asia, including the Philippines. He served as the principal advisor to senior US Department of Defense leadership for all policy matters pertaining to the development and implementation of defense strategies and plans for the region. Felter's resume shows that he has also been a military attaché in the Philippines.
Moreover, he also co-founded the defense company BMNT, which has close ties to the Pentagon and US military giants like Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, according to the company's official website. Felter's role as a bridge between the US military and the Philippines has since become clear.
Felter is the director of Stanford University's Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation. This indicates that Powell, while working on Project Myoushu, is required to report to Felter as the head of the center.
The intricate connections between Powell, Braga, and Felter, along with their profound military backgrounds, make the player network picture behind two typical cognitive wars against China much clearer. A significant shift in strategy
The connections also highlighted a significant shift in the US' strategy: The military-industrial complex has begun to play an active role in the cognitive war against China.
"The US military-industrial complex is often involved in many global conflicts. Driven by its own interests, it benefits from escalating regional tensions," Chen Xiangmiao, director of the World Navy Research Center at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, told the Global Times.
By creating instability in the region, the complex aims to stimulate demand from countries around the South China Sea, thereby fulfilling its economic interests, he noted.
The military-industrial complex seeks to leverage these initiatives to encourage the US Congress to approve larger budgets and to push the US Department of Defense to procure more weapons, Chen said.
The interests of the military-industrial complex are clearly driving the US strategy of cognitive warfare against China, Chen noted.
The expert further stated it is clear to see that the US government has shifted from a front-stage role to a behind-the-scenes one. This can help avoid direct involvement in controversies that may provoke public resentment or skepticism, as well as prevent "factual conflicts" with China.
Meanwhile, by packaging think tanks as neutral and objective "academic authorities," the US can better exert global public opinion pressure, according to Chen.
"This strategy may push the Philippines to escalate tensions in the region, ultimately jeopardizing its own interests. The Philippines is by no means the winner of the cognitive war," he stressed.
Wearing a shabby helmet and riding a scooter up and down on the bumpy dirt road, she finally drove to the door of a student's house but saw someone coming to propose marriage.
She yelled at the matchmaker, "If she were your daughter, at such an age, are you willing to let her get married?"
In the yard across the door, the girl who had to give up her studies was feeding the pigs with an expressionless face as she watched her drunken father.
It is the opening scene of Chinese TV series She and Her Girls, which is based on true stories of Zhang Guimei, the founder of a free public school for girls deep in the maintain.
All of China loves Zhang as an education pioneer who helped young girls to have the chance to get educated and choose their future.
We have read about Zhang and got her story from various news reports as she devoted her passion and time to these girls living in the mountainous areas.
Still, the series that has been aired on national TV and a streaming site since Teachers' Day on September 10 has given us a chance to see the power of faith and the charm of ordinary people just like you and me.
For years, Zhang, the 67-year-old principal of Huaping High School for Girls in Huaping county of Lijiang, Southwest China's Yunnan Province, has been providing free education to girls from impoverished mountain areas, helping them change their destinies through the national college entrance examination, known as gaokao in Chinese.
Each year, she accompanied her students to take the exam, a touching scene that moved countless people.
Even days after the first episode was aired, one of Zhang's words still lingered in my ear.
"An educated woman can stop herself from being a vine attached to others and can choose the life she wants to live," she said.
Her words reminded us, not just me, but also young audiences to pay attention and concerns to explore topics worthy discussions like the personal growth, choices and education in the context of remote villages.
The series' cast must have spent a lot of time and effort in research before the shooting started.
It not only portrays Zhang as a great teacher with determination to help her students, but also outlines the harsh condition of these girls' families living in the mountains.
It also firmly grasps the hearts of the audiences.
Realistic and delicate, the series is making efforts in portraying the role model in details.
Everyone who has watched it shared the same feeling that actress Song Jia managed to be as close as the role who is a household name in China.
I believe that everyone who has watched She and Her Girls will admire and respect Zhang as she, like a mountain flower blooming on a cliff, uses her life to light the way forward for children in the mountains.
Tickets to the semifinals and finals of the World Table Tennis (WTT) China Smash were snapped up immediately after they went on sale on Wednesday as premier sports events have been greatly sought after amid a national fever for mass fitness fueled by the Paris Olympic Games.
The top-flight table tennis event, to be held in Beijing from September 26 to October 6, features world's men's and women's top seeds Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha. Paris Olympics silver medalist Truls Moregard of Sweden and bronze medalist Felix Lebrun of France are also among the list of contestants.
Although the prices of the finals tickets, ranging from 888 yuan ($125) to 1,688 yuan, caused a stir on Chinese social media, the rapid sales reflect a growing enthusiasm for sports among the Chinese public, especially following the Paris Olympics.
The Paris Games have indeed sparked a wave of nationwide participation in sports. However, this trend has been significantly driven by broader socio-economic developments in the country, Wang Dazhao, a Beijing-based sports commentator, told the Global Times on Thursday.
As China's economy grows and the quality of life improves, there is a rising awareness among the public about the importance of health and wellness. This growing consciousness has led to increased public interest in regular physical activities and sports, further fueling the popularity of major sporting events, Wang said.
For example, the fighting spirit that Fan Zhendong demonstrated in the Olympic table tennis final against Moregard might serve as a powerful source of inspiration for the general public. People might be motivated to set higher standards for themselves, adopt healthier lifestyles, and engage more actively in sports and other pursuits, contributing to a broader culture of fitness and achievement, Wang noted.
The Chinese delegation finished second in the overall medal table of the Paris Games with 40 golds, 27 silvers and 24 bronzes, achieving its best ever results at an overseas Olympics. The historic sports accomplishments have played a role in fueling the increased interest in sports events, underlining the thriving nature of sports culture and the rising status of major sporting events in China.
According to data from online ticketing platform Damai, there is significant interest in upcoming major sports events in China. The Badminton China Open, scheduled from September 17 to 22 in Changzhou, East China's Jiangsu Province, has attracted 44,000 people who have clicked "interested" on the platform.
The tennis China Open, scheduled from September 23 to October 6 in Beijing, has also garnered much attention as the organizers announced on Wednesday a star-studded list of players for this year's tournament, which includes China's Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen and world's women's and men's top seeds Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner.
Wang said that the emergence of more grassroots sports events, such as the Village Super League or Cunchao held in Southwest China's Guizhou Province, will arouse public interest and drive broader participation in sports.
China’s Zheng Qinwen concluded this year’s Grand Slam journey with a US Open quarterfinal defeat to Aryna Sabalenka on Wednesday, as her runs to the final stages of major tournaments have attracted widespread attention and interest in tennis across China.
Having been thwarted by world No.2 Sabalenka at the same stage in the US Open in 2023, the 21-year-old Zheng was sent packing after a 1-6, 2-6 defeat. It was Zheng’s third consecutive loss to the Belarusian following her runner-up finish in January’s Australian Open.
Despite the loss, Zheng’s performance so far this season has been impressive, highlighted by her deep runs in major tournaments and her historic Olympic gold medal in the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics. She became the first Asian-born player to claim gold in a tennis singles event at the Olympics in August.
She will return to China to gear up for the China Open in Beijing and Wuhan Open in Central China’s Hubei Province as she still aims to qualify for the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Finals, the prestigious year-end tournament featuring the top eight players of the season.
Should she qualify, she would become the first Chinese player to reach the WTA Finals since Li Na, marking another significant milestone in her career.
Liu Yu, a Beijing-based sports commentator, told the Global Times on Wednesday that Zheng has made steady progress this season and her Olympic triumph has had a tremendous impact on tennis in China.
“There’s no regret in losing to a stronger opponent. She still needs to build on her strength and consistency to catch up with the world’s top three players,” Liu said.
Zheng’s performances have captivated millions in China, demonstrating how her success is fostering a renewed wave of enthusiasm for the sport in the country. Her journey is seen as a continuation of the legacy left by Li, inspiring a new generation of tennis players and fans in China, Liu noted.
The WTA officially congratulated Zheng on its Sina Weibo account on Wednesday, celebrating her achievements in 2024, including being the Australian Open runner-up, winning the Olympic gold medal, and reaching the quarterfinals of the US Open.
“Although Zheng did not progress further at the US Open, she has recorded her best performance in Grand Slams within a single season. We hope she will rest and recover before continuing her pursuit of qualifying for the WTA Finals,” read the post.
The US Open posted a heartfelt message on Weibo after her quarterfinal loss, encouraging her to keep pursuing her dreams.
Chinese netizens also applauded her efforts on social media, saying that Zheng already did a good job overcoming the fatigue from consecutive competitions after the Olympics.
Zheng said after the game that she could have done better and her tight schedule since the Olympics had left her with limited preparation time.
Looking ahead, she expressed her enthusiasm for competing in her motherland.
In 2023, I arrived at the China Open exhausted after playing five games at the Hangzhou Asian Games. This year, I hope to have more time to prepare for the tournaments in China, she said.
Meanwhile, China’s Zhang Shuai and Kristina Mladenovic from France advanced to the women’s doubles semifinals of the US Open after defeating Ellen Perez and Nicole Melichar-Martinez in the quarterfinal. The duo will face the third seeds Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova on Thursday.
Lu Siqing, a world-class violinist dubbed as the "Paganini of the East," has captivated audiences globally with his interpretation of the Butterfly Lovers' Violin Concerto, hailed as one of the most distinguished versions of the classic. At a young age, he had already secured his place among the world's top violinists through his own talent and strength. Today, he remains an active figure in both domestic and international classical music scenes. His performances are not just concerts but experiences that transcend cultural boundaries, offering listeners a glimpse into the soul of music.
The Global Times talked with Lu, who shared stories of his ties with the violin, the "chemical" reaction he made by experimenting with Chinese and Western music and his new role as a music educator. In the majestic music hall of the prestigious Tsinghua University, over 20 young musicians from Beijing and Hong Kong graced the stage and unfolded an elegant melody, performing alongside the internationally acclaimed violinist, Lu Siqing. They wove a tapestry of melodies, both foreign and domestic, enchanting an audience of hundreds with a concert that was as innovative as it was memorable.
This marked the second time that Lu conducted a master class for the "Beijing Hong Kong Tsinghua Summer Music Camp." Speaking to the Global Times, Lu expressed his belief that using music as a bridge between the students of Beijing and Hong Kong is an excellent approach. "It fosters friendship, mutual progress, and most importantly, a deep understanding of Chinese culture and the nation itself," he said.
Life with music
Lu's emphasis on music education is mirrored in his own journey, which can be seen as a model of the transformative power of musical learning.
Born in Qingdao, East China's Shandong Province, in 1969, Lu's affinity for music was evident from a young age, and his innate talent was undeniable. His father, an amateur music enthusiast, played a pivotal role in nurturing his early interest. Under his father's guidance, Lu's musical education began at the tender age of 4 and a half. His prodigious talent led to his exceptional admission to the Central Conservatory of Music's affiliated elementary school at the age of 8. At the age of 11, he was handpicked by the celebrated US-born British violinist Yehudi Menuhin to study at his prestigious music school in the UK. By 17, Lu had made history as the first Asian musician to win the gold award at Italy's "Premio Paganini" International Violin Competition, a title that had been vacant for 12 years due to stringent selection criteria. His journey then took him to the Juilliard School in the US, where he further honed his skills and emerged as a leading figure in the world of classical music.
Reflecting on his educational experiences in the UK and the US, Lu noted the differences in his learning journey. His studies in the UK provided a foundational experience, shaping his early years, while his time in the US allowed him to mature and apply his knowledge in a more creative and sophisticated manner. The lessons from his time in the UK, in his words, underwent "a process of sublimation" during his studies in the US.
While many view Lu as a favored child of destiny, his journey in music has been anything but predictable. Many of his peers have fallen by the wayside. He expresses deep gratitude to his father for introducing him to the enchanting world of music.
Lu acknowledges that not everyone can persevere on this path. After he ventured to the Juilliard School in the US, he began his career as a professional soloist. The competitiion was fierce, with hundreds vying for a single opening in a prestigious orchestra. Many of his contemporaries, faced with the choice between survival and art, chose to change careers.
His US mentors advised him that to become a soloist, one must practice in the morning, make phone calls to agents and conductors in the afternoon, and socialize in the evening. Lu sent his recordings and resumes to numerous agencies, only to be met with silence, which was disheartening. It was his teacher's advocacy at the Aspen Music Festival and School that secured him a performance opportunity, leading to gradual recognition. Many give up in this process.
"Pursuing music has taught me that in anything, persistence pays off," he said. Musical chemist
Lu is often described as "romantic yet rational" on stage, a testament to his precise yet expansive playing style. He said that the highest form of music is logical and thoughtful, akin to geometry or architecture requiring precise calculations, with structure, symmetry, and balance infused with philosophical thought. The arrangement of dynamics, rhythm, and tempo is the result of the musician's ingenious conception, aligning with the audience's heartbeat, feelings, and thoughts. It is this kind of music that resonates with listeners worldwide.
Such meticulous calculation requires rigorous training. Despite 40 years of experience, Lu still practices three to five hours a day.
As a performer, he views his role as a process of secondary creation. Once the composer has written the notes, it is the performer's task to bring them to life, infusing them with personality and individuality. This is the charm that attracts music enthusiasts to compare different interpretations of the same piece. Notes are static, but music is dynamic, and it is this vitality that keeps audiences engaged.
Lu's understanding of performance is also evolving. "When I played Butterfly Lovers 20 years ago, it was with the simplicity and restlessness of youth. Now, my approach is more composed. I used to aim to impress with brilliant technique and speed, but now I focus on conveying details and narratives, telling a story to the audience," he said.
Every piece Lu performs is not about imposing his interpretation but about guiding the audience into the music, allowing them to reflect on or imagine their own stories. Thus, when 1,000 people listen to music, there are a thousand different interpretations of the Butterfly Lovers, each unique to the listener.
"People often say that musicians are engineers of the soul. What I most want to do is this: If a person comes into the concert hall after a busy day, exhausted in body and mind, two hours later, they can walk out with a joyful mood and rejuvenated spirit," he said.
As a Chinese violinist, Lu has taken on the responsibility of introducing Chinese culture and music to the world.
He said that Chinese music, deeply influenced by Chinese culture, is characterized by its monophonic and horizontal development, expressing a talent for emotional and artistic expression.
Chinese music, he says, is like the blank spaces in a Chinese painting, offering a space for imagination and introspection. This is why experts often describe Chinese music as "having a Zen quality."
On the other hand, Western music is more philosophical, emphasizing rules and standards, with a stronger emphasis on personal expression.
After numerous international performances, Lu has observed that foreigners' appreciation of Chinese music mirrors the Chinese experience with Western music, both offering an exotic charm. As more Chinese musicians gain prominence on the global stage, performing Chinese works, foreign musicians are increasingly curious about the emotional depth and differences between Chinese and Western music. This curiosity leads to a deeper understanding and appreciation of Chinese music.
Collaborating with foreign orchestras to perform Chinese compositions has been an intriguing experience for Lu. The interaction between different musical sensibilities is fascinating. Foreign musicians approach all music with a professional and standardized understanding, while Chinese music often involves spiritual expression. This exploration is part of the creative process, much like conducting scientific experiments, where different approaches to the same musical phrase yield varied effects. Reaching the next generation
To fulfill his vocational objective, the violinist has accepted his social role and contributed much time as well as energy to musical education while still carrying out performances on stage.
Currently, Lu serves as the headmaster of a branch of the Yehudi Menuhin School, a world's renowned music school in the UK. The branch is located in his hometown of Shandong Province. Alongside his leadership role, Lu has also been named a professor of violin at the school, instructing playing techniques and guiding the musical aesthetics of the younger generation.
Since his career as an educator started, Lu has gotten busier but considers it is worthy as he can garner a new sense of achievement from his new role - witnessing his students embracing a bright future and growing as splendid musicians.
"When I perform on stage as a soloist, my satisfaction comes from the enthusiastic reaction from my audiences and the experience of sharing beloved music with them. But now, I have felt a new kind of satisfaction," Lu said, sharing his fresh feeling with the Global Times. This is also another source of motivation for him to devote himself to a career as an educator.
Lu said his ultimate goal is to bring classical music into more people's lives and hearts. This goal is broad, and the challenge is to make classical music accessible and appreciated within China. There are many ways to do this, including cross-genre collaborations and collaboration with different musicians, such as cooperating with a French erhu player to perform the Butterfly Lovers. Beyond that, Lu also participates in Chinese and foreign music exchanges and music festivals.
What he desires most now is not the applause of the audience, but for everyone to forget their worries during the concert, to calm their hearts and discover the purest and most beautiful emotions within. "I hope to bring the beauty of music to more people through different channels, which is very fulfilling for me," he said.
In the grand halls of music, where notes soar and hearts resonate, Lu continues his journey, not just as a musician, but as a cultural ambassador, bridging the worlds of the East and West through the universal language of music.
China's top legislature on Friday adopted a decision on gradually raising the statutory retirement age in the country. The retirement age for men will be raised from 60 to 63 in the course of 15 years starting 2025, while for women cadres it will be raised from 55 to 58 and from 50 to 55 for women blue-collar workers, the Xinhua News Agency reported. The decision adopted at the 11th session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress marks the first adjustment in the arrangement since 1950s. The plan was formulated on the basis of a comprehensive assessment of the average life expectancy, health conditions, the population structure, the level of education and workforce supply in China, according to Xinhua.
Experts noted that the adjustment aligns with domestic changes in demography and the country's overall development as well as international practices, which will also actively help tackle the demographic change in an aging population.
Starting 2030, the minimum year of basic pension contributions required to receive monthly benefits will be gradually raised from 15 years to 20 years at the pace of an increase of six months annually.
People will be allowed to voluntarily retire by no more than three years in advance after reaching the minimum year of pension contributions. But it is not allowed to retire earlier than the previous statutory age.
The new plan will also allow individuals to postpone retirement to an even later date if they reach an agreement with employers, but such a delay should be no more than three years.
The move will help enhance the efficiency of labor supply amid the population aging and a continuous decrease proportion of the working-age population, Minister of Human Resources and Social Security Wang Xiaoping said at a press conference on Friday. Wang noted that the reform will also be conducive to promoting the development and utilization of human resources.
This approach is necessary for coping with China's current national conditions and future economic and social development, and will help actively address population aging, Yuan Xin, vice president of the China Population Association and a professor at Nankai University, told the Global Times.
The reform is of profound significance in improving the country's labor force structure and extending the demographic dividend, according to Li Chang'an, a professor at the Academy of China Open Economy Studies of the University of International Business and Economics.
Li Chang'an noted that gradually raising the statutory retirement age will help achieve a solid foundation and sustainable development for the country's pension system.
Supporting policies
The decision adopted on Friday specifies measures to refine the old-age insurance incentive mechanism, implement the employment-first strategy, ensure the basic rights and interests of workers who have passed their statutory retirement age, and improve elderly care and childcare services, according to Xinhua.
The document includes specific provisions on welfare for unemployed old-age workers and on earlier retirement for those in special professions.
Addressing the concerns regarding the reform's impact on youth employment, Li Zhong, vice minister of Human Resources and Social Security said on Friday that the overall impact remains flat, as the implementation of the measures will be a gradual process carried out on a small scale, while there are structural differences between the jobs vacated by retirees and those needed for the young population.
Li Zhong noted that the ministry will further strengthen the employment-first strategy, continuously expanding the channels for youth employment and advancing employment in both qualitative and quantitative development.
When it comes to stabilizing and safeguarding the job market, the new document sets out more diversified and personalized ways of continuing employment for gradually raising the statutory retirement age, Yuan said.
