Foreign
Immersive cultural, tourism activities on the rise across China

By Wang Ke, People’s Daily
In the Jingyuetan scenic spot in Changchun, northeast China’s Jilin province, a fountain show captivated many tourists. In the center of a square, Chen Jiamin, a tourist from Heilongjiang province, which neighbors Jilin, was posing for photos with the performers of the fountain show.
“Every few steps, there’s a new activity to experience. I’m so immersed in the Mid-Autumn Festival atmosphere here,” Chen said.
Focusing on traditional customs and creating immersive experiences, various regions across China actively introduced new cultural and tourism products, models, and consumption scenes during the recent Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, to better meet the diverse needs of consumers.
According to data from the Ministry of Transport, on Sept. 15, the first day of the holiday, Some 215.92 million passenger trips were handled by China’s transportation sectors, up 37.9 percent year on year.
This year, China’s tourism market has steadily rebounded, with immersive experiences powered by smart technology becoming a new trend. Leveraging diverse settings like scenic spots, museums, and pedestrians, and incorporating technologies such as artificial intelligence, holography, and augmented reality, immersive tourism has introduced new products, scenes, and experiences, enriching people’s travel options and contributing to the high-quality development of the tourism industry.
In a smart tourism immersive experience hall at a tech and art museum in Pingyao ancient city, north China’s Shanxi province, a light show is staged to present the charm of traditional culture to visitors. The light show employs 16 projectors, which project historical scenes onto a massive hemispherical screen, creating a “time travel” experience for visitors and “transporting” them to historical sites and ancient trade routes where camel bells ring.
The “Land of Dramas” immersive theater complex in Zhengzhou, central China’s Henan province saw over 4 million visits this summer. With 56 chessboard-like courtyards, 21 sub-theaters and 6,500 plays, it presented a cultural feast to tourists.
“There is always something different here. Every visit brings new feelings and experiences,” said Li Yi, a local resident in Zhengzhou.
Chen Hong, deputy director of the Key Laboratory of Interactive Technology and Experience System under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism at Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, noted that compared to conventional static displays, immersive tourism, enhanced by technology, provides a more comprehensive interpretation and expression of culture. This better satisfies the evolving needs of tourists for cultural experience while opening up new market opportunities, Chen added.
This summer, immersive experience programs incorporating virtual reality (VR) technology have blossomed across the country. According to statistics released by on-demand local services provider Meituan, the number of orders for VR experience programs during the summer surged by 144 percent year on year, and the search volume for “immersive experiences” saw a significant rise, with consumers under 30 accounting for more than half of the demand.
An immersive party event hosted at the Yellow Crane Tower, a renowned historical site in Wuhan, central China’s Hubei province, has attracted a number of foreign visitors. The party features a unique cultural blend of Eastern and Western music, clothing, crafts, and cuisines, creating a vibrant cultural feast that builds a bridge of friendship between East and West.
Zeng Bowei, a professor at Beijing Union University, divides the current immersive experience programs in the cultural and tourism market into two types.
The first includes independently operated immersive products, such as Sleep No More Shanghai, which blends theater with immersive experience.
The second type enhances visitors’ immersive experiences by integrating new technologies with performances, facilities, and activities at scenic spots, such as a light show at Slender West Lake in Yangzhou, Jiangsu province, and the Flight Theater in Changbai Mountain, Jilin province, which simulates a flight over the mountain.
According to the Specialized Committee of Immersive Smart Tourism of the China Culture and Entertainment Industry Association, immersive tourism experiences characterized by high-tech and creative content, as well as strong interaction, are particularly popular with tourists, especially the younger generation. These immersive programs have become a new hotspot in China’s cultural and tourism consumption market.
An expert stressed that while technology is a tool, it is the inherent resources and cultural appeal of a destination or activity that are key to retaining visitors. Tailoring digital technology to align with local cultural and tourism resources is crucial for creating successful immersive products, the expert added.
An immersive Tang-style cultural block in Xi’an, northwest China’s Shaanxi province has launched several cultural and tourism activities this summer, including a carnival co-launched with popular online game Westward Journey, which attracted significant attention from tourists, especially younger audiences. With these events, the cultural block saw over 7,000 visits per day this summer.
Foreign
Judge blocks Trump from deporting non-citizens using wartime law

A federal judge has temporarily halted the Trump administration’s attempt to deport migrants allegedly linked to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua under a wartime law.
US District Judge James Boasberg issued a restraining order preventing the administration from using the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to expel undocumented migrants accused of gang ties. The order initially protected five individuals challenging the deportation but was later expanded to all affected noncitizens in US custody.
Boasberg also directed that any planes carrying these migrants be returned to the United States. “Any plane containing these folks that is going to take off or is in the air needs to be returned,” he ruled. The restraining order will remain in effect for 14 days or until further court action.
The Trump administration invoked the Alien Enemies Act, citing Tren de Aragua as a terrorist organization that has “unlawfully infiltrated the United States” and is engaging in hostile actions. However, civil rights groups, including the ACLU, argue that the gang’s activities do not meet the legal definition of an invasion.
The Justice Department has appealed the ruling, while the case continues in court.
Foreign
China’s new chapter in global innovation

By Gu Yekai, Liu Yiqing, People’s Daily
At a smart construction project site managed by China State Construction Engineering Corporation, a quiet technological revolution is underway. Amid cranes and concrete, engineers are deploying advanced artificial intelligence (AI) systems that could fundamentally reshape the construction industry.
Li Fengjian, an AI specialistwith Xianyuan Technology, detailed how the company’s latest intelligent system – built on a large model – adapts to complex construction environments.”Engineering machinery equipped with intelligent agents can adjust its operations automatically in response to weather conditions,” Li explained, adding that a spatiotemporal sensing network further enhances the system, providing real-time tracking of both personnel and materials throughout the construction site.
In February this year, Xianyuan Technology rapidly integrated its self-developed model with DeepSeek-R1, effectively blending a general-purpose framework with industry-specific models. This integration, Li noted, has produced a solution capable of delivering expert-level performance in challenging, dynamic environments. The firm is based in the Shanghai Foundation Model Innovation Center, aburgeoning AI incubator that now hosts over 200 innovative enterprises.
China’s technological transformation extends well beyond the construction sector. Overthe past three decades, the country has evolved from its initial forays into internet connectivity to becoming a key player in global digital innovation.
Here, a steady stream of technological innovations are emerging, from the early days of emails and web browsing to the cutting-edge technologies represented by DeepSeek and the dynamic evolution of social media.
Wu Jianping, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering and headof the Zhongguancun Laboratory, pointed out that while China had introduced only one internet standard before 2005, it now contributes to over 200 worldwide. Such strides illustrate the country’s concerted push toward high-level technological self-reliance – a journey marked by both persistence and determination.
Beyond the digital realm, China is makingsignificant inroads in aerospace, new energy, and other high-tech sectors. It has transitioned from being a follower to standing shoulder-to-shoulder with global leaders, and in some areas, even taking the lead. Wu attributed these achievements to a dynamic ecosystem of policy reforms and talent cultivation that encourages creativity and technical expertise at every level.
Amid intensifying international competition, collaborative research and the integration of new technologies with traditional industries are central to China’s high-quality economic development.
Mei Linhai, a researcher at China’s State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Intelligence, remarked that the age of AI calls for continuous exploration. “In this era, everyone is an innovator. Only by persistently pushing the boundaries can we remain at the forefront of both technological and industrial development,” Mei observed.
In the field of general-purpose AI, Mei emphasized that independent innovation is paramount. He advocates for a self-driven industrial ecosystem that leveragesbreakthrough technologies to boost productivity and unlock new possibilities, Mei said.
Foreign
Chinese democracy in action:a village bench meeting shapes national law

By Wei Zhezhe, Liu Botong, People’s Daily
In a modest corner of Jiangmen, south China’s Guangdong province, residents of Weidong village are experiencing firsthand a form of democracy that starts at the grassroots level and reverberates all the way to Beijing.
Wu Tengxin, a local villager who relies on a scooter for daily mobility after contracting polio, recalls a time when the village’s public spaces were ill-equipped for people with disabilities. Now, thanks to a simple suggestion made during a meeting, his everyday life has changed.
In November 2022, a team from a local legislative outreach office – a branch of China’sNational People’s Congress (NPC) – visited Weidong village and set up a “bench-style meeting.” Residents, including the elderly and those with disabilities, gathered to voice their concerns about inadequate accessibility.
Amid the conversation, Wu offered a straightforward proposal: “I hope rural accessible facilities can be improved to make mobility easier for people with disabilities and the elderly.” His words were relayed verbatim to lawmakers.
The response was swift. On June 28, 2023, at the third session of the 14th NPC Standing Committee, legislators passed a law on building a barrier-free living environment. The law stipulates that improvements”shall align with social and economic development levels, coordinate urban and rural progress, and gradually narrow the gap in infrastructure between urban and rural areas.”
Today, Wu observes that the village’s main roads and public squares have been upgraded with accessibility features that make getting around considerably easier.
This episode illustrates what Chinese officials call “whole-process people’s democracy” – a system where citizen input is woven into every stage of policy development.
Jilie Ziri, head of Abuluoha village in Butuo county, southwest China’s Sichuan province, remarked that for young generations in China, democracy has become a lived experience. “Villagers are the masters of village affairs,” he said, emphasizing how active villager participation has injected new vitality into local governance.
Experts point to consultative democracy as a cornerstone of this process. Tao Kaiyuan, vice chairman of the Central Committee of the China Association for Promoting Democracy and vice president of the Supreme People’s Court, underscores the important role of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, whose members hail from every stratum of society and bring a wealth of expertise and connections.
Their regular forums, field research, and public consultations have created robust channels for citizens to contribute ideas and forge consensus.”This approach gathers collective wisdom and transforms public voices into policy,” Tao said.
Another crucial manifestation is the effectiveness of China’s political party system. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, Chinese democratic parties actively fulfill their duties, offering recommendations that often translate into concrete policy decisions. This integrated approach demonstrates the unique strengths of China’s political system and the advantages of whole-process people’s democracy.
Tao emphasized that whole-process people’s democracyhas evolved into an efficient and dynamic democratic practice – one that not only reflects the essence of socialist democracy but also presents a pioneering model of political civilization, contributing Chinese wisdom and solutions to global governance and democratic development.
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