Shan Jixiang: Fujian's marine culture has made tremendous contributions to the development of global civilization
[VIDEO]
Shan Jixiang, the former director of the Palace Museum, had worked in urban planning in Beijing before dedicating himself to cultural heritage preservation. He applauded Fujian's achievements to utilize and expand marine culture. In the interview, he highlighted the watertight-bulkhead technology of Chinese junks, which improved sailing safety, boosted global shipping practice, and facilitated worldwide commercial and cultural interactions. Furthermore, he praised the overseas Fujian community for its contributions to promoting mutual learning between Chinese and foreign civilizations, as well as friendly people-to-people exchanges.
Shan Jixiang: Fujian's marine culture has made tremendous contributions to the development of global civilization
As a key birthplace and starting point of the Maritime Silk Road, Fujian is blessed with abundant cultural legacies. Shan Jixiang hoped further efforts would be made to incorporate legacies into people's lives and tourism so as to maximize their value.
Hashtag: #MarineCultureinFujian #ShanJixiang #FujianInformationOffice
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Parenting Practices From Around The World That May Have You Questioning Your Own
One of the benefits of global travel is learning about customs that make our cultures different. Some of these particularities can be a challenge for Americans. Others, however, may have you wondering, 'Why don't we do things like that here?' The following parenting practices are considered totally normal in these countries, often to the shock of American visitors. But if you're willing to shift your perspective slightly, they also have benefits for kids and parents that might cause us to reexamine our assumptions about what 'good parenting' looks like. 1. Kids in Japan are running errands and walking to school by themselves. You've likely heard of the television program 'Old Enough' ('Hajimete no Otsukai,' or 'My First Errand,' in Japanese.) While the show has been a sensation in Japan for decades, only this year did it amass a U.S. following after its Netflix premiere. It's a reality program that follows young children — ages 2-5 — as they undertake tasks such as going to the store. As in all reality television, there is a great amount of orchestration behind the scenes to keep the children both safe and in sight of the cameras. But the show highlights a real cultural difference between Japan and the U.S. In Japan, it's not unusual to see children — perhaps not quite as young as those featured on the show, but still elementary-school-aged — taking public transportation or walking to school on their own or with other young children, demonstrating a degree of independence virtually unheard of for American children of the same age. Perhaps this has something to do with Japan's low crime rate: The incidence of gun homicide there is 350 times less than in the U.S. In safe, enclosed spaces like schools, Japanese children are likewise given significant responsibilities. As young as age 6, children are tasked with cleaning their schools — even bathrooms! — and serving lunch to their classmates. Maybe it's time for us to ask our kids to step it up a little in the chore department. 2. Scandinavian babies take their naps al fresco. In Denmark and other nations known for their long winters, it's perfectly normal to see strollers parked outside of cafes with babies still in them, napping contently. A recent TikTok video about the practice went viral, teaching a new generation of astonished Americans, and others, about the Danish custom of leaving babies outdoors in their strollers to sleep. There is a cultural belief about the fresh air helping the babies sleep better and being healthy for them — which, given what we've learned these past couple of years about virus transmission in enclosed spaces, makes a lot of sense! In individual homes and daycares, you will see babies snoozing outside tucked inside their strollers, as well as out front of shops, restaurants or bars, where their parents might be inside enjoying a drink and keeping an eye on their little one from a table near the window. While the practice is new to Americans, it's been going on in countries like Denmark and Finland for generations. But this is definitely not something you'll want to try at home. When Danish mother Annette Sorensen left her baby outside a New York City restaurant back in 1997 while she and her partner went inside to have a drink, Sorensen was subsequently arrested, strip-searched and temporarily lost custody of her daughter. There have been more recent cases of American parents being reported to the authorities for such offenses as briefly leaving a child in the car while shopping or sending them to the local playground by themselves. If it's truly not safe to leave a baby outdoors in a stroller for a nap in the U.S., maybe instead of vilifying parents we could focus on how to make public spaces less dangerous. 3. Some Chinese babies don't wear diapers. Traditional Chinese infant potty training, known as 'elimination communication' by Westerners who have adopted the practice, involves babies spending their days diaper-free. Sometimes starting as early as the first weeks of life, babies are held bare-bottomed over the toilet — or a trash can or bush, if they happen to be outdoors — and caregivers cue them to urinate with a gentle shushing sound that sounds vaguely like running water. Parents say they learn to read baby's signals that they are ready to 'eliminate,' such as squirming or gazing off into the distance. Adherents of the practice say that they are able to dramatically reduce the number of diapers they use in a win for both their budgets and the environment. Some do find it helpful to remove any carpeting in their homes, however. 4. Italian preschoolers may do woodwork with hammers and saws. In the Reggio Emilia preschools that were designed in the Italian region of the same name after World War II, children were encouraged to learn through exploration and follow their own interests. The educational philosophy has since spread across the globe, although there is no formal Reggio Emilia certification process, so different schools take inspiration from the approach as they see fit. One sight that's common in a Reggio school — and likely not many other places — is very young children wielding little hammers to pound nails and saws to cut wood in order to build their own original creations. 'Reggio Emilia encourage a wide range of media through which children can express themselves,' Peter Moorhouse, an expert in early childhood education and woodworking, told HuffPost. Parents, says Moorhouse, 'are surprised by just how confident and competent their children are working with tools.' Enticed by the tactical satisfaction of the wood and tools, children practice creativity and develop problem-solving skills as they work, making this one of the most engaging and memorable parts of their first years at school. 5. Swimsuit tops are optional for kids of all genders in Europe. The sight of a little girl running around on the beach or at the pool in only her bathing suit bottom is no big deal to the locals in places like Spain and Germany. While we're used to seeing boys playing in and around the water in only their swim trunks, the idea that little girls don't need any additional coverage is completely foreign to Americans. But why do we insist on bikini tops, or one-pieces that complicate trips to the bathroom, for our girls? Because it's what we expect of grown women? To state the obvious, little girls don't have breasts yet. What does it say about us that we insist on pretending that they do? Of course, Europeans tend to be much less hung up about nudity in general. It's also not uncommon to see adult women sunbathing topless on beaches, and specific beaches are clothing-optional for all. 6. French children eat like grown-ups. You'd be hard-pressed to find a kids' menu in a restaurant in France. Similarly, you won't find a separate table for kids, with separate dinnerware and food options, at any special events. While lots of American kids are frequent smackers, French children tend to meet most of their nutritional needs through three daily meals and one snack. They sit at the table with their families to eat dinner, often set up with a tablecloth and the kind of 'nice' dishes that many Americans tend to keep away from their kids. Even school lunch tends to involve four courses served restaurant-style at a table, and a minimum of 30 minutes to dine in order to ensure that they eat well. Karen Le Billon, a Canadian who moved with her family to France and wrote a book about her experience, told the BBC that training kids to savor their food this way also limits the phenomenon of picky eaters: 'The French believe that taste is a skill that can be acquired . . . They believe that children can learn to eat, and like, all kinds of food.' Rather than telling a child that a type of food is nutritious or that they have to eat it, says Le Billon, a French parent is more likely to encourage a child to try it because it tastes good. 7. Italian kids tend to go to bed really late. It's not unusual to see a family pushing a stroller around the piazza at 8, 9 or even 10 o'clock at night. Italians dine late, and, like their French counterparts, often dine together as a whole family, even when it means some of the younger members end up conked out in their parents' laps before the evening is over. American parents spend so much time fretting about their children's sleep habits that it's spawned a whole industry of sleep consultants who promise to help train babies and young kids in order to give parents their nights back. Of course, kids do need a solid amount of sleep for their health and growth. While there is at least one study showing that Italian kids get less sleep overall than kids in other countries up until age 6, researchers also found that the 'sleep hygiene' (routines and an environment conducive to uninterrupted sleep) of Italian teens was significantly better than that of American adolescents. 8. It's common for Indian children to be cared for by a number of generations within a family. The individualist, every-nuclear-family-to-itself approach to parenting that is so common in America is far from the norm in many other places where there is a more collectivist philosophy to caregiving. In a study of Indian families spanning decades, anthropologist Susan Seymour recognized the practice of 'multiple childcare, as as opposed to exclusive mothering we see in the United States.' Instead of being tended to all day by a nursing mother, the Indian babies Seymour observed would be passed from one relative to another — including younger family members — so that the mom could attend to her other obligations. 'Children grow up in extended households,' Seymour told HuffPost. She described 'relatives coming and going,' and 'plenty of people to take care of them.' Knowing that this model existed in other parts of the world gave Seymour the confidence to return to work when she had her own children in the U.S. Whether you're leaving a baby with grandmothers and cousins or day care providers and babysitters, there's no reason to think that not staying home with them constantly does any harm to a child's attachment or development. In other words, working moms should drop any guilt they've been carrying and embrace multiple caregiving as normal and healthy. 9. Fathers from the Aka tribe do nearly half of the caregiving. Across the world, the sight of women tending to the needs of young children is ubiquitous. But, there is precedent for men taking on a significant portion of the child care duties. In the nomadic Aka tribe of central Africa, anthropologists have observed that fathers spend 47% of their time within arms' reach of their infants. Roles are interchangeable and flexible. Aka women also hunt while the men do the cooking, and vice versa. Although the tribe's top leadership roles go to men, it is also not unusual to catch sight of an Aka baby suckling for comfort (not milk, obviously) at its father's nipple. Related... Which Type Of Parent Are You? You Likely Fall Into One Of These 4 Styles What Is Gentle Parenting? Here's What You Need To Know Parents Are Lying About Where Their Babies Sleep At Night. Here's Why That's A Problem.
%3Amax_bytes(150000)%3Astrip_icc()%2FTAL-lead-image-JAPANMISTAKES0725-74e751a09ac844898f6e8917ab7dfd28.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
Travel + Leisure
an hour ago
- Travel + Leisure
I've Lived in Japan for 20 Years—and These Are 10 Common Mistakes I See Tourists Make
Ah, the horror of the cultural faux pas. The hot twist of shame that keeps you up at night, cheeks burning and wondering if you should just grab your passport and make a midnight run for the border. I know the feeling well. With its opaque rules and rigid customs, even the most conscientious traveler can put a foot wrong in Japan. While people are generally gracious about missteps, recent surges in tourist numbers are starting to strain that vaunted hospitality. I've lived here for 20 years—here are 10 common mistakes to avoid on your next trip to Japan. A hand picks up sushi with chopsticks. Jackyenjoyphotography/Getty Images Dining etiquette is a minefield, and the rules are different depending on the cuisine, but proper chopstick manners always make you look good. I'm not talking about being able to use them, although expect any level of proficiency to be greeted with effusive praise. I'm talking about where to put them. When you aren't eating, place chopsticks on the rest provided. In the case of disposable chopsticks, you can make a rest by folding the paper sleeve in half. Never stick them upright in a bowl of rice, as this symbolizes an offering to the dead. Don't point to things with chopsticks or commit the double-dipping sin of taking food from a common plate with chopsticks that have been in your mouth. Some other good tips for dining out: Do slurp noodles like ramen, eat nice sushi with your hands, and neatly fold up the oshibori hand towel after use. Don't arrive late to a reservation, leave food uneaten, or wear strong scents, especially to kaiseki or sushi, where the chef will be highly protective of the subtle flavors. Part of maintaining social harmony in space-starved Japan is literally keeping the peace. I almost never see Japanese people—well, sober ones anyway—having raucous conversations in public. This especially goes for phone conversations. It's considered rude to answer one's phone on public transport or in a restaurant, for example. Of course, you've got to let it all out sometime, and the volume goes way up in places like pubs, playgrounds, and festivals. The rule of thumb is to read the room and set your volume accordingly. A passenger awaits a train arriving in a station. Those videos you've seen of staff physically cramming people into trains? They're real. Rush hour in Tokyo is no joke, as my bruised toes and crushed lungs can attest. So, bringing a giant suitcase on the train at 8 a.m. and parking it in front of the door isn't going to win you any fans. Luckily, Japan has excellent next-day luggage delivery services, so pack an overnight carry-on and entrust oversized bags to the pros. Even at off-peak times, avoid blocking the doors or ticket gates by standing to the side and hold backpacks in front of you so they don't whack other passengers. Eating or drinking is also a no-go, except for long-distance services like the bullet train, where bringing a bento box is practically imperative. One other point to remember is that trains don't run 24/7 in Japan, even in big cities like Tokyo. Particularly for day trips to more rural areas, be sure to check the departure time for your last train so you don't get stranded. A person handing over Japanese Yen. During the pandemic, Japan got a lot better about accepting digital payments, but there are still lots of places that only want cold, hard cash, especially small businesses. I've seen many a tourist have to scramble to find an ATM when they realize they've just eaten a meal they can't pay for. Just to be safe, always carry a bit of cash. Also, Japanese people rarely pass money directly to a cashier, wanting to evade an awkward hand touch. Instead, there is a tray provided next to the register. It's polite to put your cash on the tray and allow the cashier to pick it up. They'll return your change the same way or cushioned on top of a receipt. This one goes out especially to my fellow Americans: Leave the tipping culture at home. It is never expected in Japan for any service, and it just creates confusion. I've seen waitstaff chase customers down the street to return money left on the table. It's like if you went to the supermarket and tried to tip the cashier—they'd just be confused and insist on giving you the correct change. If someone really goes above and beyond, a small gift of appreciation like chocolate will usually be graciously accepted, particularly if it's something representative of your hometown or that isn't readily available in Japan. But again, none of this is expected, and a sincere thank you is appreciated just as much. Nonverbal communication can get non-Japanese speakers a long way, but be aware that not all gestures translate. A common miscommunication happens with beckoning. In Japan, a come-hither gesture is performed palm down with a flick of the fingers, which unfortunately looks a bit like how Europeans and North Americans communicate 'Buzz off, jerk!' When signaling for the check, miming signing a bill will sometimes work, but the more standard gesture is to cross your index fingers in an X, indicating you don't wish to order anything else. Finally, bowing with hands pressed in front of your chest: While this communicates gratitude in much of Southeast Asia, it looks like over-the-top pleading in Japan. A standard bow here is with hands at your sides or clasped neatly at the waist. View of Kyoto through a taxi window. Daniel Gorostieta/Travel + Leisure People often joke about Japan living in the future. When I first arrived, the automatic taxi door cemented that idea as gospel for me. The driver just hits a button and the door swings open to let you in, no need to juggle bags or touch hot metal. The same goes for alighting. Once you've paid, the door automatically swings open to let you out. Magic! Of course, the mechanism can get broken if mishandled, which is why drivers have a sharp word if you try to manually open the door. In other taxi-related tips, drivers will usually insist on loading luggage in the trunk as part of their service. It's okay to hail a taxi on the street so long as there is room to pull off, but you can generally find taxi ranks in front of stations and hotels. Uber does exist in Japan, but only in major cities. Also, it will only connect you with a taxi. A local app called Go is cheaper and more widely used. Following a change to public health laws in 2020, smoking is pretty tightly restricted in Japan to prevent second-hand exposure. This means no smoking in public areas like restaurants and hotels except in designated smoking rooms. All train services, including long-distance bullet trains, are non-smoking. Smoking while walking on the street is banned, and police can hit you with an on-the-spot fine if they catch you lighting up. Screened smoking areas are usually found outside stations or other gathering spots, complete with bins for your butts. Vapes fall under the same rules. And note that e-liquids containing nicotine are not sold in Japan, but you can bring up to 120mL for personal use. Exterior of Kyoto's Imperial Palace. Maria Ligaya/Travel + Leisure Most Japanese people have a very loose relationship to religion compared to some Westerners, adopting practices from Buddhism, Shinto, and even Christianity. That doesn't mean they don't take it seriously, though. A common complaint among my Japanese friends is tourists' lack of respect at shrines and temples. Not just the buildings but also the grounds are considered sacred, so remove hats and sunglasses, moderate your volume, don't take photos of ceremonies unless given express permission, and certainly don't do gymnastics off the torii gates. Another pro tip: The center of the path under a torii is reserved for deities, so stand to the left or right when taking pictures. Visiting a hot spring or sento public bath is a literal immersion in a bathing culture that has lasted more than a millennium. It's part of the social and spiritual fabric of life in Japan, where a long soak before bed is still a nightly practice in many households. But like everything, it has its rules. The communal water is for soaking, so shower first to ensure you aren't bringing in a day's worth of sweat and grime. The small towel provided can be used as a washcloth. Some smaller facilities don't have showers. In that case, use the little buckets provided to scoop up water from the bath and pour it over yourself where it won't splash others. No swimsuits are allowed. It's also bad form to let your towel touch the water, so many people rest it on their heads. Loud talking or splashing can disturb other bathers, so just slip into the water and keep your conversations to a murmur.
Associated Press
an hour ago
- Associated Press
Blaze Launches Eco-Minimalism Guide for Digital Nomads Seeking a Lighter Footprint
I still remember the moment my eco-minimalism journey truly began. I was in a bustling market in Chiang Mai, Thailand, watching a vendor bag up my fruit in not one, but three separate plastic bags. I had a reusable tote with me, but in the rush and language barrier, I just… froze. Later that day, I looked at the pile of single-use plastic in my guesthouse bin and felt a deep sense of disconnect. Here I was, living my dream of freedom, but my footprint felt heavier than ever. That's the tension, isn't it? We build careers as remote workers developers, designers, writers, and no code experts that grant us incredible location independence. Yet, the very act of using that freedom often feels at odds with our values as eco-conscious humans. I've spent the last five years working through that friction, not just for myself but for my clients, van-lifers, backpackers, and even startups funding employee work-from-anywhere programs. What I've learned is that eco-minimalism isn't about harsh restrictions or giving up your travel dreams. It's a philosophy. It's about designing a life that is lighter, more intentional, and ultimately, more aligned with the planet we so desperately want to explore. This isn't another preachy lecture. This is a real-world Q&A session to tackle the biggest questions and skepticism I hear from digital nomads every day. What Exactly Is Eco-Minimalism for a Digital Nomad? I get this question a lot, and people often assume it means living out of a tiny backpack with one change of clothes and never getting on an airplane again. Honestly, that's not it at all. For us, it's the practical and philosophical intersection of minimalism and sustainability, specifically tailored for a location-independent life. It means streamlining what you own to increase your freedom (minimalism) while actively reducing your environmental and social impact (eco). It's about applying the principles of a circular economy: reduce, reuse, repair to a life on the move. The key takeaway is that eco-minimalism is less about deprivation and more about optimization for freedom, personal fulfillment, and a lighter impact on the planet. It's a shift from 'How much can I see?' to 'How can I experience this place with intention?' NOTE: The goal here isn't perfection; it's intention. It's about making conscious choices, not about being a perfect, zero-waste traveler. That doesn't exist. This mindset shift is the most important first step. But I'm a Backpacker on a Budget. Isn't Sustainable Travel Expensive? This is probably the biggest myth I have to bust. The word 'sustainable' has been co-opted by marketing teams to mean 'premium,' and that's a real shame because, in practice, it's often the opposite. What Gear Makes the Cut? Here's what's in my 40L eco-nomad setup: Rule of thumb: If you're replacing a broken item, upgrade sustainably. If you're just 'upgrading'… maybe don't. The Upfront 'Investment' vs. Long-Term Savings Yes, some eco-friendly gear has a higher upfront cost. A high-quality merino wool t-shirt from a brand like Patagonia or Icebreaker might set you back $80, whereas a fast-fashion cotton tee is $15. But my merino shirts last for years, resist odor so I do less laundry, and work in multiple climates. I'd have to buy 10 of the cheap tees to match that lifespan. The same goes for a durable backpack like an Osprey or a water filter like a Grayl GeoPress. I haven't bought a plastic water bottle in over four years. How much money do you think that's saved me? And how much plastic waste has it prevented? The math works out, I promise. How Slow Travel Slashes Your Biggest Costs The biggest cost-saver, however, is the 'slow travel' principle. When you stop country-hopping every two weeks and instead stay in one place for one, two, or even six months, your costs plummet. The main point is that while some sustainable products have a higher initial cost, the core principles of eco-minimalism buy less, buy better, and travel slower are incredibly budget-friendly. Expert Tip: Use Google Maps to search for 'farmers market' or the local equivalent ('mercado,' 'marché') in your new city. It's my go-to trick for finding fresh, affordable food and avoiding tourist-trap pricing. How Can I Realistically Reduce My Carbon Footprint When My Job Requires Me to Fly? Let's be real: for most of us, flying is unavoidable. I'm not here to shame anyone for that. I fly, too. The key is to approach it with a strategy of mindful transportation. Fly Less, Stay Longer This is the absolute number one rule. The problem isn't necessarily the flying itself; it's the frequency. The carbon footprint of a digital nomad doing six short-haul European flights in two months is often far worse than someone who takes one long-haul flight to Southeast Asia and stays for half a year. Embrace slow travel. Your wallet and the planet will thank you. Embrace Overland Travel Once you're in a region, make trains and buses your best friends. In my experience, this is where the real adventure is anyway. Traveling by train from Lisbon to Madrid, you see the countryside transform. It's an experience an airplane completely robs you of. From a carbon standpoint, it's a no-brainer. According to research cited by the BBC, traveling by train can reduce your carbon footprint by up to 90% compared to flying the same route. The Deal with Carbon Offsetting I view carbon offsetting as a necessary, if imperfect, tool. Think of it as a self-imposed carbon tax. When I absolutely have to fly, I calculate my flight's emissions and donate a corresponding amount to a project that reduces greenhouse gases elsewhere. The crucial takeaway is that you don't have to stop flying entirely, but you can fly smarter and more intentionally by reducing the frequency, prioritizing overland travel, and offsetting the impact of the flights you do take. NOTE: Be critical of where you offset. I look for projects certified by Gold Standard or the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS). These ensure the projects are real, verifiable, and actually making a difference, from providing clean cookstoves in Ghana to protecting rainforests in Peru. Don't just click the cheap 'offset' button on an airline's website. What Does a Practical Eco-Minimalist 'Toolkit' Actually Look Like? This is the fun part. Your toolkit is your secret weapon for refusing single-use items on the road. It's not about adding weight; it's about adding resourcefulness. The Zero-Waste Travel Kit This is my non-negotiable carry-on. The Minimalist Wardrobe This is built on one concept: multi-purpose. I rely on a capsule wardrobe of about 20-25 high-quality pieces. The star player is merino wool. It's lightweight, works in hot and cold climates, wicks moisture, and resists odor like nothing else. I can wear a merino shirt for days without it smelling, which means less laundry and a lighter pack. The Streamlined Digital Workspace Your tech is part of your footprint, too. Choose durable, low-energy devices. I swear by my Roost stand, which is an incredibly lightweight, foldable laptop stand. It saves my neck and back and prevents me from needing a bulky monitor or separate keyboard setup. Ultimately, your toolkit should be built on multi-use, durable items that prevent you from having to buy disposable, low-quality products on the road. Crystal Care Tip (Okay, it's a Solid Toiletry Tip): To make your shampoo and conditioner bars last twice as long, never leave them sitting in a puddle of water. Use a small, ventilated soap dish or just let them air dry completely on a towel before packing them away. Moisture is their enemy! It's a Practice, Not Perfection Eco-minimalism isn't a destination you arrive at. It's a daily practice. Some days you will fail. You'll forget your reusable cup or have to take an unexpected flight. That's okay. I've come to realize that this lifestyle isn't about guilt. It's about empowerment. It's about consciously designing a life that gives you more freedom, more adventure, and a deeper connection to the places you visit, all while honoring the planet that makes it possible. For some, this even extends to planning for what comes after, ensuring their digital and physical legacy is managed just as intentionally. You don't have to do everything at once. Start with one thing. Maybe for your next trip, you'll pack a set of solid toiletries. Or maybe you'll choose to take a train instead of a plane for one leg of the journey. That's it. That's the start. And it's more than enough. Media Contact Company Name: Blaze Contact Person: Charles Email: Send Email Address:5777 W. Century Blvd. #1110 Unit #197 City: Los Angeles State: CA 90045 Country: United States Website: Press Release Distributed by To view the original version on ABNewswire visit: Blaze Launches Eco-Minimalism Guide for Digital Nomads Seeking a Lighter Footprint
