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Borneo Post
22-05-2025
- Borneo Post
Growing cultural pride fuels China's archaeology tourism boom
Tourists enter Suzhou Archaeological Museum in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province on May 18, 2025. – Xinhua photo NANJING (May 23): The overwhelming number of visitors flocking to the newly opened Suzhou Archaeological Museum came as a surprise to the curator Cheng Yi. Cheng said he had expected 3,000 to 4,000 visitors at most on the first day, mostly those with archaeological knowledge or professionals in the field. 'We ended up receiving 7,000 to 8,000 people – many of them ordinary citizens and tourists from outside the city,' he said. Located in the eastern city of Suzhou in Jiangsu Province, the museum opened on May 17, right before China Tourism Day and International Museum Day, which fall on Monday and Sunday, respectively. Cheng believes the upcoming Children's Day, which coincides with the Dragon Boat Festival holiday from May 31 to June 2, will bring another peak in visitors, as the museum will hold a special exhibition of ancient toys unearthed in Suzhou for the occasion. An even greater influx is expected during the summer holidays. Suzhou Archaeological Museum reflects a growing nationwide enthusiasm for archaeology-themed tourism. In recent years, archaeological and historical museums across China have become trending destinations, often requiring online reservations and drawing long queues. People have not only gained interest in traditionally famous museums like the Palace Museum, but are also eager to explore remote ancient sites such as Yanmen Pass in Shanxi Province. According to Cheng, it is meaningful to build such an archaeological museum in Suzhou, which was a hub of cultural and economic exchanges in the Yangtze River Delta in ancient times, and the significance is beyond public archaeological education. 'It also stirs pride in our hometown,' he said. He believes the country's economic development and growing national strength have played a significant part in fostering public interest in history and culture. 'In the past, when people struggled to make a living, they wouldn't think about these things. Today, people feel proud of China's achievements. This represents the revival of an ancient civilisation,' he said. Cheng noted that the country is also vigorously promoting a national project on tracing the origins of Chinese civilisation, and as more and more cultural relics are unearthed, the 5,000-year history of Chinese civilisation is being substantiated. As archaeology as an academic discipline becomes more widely known to the public, Cheng believes that presenting the full process from relics' excavation to museum display both meets the needs of professionals and captures the interest of the general public. A hallmark of archaeological museums, according to Cheng, is that the exhibits are authentic, since they were all unearthed by experts and verified through scientific methods before display. 'What was this object used for?' 'Who was buried here?' 'Are all the relics real?' Cheng was surrounded by visitors bombarding him with such questions. Many visitors were interested in a large tomb of the ancient Eastern Wu state. It is believed to have belonged to the family of Sun Quan, founding king of the Wu State during the Three Kingdoms period (220-280), though the exact identity of the tomb's occupant remains unknown. Despite having been looted, the large tomb has largely retained its structure, with its architectural design, passageways, and side chambers all faithfully presented. After its excavation was completed in 2018, the tomb was divided into parts and stored at a facility due to the lack of a proper display venue, until the Suzhou Archaeological Museum was constructed. The tomb parts were carefully delivered to the museum and recombined to show visitors the tomb's original appearance. A 62-year-old visitor excitedly took pictures and repeatedly told nearby visitors his childhood memories about the tomb. 'I used to live here as a child and played on these mounds,' said the visitor who declined to give his name. 'I had no idea that such a grand tomb lay underneath.' Yan Xinfeng, a warehouse keeper who moved from Sanmenxia in central China's Henan Province to work in Suzhou years ago, is a fan of historical dramas and often visits museums. 'After visiting this archaeological museum, I realised Suzhou's history is older than I thought, and ancient people were far more advanced than I imagined, as they created so many such intricate items,' he said. 'I feel proud.' After visiting, 9-year-old Xu Xuhan said she was impressed by a hairpin unearthed from the Eastern Wu tomb, which might help identify the tomb's owner. 'I love history and want to know how our civilisation started,' she said. The third-grader has not yet taken history lessons at primary school, but said she had learnt a lot from a number of museums across China she visited with her parents. 'I want to become an archaeologist when I grow up,' she said. Many of the exhibits at the museum are newly discovered artifacts that help fill gaps in archaeological knowledge from the Neolithic Liangzhu culture, to the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods (770BC-221BC) and beyond. For instance, a pottery shard offers clues that the Wu and Yue regions, which cover the current-day Suzhou, were once under the rule of the Qin Empire (221BC-207BC), as the Chinese characters inscribed on it were written in the Qin script. Numerous other artifacts on display also support the idea that the area was a hub of the ancient Maritime Silk Road. More notably, the museum also houses archaeological tools and explains excavation methods to highlight archaeology as a science and dispel public misconceptions. 'There was a time when people thought archaeology was just tomb-raiding,' Cheng said. He added that the museum is looking to use virtual reality and artificial intelligence in the future to let the public experience archaeological digs firsthand. As China places greater emphasis on history and culture, and as traditional Chinese aesthetics grow in popularity among the public, more museums of this kind will open to the public across the country, Cheng believes. – Xinhua archaeology China museum tourism Xinhua
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Lin-gang Meet Love Encountering China Tourism Day: Themed concert at Dishui Lake Tourist Resort lights up the 'Young City'
SHANGHAI, May 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today at Dishui Lake, the 'Young City' Lin-gang hosted a vibrant and passionate themed concert at the lake tourist resort to welcome the 14th China Tourism Day and celebrate the 'Lin-gang · Meet Love' theme month aligning with May 20 – a day widely celebrated in China as a symbol of love because '520' sounds like 'I love you' in Chinese. Lin-gang Special Area has thoughtfully planned a series of sweet and immersive activities loved by young people, further gathering popularity, showcasing the city's image, and boosting vitality. Through an innovative fusion of 'music + anime + fireworks,' the event created a cultural and tourism feast full of urban warmth and youthful energy, composing a romantic chapter for the 'City for the Young'. 'Shining Star Concert' Ignites the Night with a Passionate Anime Band Live ShowAs dusk approached and the lake breeze gently rose, a high-spirited band performance kicked off the evening in Lin-gang. At the center of the stage, fast-paced rhythms and powerful melodies combined with young faces and energetic emotions to paint a dynamic portrait of urban vitality. The most anticipated moment for anime fans quietly unfolded: through direct interactions between characters and visitors, Lin-gang brought IP culture to life, creating a brand-new cultural and tourism scene rich in youthful flavor and modern symbols. A gathering of love witnesses the arrival of happiness in Lin-gangIn the name of love, celebrating youth. 'Lin-gang · Meet Love' was not only a feast of music and visuals but also a romantic journey of love. At the event, among the hundred newlywed couples in an immersive group wedding ceremony for Lin-gang youth, six representative couples took to the stage, solemnly exchanging vows of love under the spotlight. Their stories are the annotations of love for this city, and their silhouettes have become the most touching scenery in this young urban landscape. This city, filled with affection, will continue to innovate its formats and optimize experiences so that newlyweds can truly feel the youthful vitality and human warmth of Lin-gang. Lin-gang gifts turn love into something you can holdAs 'China Tourism Day' falls on May 19, Dishui Lake Tourist Resort has specially launched the 'Lin-gang Gifts,' including a hand-drawn map of the Shanghai Dishui Lake Tourist Resort, a Dishui Lake passport, a customized commemorative metro ticket, Lin-gang–themed postcards, and other cultural tourism items. These are not only practical traveling gifts but also commemorative love messages from the city to the newlyweds. These gifts remind every young person stepping into marriage that their love is not only between each other, but also blessed and witnessed by the city of Lin-gang. Vows of love and tangible symbols of affection fill the city with romance. Dishui Lake's Sakura Island was wrapped in a gentle halo of light. It is precisely this youthful, romantic, and free city atmosphere that continues to attract more and more young people to choose Lin-gang and settle in Lin-gang. A dreamlike spectacle: themed fireworks show stuns the audienceIn Lin-gang, a group of dream-chasing young people is together painting the vibrant picture of this 'City for the Young' in their own ways. The development of Lin-gang is inseparable from the gathering and growth of talent. At the climax of the concert, Mou Kai, Director of the Marine Biology Research Institute of Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park, was invited to the stage to press the fireworks launch button. As the ceremony began, the stage was illuminated by fireworks, with the landmark installation 'Seahorse Sacred Pillar' from Soul Land vividly recreating the mysterious atmosphere of Sea God Island. On stage, cosplayers performed four classic scenes from Soul Land – 'Soul Master Assembly,' 'Martial Soul Awakening,' 'Unwavering Devotion,' and 'Battle Spirit Eternal Flame' – bringing the characters' growth stories to life. Anime fans were immersed as moments of passion and emotion were relived in the interplay of light and shadow. In the night sky, 15,000 customized Soul Land-themed fireworks burst in perfect harmony with the music. The 'Colorful Auspicious Cloud' fireworks astonished the crowd, with dazzling lights reflected on the lake surface, creating a dreamlike scene. Cultural warmth lights up the cityLooking ahead, Lin-gang Special Area will further enrich its cultural tourism content, promote the deep integration of culture and tourism, and create more panoramic IP scenes, igniting Lin-gang's youthful fervor and cultural charm, energizing the cultural tourism consumption of the Lin-gang Special Area, and highlighting Lin-gang's brand image as a 'Young City' and a 'City for the Young.' Contact Person: Veronica ChenEmail: 597836165@ China Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an "as-is" basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above. 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Business Wire
07-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
CEA Sees a 24.9% YoY Increase in International and Regional Passenger Volume During May Day Holiday
SHANGHAI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--During the May Day holiday in 2025, China Eastern Airlines (CEA) deployed a total of 15,200 flight operations and transported 2.173 million passengers, setting a new record for the same period in history. Among them, CEA operated 2,090 international and regional flights, transporting 338,000 passengers, a YoY increase of 24.9%. On the eve of the May Day holiday, CEA, in collaboration with the Shanghai Museum, launched the wide-body aircraft with special livery, the "Shanghai Museum Express". With ancient Chinese art as the theme, it has become a "Flying Museum" and has received widespread acclaim. Passengers praised that "CEA has provided an unforgettable flight experience". For the upcoming China Tourism Day on May 19, CEA has carefully prepared 519,000 sets of special-offer air tickets and 100,000 sets of free transit and stop-over tourism products, and plans to launch "China Tourism Day" themed flights on multiple routes. Transit and stop-over passengers at Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) can present their CEA inbound boarding passes to receive relevant items at the Shanghai Tourist Information & Service Center in PVG. Meanwhile, CEA has recently launched several inbound special-offer products, including international individual specials and international family-themed travel packages. The number of CEA's international flights per week has currently exceeded 1,500. During this year's May Day holiday, routes to Tokyo, Seoul, Busan, Osaka, Madrid, Bali and other destinations were highly favored by passengers.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Yahoo
Cultural Tourism Sees Strong Growth in China, with Social Media Trends Reflecting Global Interest
SHANGHAI, March 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- China's cultural tourism sector is gaining international attention as more travellers seek immersive, heritage-rich experiences. Social media trends and travel data highlight a surge in interest, particularly during the recent Chinese New Year period, reinforcing the country's growing appeal as a cultural travel destination. One initiative contributing to this trend was the Chinese New Year Tour Global KOL China Travel Campaign, launched in mid-January by Tripadvisor and Group, a leading global travel service provider. The campaign engaged over 40 international travel influencers, who explored ten cities across four themed routes, including Zhangzhou and Fuzhou in Fujian province, Yancheng in Jiangsu, Changzhi and Yuncheng in Shanxi, Nanchang, Lushan, and Jingdezhen in Jiangxi, as well as Changsha and Zhangjiajie in Hunan. Their content—showcasing Chinese New Year festivities, local traditions, and breathtaking landscapes—has already garnered over 80 million online views and nearly one million engagements, reaching a worldwide audience. This is amidst the backdrop of China's expanding visa-free policies, facilitating smoother entry for international visitors. According to immigration authorities, over 64 million foreign visitors had travelled to China in 2024, with over 20 million taking advantage of visa-free entry. The recent inclusion of ASEAN tour groups in February this year for visa-free programs in destinations like Xishuangbanna in Yunnan Province is expected to drive further growth. Online travel trends also reflect this rising interest. Group data reports a 7.5-fold increase in searches for Chinese lanterns, temple fairs, and theatrical performances during the Chinese New Year period compared to the previous year. This year's Chinese New Year celebrations were particularly significant, being the first since the festival's recognition on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list. As awareness of heritage preservation grows, efforts to highlight historic sites and traditional celebrations are expected to further engage travellers interested in cultural tourism. Looking ahead, cultural events such as China Tourism Day on May 19 will continue to shine a spotlight on heritage destinations. "We are confident that such initiatives will inspire international tourists to explore cultural traditions and deepen their appreciation for global heritage," says Benny Wang, Senior Vice President of Group. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Group
