Latest news with #Putonghua
Time Out
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Hong Kong's giant panda twin cubs are officially named Jia Jia and De De
Just when you think the 'pandamania' is slowly calming down in the city, Ocean Park is ramping up the excitement once again with an announcement of the official names for Hong Kong's beloved panda twin cubs! Here's what you need to know about the newly named pair. What are the names of the giant panda twins in Hong Kong? On August 15, 2024, the city's beloved giant panda Ying Ying became the oldest first-time giant panda mum on record, having given birth to two twin panda cubs – affectionately nicknamed 'Elder Sister' and 'Little Brother' just a day before her 19th birthday. 'Elder sister' is now named Jia Jia, while De De is the official name for 'Little Brother'! The meaning of Jia Jia and De De Jia Jia (加加) uses the Chinese character '加' to convey the message of support, like 'add oil' (加油). The word 'jia' is also a homophone for the Chinese characters '家', meaning home, and '嘉', meaning auspices, in both Cantonese and Putonghua. 'Jia' also features an element of family and a sense of auspicious grace, embodying the prosperity of families and the nation as well as the happiness of the people. Meanwhile, De De (得得) means 'to succeed', symbolising that the city will be successful in everything we do. 'De' is also a homophone for the Chinese character for 'virtue' (德) in Cantonese and Putonghua, suggesting that the giant pandas, our national treasures, possess the virtues cherished by people. How were the names Jia Jia and De De chosen? Out of 35,7000 entries in a contest run by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and Ocean Park, the judging panel – comprised of representatives from CSTB, the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda, OPC, and prominent social figures – chose the most meaningful and creative names that they felt best represent the young and lively characteristics of the giant panda cubs. The winner of the naming competition will receive: Ocean Park annual membership for four adults (valued at $5,520) 'Elder Sister' and 'Little Brother' giant panda baby plush (valued at $6,576) Ocean Park F&B vouchers (valued at $2,000) Chow Tai Fook gift voucher (valued at $8,000) Eight other lucky winners will also get their hands on the Merit Prize, which has: Ocean Park annual membership for two adults (valued at $2,760) Giant panda souvenirs (valued at $1,000) Ocean Park F&B vouchers (valued at $1,000) Visit 'Jia Jia' and 'De De' at Ocean Park Hong Kong You can now see Jia Jia and De De at Ocean Park's Giant Panda Adventure, open daily from 10am to 4.30pm. The opening hours are subject to change, so do check for the latest updates on the park's website before you go.
RTHK
20-05-2025
- Politics
- RTHK
Xia tells HK Coalition to contribute more to country
Xia tells HK Coalition to contribute more to country Tam Yiu-chung (left) read out a congratulatory message from Xia Baolong at an event marking Hong Kong Coalition's fifth anniversary. Photo: RTHK The director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, Xia Baolong, on Tuesday urged the Hong Kong Coalition to make greater contributions to the SAR and the country's rise as a strong nation. He made the comments in a congratulatory message for the group's fifth anniversary which was read out by its secretary-general, Tam Yiu-chung. Xia was also quoted as saying there should be greater collaboration with the international community, as Hong Kong connects with the country's strategy in a pro-active manner. He told the coalition to thoroughly learn from the spirit of important speeches of President Xi Jinping, and proactively recognise, respond to and seek changes. The head of Beijing's liaison office in Hong Kong, Zheng Yanxiong, was among those attending the event in Wan Chai. He said one of the ways to make greater contributions is to fight against suppression by external forces like the United States, while defending national interests and maintaining the SAR's unique status. Zheng then switched from Putonghua to Cantonese. "The world's very chaotic. China's really doing well. The rise of the East is so apparent, the tables have turned," he said, drawing cheers from the audience. "There's no need to worry, the safest place is Hong Kong." The liaison office director also said despite changes, people should maintain their unwavering confidence in Hong Kong, believing in the fact that the uncertainties and negative impact of the external environment cannot stop the SAR's rise to greater prosperity. Chief Executive John Lee, meanwhile, said amid the uncertainties, Hong Kong has to find opportunities. He stressed that despite external provocations and bullying, the SAR will continue to be a free economy, uphold a simple, transparent and fair system, and stay open to the world.
RTHK
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- RTHK
Visually impaired to walk to new beep at crossings
Visually impaired to walk to new beep at crossings The Transport Department says all electronic audible traffic signal units are expected to be replaced by late 2027. Photo: RTHK The Transport Department said on Tuesday it has started replacing all of Hong Kong's electronic audible traffic signal units since April to provide greater convenience for visually impaired persons. The department launched a pilot scheme in 2021, which saw new units put in place at more than 20 crossings across the city to test their performance. It said 13,000 replacements are needed due to most of the existing units having been in use for more than 20 years, which far exceeds their expected lifespan of 10 years. 'Some of the electronic audible traffic signal units' fault rates are on the rise, causing higher maintenance costs," the department's chief engineer, Gordon Kwok, said. "So we would like to replace them and at the same time include some new functions that are more adaptable to users.' Kwok said new features have been incorporated into the system, such as tactile maps to provide layout information on the crossing and voice messages that read out the names of the streets near the crossing in Cantonese, Putonghua and English. Karl Lee, who is visually impaired, said the messages allow him to easily gauge where he is, rather than having to memorise the streets and counting them off when walking. 'For example, if I'm walking up from Nam Cheong Street, I'll have to count off the streets I have crossed, including Yu Chau Street, Apliu Street, Cheung Sha Wan Road,' he said. 'Sometimes I might make mistakes, and I'll have to ask people where I am. "Having the new machines can help me easily find out which street I'm currently at.' Kwok said a total of 15,000 dedicated wireless devices will be distributed via the Society of the Blind to enable the visually impaired to use the remote control in them to increase the volume of the electronic audible traffic signal units when needed. The department has installed the new electronic audible traffic signal units at 27 crossings so far. All renewals are expected to be completed by the end of 2027.
RTHK
19-05-2025
- General
- RTHK
Think tank unveils app for Putonghua learning
Think tank unveils app for Putonghua learning Our Hong Kong Foundation's Academy of Chinese Studies worked with Tencent Foundation on the Putonghua learning scheme. Photo: RTHK A local think tank announced on Monday that it has rolled out a project aimed at enhancing the Putonghua level of primary and secondary students through the use of an AI-powered mobile app and offline activities. "Putonghua Funlearning" is a collaboration between Our Hong Kong Foundation's Academy of Chinese Studies and Tencent Foundation. It is free for schools to participate in the scheme. Eddie Heung, a senior manager at the academy, said schools told them they didn't have enough hours each week to teach the language. "They believe that there's a trend to let the students to have Putonghua learning in some funnier ways, instead of just some normal lectures at school," he said. "So the app 'Putonghua Funlearning' introduces some games which have colourful graphics and strategic planning to let the students have some new ways to learn Putonghua." Heung said the app offers instant feedback on users' pronunciation, and students can also earn points in games. A five-day online challenge for primary school students in Hong Kong and Macau will be held next month. The 40 children with the highest marks on the app will be invited to participate in an exchange tour in the Greater Bay Area in October to interact with students on the mainland.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Global Times: Opening of new cinemas in China's borderlands builds connections through power of film
BEIJING, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- At 4pm, the first cinema in the Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County in Kashi Prefecture, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region opened at the appointed time. The cleaner had already swept both screening rooms, and the ticket seller - hired by the manager He Xinyu due to the ability to speak both Tajik and Putonghua - was prepared to welcome local filmgoers from various ethnic groups. The county, which is situated over 4,000 meters above sea level on the eastern edge of the Pamir Plateau and borders Pakistan, Afghanistan, as well as Tajikistan, opened its first cinema around two months ago. He told the Global Times that since the arrival of the China Film South Cinema, local residents can enjoy the latest blockbusters from around the world simultaneously with moviegoers across the country. Thousands of miles away, residents of Medog County - hidden deep in the southeastern valleys of Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region — are increasingly familiar with buying movie tickets online since the opening of the first cinema in late April. The "highway" to the world of film was completed more than a decade after the first real highway reached the county. From mobile film screenings to advanced and comfortable modern cinemas, the improvement of viewing conditions in these borderlands reflects the overall development of China's film industry during its journey of 120 years. Manager He can feel that for local residents, the cinema is more than a venue for entertainment - it is a space for connections and inspiration. "The cinema and these films screening, simultaneously with other places offer local residents a sense of belonging to a larger world and a fresh feeling of appreciating cultural products, which mean a lot," said He. A bridge through screens Before the opening of cinemas, one of the local audience's main ways of watching movies was to wait for the mobile film screening team to bring new films to them. Zhang Beiyan, an engineer at the Ili Film Company in Xinjiang, has been involved in rural film screenings since 2009. He shared with the Global Times that film screenings in the Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture take place about 12 times a year, often concentrating during farming off seasons, with each screening attracting 30 to 50 viewers on average. During his career, Zhang has often captured the enthusiasm of rural residents to film screenings. "They really enjoy watching movies, which have become an important part of their cultural and entertainment life," he said. According to Zhang, viewers like watching Chinese blockbusters, particularly those released during the Spring Festival holidays, such as the Wandering Earth series. Locals are also fond of films related to their hometowns. For instance, movies set in Xinjiang like Pegasus 2 are popular. But they prefer blockbusters, as they offer a window to diverse cultures. To respond to such enthusiasm and provide a better experience for enjoying movies, the cinemas have been built through the support of local authorities. On its opening day, the cinema in the Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County hosted screenings of films like Ne Zha 2 and Detective Chinatown 1900. Residents of all ages eagerly filled hundreds of seats in two halls, many experiencing the magic of a big-screen movie for the first time. The cinema's manager said that the moviegoers are mostly young people who find their interest in the film genres through social media, and like the youth in other places, the most popular film in the recent past has still been the animated blockbuster Ne Zha 2. "After watching the movie at our cinema, these young audiences can have topics of conversation on the content of the work and the feelings of watching it at cinemas with their friends or on social media platforms. This is one of their major motivations to come here," He noted. Zhang Peng, a film researcher and associate professor at Nanjing Normal University, told the Global Times on Monday that the cinemas provide a comfortable environment and high-quality audio-visual experiences, attracting residents to watch movies. Meanwhile, the diverse and rich film content enhances residents' cultural literacy and aesthetic appreciation, increases social opportunities and promotes cultural exchange. The emergence of these cinemas can further stimulate the enthusiasm of residents in watching films. Improved viewing conditions, abundant film resources and the fulfillment of cultural needs encourage local residents to be more willing to visit cinemas, according to Zhang. As audiences said when stepping out of the cinema, now they can watch the latest blockbusters right at their doorstep. Having a cinema in the county is really convenient. Challenges and responses Yet, the sustainability of running these cinemas remains a key question. How can these initiatives continue to thrive in the long term with a series of challenges such as a smaller population in these rural areas, tough natural condition, and diverse cultural backgrounds of different ethnic groups? Operators like He have been considering more practical methods to deal with these challenges. Besides the current blockbusters, He's cinema has also reintroduced classic films like Visitors on the Icy Mountain, which resonate deeply with the region's history and cultural identity. "Thanks to the support of the film group, they agreed on the free screenings of some classic movies," said He. Another cinema in the frontier township of Lhunze county, Shannan prefecture in Xizang, which officially opened in late May 2024, also selected some films full of local characteristics such as My Himalaya for screening, according to Guangming Daily. These cinemas' efforts to tailor its programming to local tastes and cultural traditions reveal a groundbreaking approach to enhance the local's cultural engagement. View original content: SOURCE Global Times
