Latest news with #SongDynasty
CairoScene
33 minutes ago
- Business
- CairoScene
Emirates Launches Daily Flights From Dubai to China's Hangzhou
This is the airline's 5th route into mainland China, following Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Shenzhen. Emirates has officially launched a new daily route from Dubai International Airport to Hangzhou, one of China's largest and fastest-growing cities. The non-stop service—operating from July 30th aboard a three-class Boeing 777-300ER—brings the total number of Emirates destinations in mainland China to five, following Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Shenzhen. Flight EK310 departs Dubai at 9:40 AM and lands in Hangzhou at 10:00 PM, with return flight EK311 departing at 12:10 AM and arriving back in Dubai at 4:55 AM. With a population of over 13 million, Hangzhou is known for its rich cultural heritage and rapid rise as a global tech and innovation hub. From the UNESCO-listed West Lake to the Imperial Street of the Southern Song Dynasty, the city offers a unique blend of tradition and modernity.
Hype Malaysia
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hype Malaysia
(Videos) Meet The 14 Contestants Of The 2025 Miss HK Beauty Pageant
The Miss Hong Kong Pageant (香港小姐競選) returns for another year, continuing its legacy as one of Hong Kong's most highly anticipated events. Following previews of the potential contestants, TVB has officially announced the Top 14 ladies, who are now in the running for the coveted crown. This year's competition boasts a variety of beauties with resumes as impressive as their looks. From doctorate holders to alleged descendants of a Chinese general from the Song Dynasty, this group of ladies have a lot to show. Keep scrolling to get to know the 14 contestants of the 2025 Miss HK Beauty Pageant: No.1 Victoria Lee (李尹嫣) Age: 21 Height: 171cm Occupation: University student Fun Facts: She enjoys singing and dancing. She's also talented in Cantonese opera and has performed on stage at the Hong Kong Coliseum. No.2 Phoebe Kam (甘詠寧) Age: 26 Height: 171cm Occupation: Social worker Fun Facts: She enjoys singing and dancing. She also studied in the United Kingdom and has an interest in psychology. No.3 Emily Tsoi (蔡華英) Age: 24 Height: 166cm Occupation: University student Fun Facts: Her father is a former TVB employee. She's also a former child star who has appeared in many shows when she was younger. No.4 Molly Mo (莫凡) Age: 25 Height: 178cm Occupation: News editor Fun Facts: Her hobbies include playing the piano and photography. She's the tallest contestant this year. Her looks earned her the nickname of 'Kelly Cheung's copy'. No.5 Elysia Tsang (曾閱遙) Age: 21 Height: 171cm Occupation: University student Fun Facts: She recently graduated from university, majoring in Law. She enjoys various sports, including rock climbing and running. She can also play the piano. No.6 Teresa Chu (朱文慧) Age: 23 Height: 165cm Occupation: Physical therapist Fun Facts: She reportedly lost weight to enter the pageant. She enjoys cooking and watersports, including waterskiing. No.7 Angela Stanton (施宇琪) Age: 26 Height: 166cm Occupation: Investment bank derivatives trader Fun Facts: She is of mixed race. She graduated from Cambridge University with first-class honours. No.8 Fandi Yue (岳凡荻) Age: 23 Height: 166cm Occupation: Global export assistant Fun Facts: She's allegedly the 35th-generation descendant of Yue Fei, a Chinese military general of the Song dynasty. She's also skilled in horse riding and surfing. No.9 Stacey Chan (陳詠詩) Age: 26 Height: 160cm Occupation: PhD student Fun Facts: She holds a PhD from an American university, the highest academic degree of all the contestants. She's the shortest contestant this year. No.10 Tamson Manning (文雅儀) Age: 26 Height: 168cm Occupation: Orthopaedic medical product representative Fun Facts: She is of British descent and only recently returned to Hong Kong to compete in the pageant. She enjoys doing Tai Chi and classical dance. No.11 Barbie Leung (梁倩萱) Age: 27 Height: 161cm Occupation: Financial advisor Fun Facts: Her sister is Debbie Leung, a former Miss Hong Kong contestant in 2023 who got into the Top 17. She enjoys diving and travelling. No.12 Vivian Zhuang (庄靜璟) Age: 26 Height: 174cm Occupation: Master's student Fun Facts: She graduated from the Central Academy of Drama, a renowned arts university in China. She's also skilled in Chinese dance and calligraphy. No.13 Jane Yuan (袁文靜) Age: 27 Height: 174cm Occupation: Assistant project manager Fun Facts: She practises Taekwondo. She's given the nickname of 'Gigi Yim's Copy' because of her similarities in looks and personality to the Hong Kong singer. No.14 Alison Kerr (何詠多) Age: 20 Height: 161cm Occupation: University student Fun Facts: She's the youngest contestant in the history of Miss HK. She's also mixed race and studies in the United Kingdom, but returned to Hong Kong to compete in the pageant. Did any of the contestants catch your eye? The finale of the 2025 Miss HK Beauty Pageant will take place on 31st August 2025 (Sunday). Sources: TVB, OrangeNews
The Star
15-06-2025
- The Star
China Focus: China sees surge in culture-driven tourism
BEIJING, June 15 (Xinhua) -- A large-scale VR immersive experience, "The Recluse Dongpo," premiered at the Hainan Museum in May, attracting eager fans of the iconic Song Dynasty poet Su Shi to embark on a virtual journey through millennia of Chinese history. Wearing VR headsets, participants came face-to-face with a digital rendition of Su Shi (also known as Su Dongpo), who vividly recounted his dramatic life -- from political exile to literary legend -- in an interactive narrative. This fusion of technology and tradition exemplifies China's ongoing reinvention of cultural tourism. Alongside its iconic landscapes, the country is witnessing a surge in heritage-driven travel, where films, live performances, and immersive experiences spawn compelling new destinations. According to a recent China Tourism Academy survey, travelers show growing interest in cultural activities: Nearly 29.2 percent of respondents prioritize cultural experiences in their itineraries, while 78.3 percent express general enthusiasm for such engagements during trips. Cultural spaces can serve as new settings for tourism experiences and consumption, while tourism spaces can also function as new platforms for cultural display and dissemination, said Li Xinjian, executive dean of the Capital Institute of Culture and Tourism Development at Beijing International Studies University. In a major government reshuffle in 2018, China merged two government agencies to form a new ministry -- the Ministry of Culture and Tourism -- "to promote the integrated development of cultural undertakings, cultural industries, and tourism," according to an official document. The development of culture-driven tourism has since picked up speed. A 2023 high-level meeting on cultural development underscored the need to promote the "creative transformation and innovative development of China's fine traditional culture." Government at all levels have been tapping into local cultural resources to enhance tourist appeal and boost the economy. During the Dragon Boat Festival holiday from May 31 to June 2, the city of Beijing held more than 1,700 cultural tourism events, including dragon boat carnivals, intangible cultural heritage markets, and Hanfu (traditional Chinese attire) workshops. The Chinese capital recorded 8.21 million tourist visits during the period, up 5.4 percent year on year. It generated 10.77 billion yuan (about 1.49 billion U.S. dollars) in tourism revenue. Traditional festivals proved to be high seasons for travelers. This year, during the first Spring Festival after it was inscribed on the UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list, travelers flocked to temple fairs, dragon dance performances, and intangible cultural heritage experiences to celebrate an authentic Chinese New Year. The 2025 Aranya Theater Festival, which will open in the coastal city of Qinhuangdao in north China's Hebei Province, will stage 29 theatrical productions from 12 countries. During the festival, cultural activities such as art exhibitions and workshops will also be held in the coastal resort of Aranya. The 2024 edition of the festival received about 164,000 visitors, including foreign travelers. With the improvement of people's living standards and increased opportunities for travel, there is a growing demand for cultural experiences during tourism activities, and participation takes diverse forms, said Dai Bin, president of the China Tourism Academy. Museums, historical cities, ancient towns, cultural districts, live-action shows, concerts, and music festivals have become major attractions in numerous tourist destinations, Dai added. A government initiative on boosting cultural and tourism consumption launched earlier this year proposed specific measures, such as encouraging public cultural institutions to actively develop cultural experiences, arts education services, and other offerings, enriching the supply of cultural and entertainment products, and allowing local governments to allocate special bond funds to support cultural and tourism projects. According to Dai, the integrated development of culture and tourism will be a focus for boosting the tourism sector during China's 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030). Efforts will be made to promote the integration of cultural industries and tourism supply to create more new cultural experience venues and novel tourism consumption settings for visitors, he added.
The Star
31-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Türkiye, China open Jingdezhen porcelain flagship store in Istanbul
ISTANBUL, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Türkiye and China on Saturday inaugurated the first official Jingdezhen porcelain flagship store in Istanbul, marking a step forward in cultural and economic ties through a strategic partnership between the Chinese city and Türkiye's historic ceramic hub, Iznik. The boutique, located in Istanbul's upscale Fenerbahce district on the Asian side of the city, showcases a curated collection of fine tableware and decorative ceramics from Jingdezhen, a city in China's Jiangxi Province renowned for producing imperial porcelain since the Song Dynasty (960-1279). The launch coincided with the signing of a cooperation agreement between Jingdezhen and Iznik, aimed at strengthening ceramic-focused exchanges between the two historic centers. The deal builds on a sister-city partnership established in 2021 and formalizes efforts to promote joint exhibitions, research, and trade initiatives. Jingdezhen, often referred to as China's "porcelain capital," has been at the heart of high-end ceramic production for over a millennium. Its abundant kaolin deposits and refined techniques helped create the translucent porcelain that came to symbolize Chinese craftsmanship and luxury across global markets. Iznik, meanwhile, rose to prominence during the 15th to 17th centuries under the Ottoman Empire, producing quartz-based pottery celebrated for its vibrant floral patterns. Influenced by Seljuk aesthetics and Chinese blue-and-white porcelain, Iznik ceramics became highly sought-after across Europe and the Islamic world.
Borneo Post
24-05-2025
- Borneo Post
A glimpse of Chinese modernisation in millennia-old heartland
Guests take photos at Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang, central China's Henan Province on Nov. 4, 2024. – Xinhua photo ZHENGZHOU (May 25): As dusk settled over the rooftops of a Tang-Dynasty-style pavilion, a fleet of glowing drones ascended into the darkening sky, their synchronised flight tracing luminous patterns above curved eaves and cobblestone streets. The past and future met midair in this manner in a city known for its 4,000 years of history. This city is Luoyang, a former capital of 13 dynasties in Chinese history and now a vibrant cultural landmark and manufacturing hub in central China's Henan Province. 'If you wish to know the rise and fall of past and present, just look at Luoyang,' remarked Sima Guang, a renowned Chinese historian of the Song Dynasty (960-1279), noting that the evolution of the city itself reads like a living chronicle of Chinese history. Today, Luoyang is reintroducing its rich legacy to the world by blending timeless heritage with cutting-edge technology, and fueling growth in its high-end manufacturing sector through innovation. Nowhere is this fusion of history and innovation more evident than at the Longmen Grottoes, an over 1,500-year-old Unesco World Heritage Site which is home to one of the world's largest collections of stone carvings and Buddhist sculptures. In recent years, China has made remarkable strides in preserving and revitalising its cave temples through structural reinforcement, environmental improvements and digital conservation. The Longmen Grottoes have led the way, launching a series of pioneering digital restoration projects. Using ground-penetrating radar, infrared imaging and 3D scanning technologies, researchers successfully completed major restoration work on Fengxian Temple, one of the site's most iconic landmarks, revitalising this remarkable feat of sculpture via high-tech craftsmanship. 'We have been building a 'digital archive' since 2005 to protect the ancient Buddhist cave art using advanced technologies,' said Gao Junping, director of the information and documentation center of Longmen Grottoes Research Institute. 'In the past, traditional methods such as mold casting and rubbings could cause damage to the artifacts,' Gao said. 'Now, with technologies like 3D printing, we can replicate relics without harm, which not only preserves the originals but also enhances our conservation and research efforts.' But preservation is only part of the story. Bringing ancient art 'to life' has become another central mission. By building 3D databases, innovating exhibition methods and expanding digital tourism experiences, Luoyang is making its cultural wonders more accessible than ever. On the Cloud Longmen WeChat mini-programme, for example, users can explore landmarks like Yuwang Pool, Qianxi Temple and Binyang Cave virtually – all from the comfort of their homes. Benefiting from its rich historical legacy and driven by innovative cultural tourism practices, Luoyang is positioning itself well for a bright future in culture-tourism integration. The city is steadily advancing the high-quality development of its cultural tourism sector, aiming to turn it into a pillar industry and a source of public well-being. In 2024, Luoyang received a total of 153 million tourist visits, generating 120.86 billion yuan (about US$16.8 billion) in tourism revenue, up 13.48 per cent and 16.02 per cent year on year, respectively. Tourists visit Lijingmen scenic spot in Luoyang City, central China's Henan Province on May 1, 2025. – Xinhua photo While Luoyang's ancient treasures draw global tourists, its modern identity is equally defined by industrial innovation. The same innovative spirit that preserves millennia-old grottoes now powers factories and labs, driving high-end manufacturing. Long associated with 'firsts' in New China's industrial history, from the first automobile gearbox bearing to the first tracked tractor, Luoyang has enriched its legacy through industrial renewal. Luoyang Bearing Group Co Ltd formerly a factory established during China's inaugural five-year plan period (1953-1957), is among the notable trendsetters. The company consistently leads the industry in terms of R&D investment. It houses China's first nationally certified enterprise technology center and the only national key lab in the bearing sector. With comprehensive research and testing platforms, the company maintains a commanding position in bearing design, manufacturing and quality control. 'Bearings may look simple, but the precision required is measured in microns,' said Wang Xinying, chairman of the group. 'Our bearings can reach speeds of up to 120,000 revolutions per minute and are now used in major technologies like large-scale wind turbines – strengthening our leadership in the industry.' In October 2024, the group launched a 'dark factory', renowned for its minimal reliance on human labor and lighting. This fully automated smart plant is dedicated to producing bearings for offshore wind turbines. Today, high-end bearings account for 70 per cent of the company's output value. Its wind turbine main bearings now enjoy an over 40-per cent share of the domestic market, while its tunnel boring machine bearings have ended China's reliance on imports of such bearings. 'Advancing modern manufacturing toward high-end, intelligent and green development is our unwavering goal,' Wang added. – Xinhua China historical Luoyang tourism Xinhua
