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Malaysia Sun
17-07-2025
- General
- Malaysia Sun
Xinhua Silk Road: Ancient ethnic Chinese legacy revealing cultural fusion inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage
BEIJING , July 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Xixia Imperial Tombs were inscribed on the World Heritage List on July 11 during the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Paris, France. This marks China's 60th World Heritage site. A drone photo taken on July 10, 2025 shows two Xixia imperial tombs in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. (By Wang Peng) Located at the foot of Helan Mountain in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, the Xixia Imperial Tombs represent the largest, highest-ranking, and best-preserved archaeological remains of the Xixia Dynasty (1038-1227). The heritage area encompasses nine imperial mausoleums, 271 subordinate tombs, one architectural complex at the northern end, and 32 flood control facilities. Through nearly half a century of excavation, over 7,100 exquisite artifacts have been unearthed, including a gilded bronze ox and a glazed Chiwen. These findings vividly showcase the features of Xixia civilization. The UNESCO World Heritage Committee recognized the Xixia Imperial Tombs as an outstanding testament to multicultural fusion. Their spatial layout, design philosophy, and architectural forms inherited the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties' imperial mausoleum systems while integrating Buddhist beliefs and ancient local ethnic customs. This created unique funerary traditions and demonstrated the dynasty's significant role in cultural and commercial exchanges along the Silk Road during the 11th to 13th centuries. The Chinese government's tremendous efforts and outstanding achievements in protecting the cultural heritage of the Xixia Imperial Tombs were highly commended by the Committee. Since being designated as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit in 1988, the site has established comprehensive laws, regulations, and a management system. Particularly since 2000, in collaboration with professional institutions, 60 major reinforcement projects have been successfully implemented on the tombs themselves. These have essentially eliminated instability risks and surface erosion issues affecting the imperial mausoleums and main subordinate tombs. Furthermore, the removal of approximately 100,000 square meters of buildings and modern facilities within the heritage zone, combined with the establishment of a comprehensive monitoring and early-warning platform, has effectively ensured the site's authenticity, integrity, and preservation environment. International scholars point out that the Xixia Imperial Tombs serve as crucial physical evidence for studying ancient ethnic relations, architectural arts, and funerary traditions in China. Their successful inscription enriches the diversity of global cultural heritage. Original link:
The Star
11-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Overseas customers flock to Chinese online marketplaces
Smart devices for the home, intelligent hardware, niche sports products and customised equipment made by Chinese manufacturers have gained popularity among overseas consumers, whose demand for personalised merchandise is rising, according to a report released by Alibaba's business-to-business platform that helps facilitate foreign trade. The report said artificial intelligence technology has accelerated the popularisation of intelligent products, with overseas consumers increasingly favouring consumer electronics products and small home appliances with innovative technology. Wearable devices, virtual reality glasses, smart speakers plus camping, hiking and other outdoor sports equipment have also seen booming sales. During the"618" shopping festival, a sales event spanning weeks that culminates on June 18, orders on the platform surged 42 percent year-on-year, data from showed. The gross merchandise value increased nearly 30 percent compared with the same period last year. Orders from JD Global Sales, JD's cross-border e-commerce business division, soared 236 percent year-on-year during the mid-year promotional campaign. Sales of digital products increased nearly fourfold year-on-year, while the transaction volume of home appliances grew more than threefold. Orders for computers and office products increased 210 percent from a year earlier. The company has optimised its direct-mail logistics network and includes 37 countries and regions. These improvements ensure faster, more affordable delivery for global customers. Buyers across 17 markets — including Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Australia, and New Zealand — can also enjoy free shipping promotions. The e-commerce platform Taobao has expanded its free global delivery coverage to 12 countries and regions this year, including Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, Australia, Japan, Thailand, Cambodia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia. The program waives the shipping fees for orders over a certain amount. A convenient return service, which allows shoppers to return unwanted items at nearby collection points, is also available, Taobao said. Mandy, a Malaysian Chinese student, takes advantage of digital payment options and free shipping services in Malaysia offered by Chinese e-commerce platforms. She recently bought beauty and skin care products made in China, which were "quite affordable". Mandy said she often shares the must-buy lists on social media platforms, adding that livestreaming and short videos are very popular in Southeast Asia. There are even special discounts in livestreaming sessions on Taobao, she added. Wang Peng, an associate researcher at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, said the growing popularity of Chinese-made products in the global market shows: "Chinese factories, which depend on improved supply chains and supporting abilities related to production, can churn out high-quality commodities. The products have gained an upper hand in terms of cost and price compared with those of their counterparts around the world." Chinese e-commerce apps have been among the most downloaded and favored apps in many countries in recent months, Wang said. Global inflation has made Chinese e-retailers the preferred option for overseas consumers demanding high-quality and low-priced goods. "An increasing number of made-in-China products are gaining popularity among overseas consumers, which is an affirmation of the country's robust manufacturing capabilities, product quality and homegrown brands," said Hong Yong, an associate research fellow at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation. To attract new foreign consumers, Hong said Chinese enterprises should step up investment in product research and development, design and marketing. As the popularity of Chinese-made products is underpinned by logistics infrastructure, and the payment and operation services of e-retailers, it is vital for Chinese e-commerce platforms to explore new logistics and delivery models, he said. This includes building overseas warehouses, expanding international cooperation in the payment domain, and enlarging their footprint in emerging markets, such as the Middle East and Africa. Tariff hikes Hannah Evans, a university student in New York, said she prefers buying Chinese products, such as apparel, kitchen utensils and sporting equipment on Chinese e-commerce platforms as she has access to a dizzying array of choices at much cheaper prices. "Using these apps is amazing because it is like buying from the factory of the world. You are buying directly from China. My phone case is from Taobao and it's only 9.9 yuan ($1.38)," she said. The recent tariff increases by the US government have affected her shopping experience to some extent, she said. However, even with the "insane" tariffs on Chinese goods right now, if Americans buy directly from China, it's still going to be cheaper than if they go to a local store like Walmart, she said. The Trump administration has decided to end the duty-free de minimis treatment for small packages and low-value shipments worth $800 or less from China. However, these measures have not deterred US consumers from purchasing Chinese products. Instead, they have sparked a surge in popularity for Chinese shopping apps. Taobao has hit the top of Apple App Store's free download charts in 16 countries, while Chinese cross-border business-to-business e-commerce app DHgate has secured second spot in downloads on the Apple App Store in the US, just behind OpenAI's ChatGPT. Experts said the meteoric rise of Chinese e-commerce apps in the US app marketplaces signals a potential paradigm shift in Americans' shopping habits, as they increasingly bypass traditional retailers and turn to international platforms for their purchases in the face of rising prices at home. Sales of home appliances, outdoor sports equipment, pet supplies, healthcare and beauty products, and electronic devices have witnessed rapid growth in overseas markets, according to DHgate. Founded in 2004, DHgate serves more than 100 million registered buyers across 225 countries and regions by connecting them with over 2.78 million sellers worldwide. The company said its growth trajectory is not a temporary phenomenon, but the result of years of efforts to foster a trusted ecosystem with micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises and source manufacturers. Market observers attribute DHgate's sudden popularity in the US to Chinese suppliers and manufacturers using the short-video platform TikTok to educate US consumers on the global luxury goods market amid increased US tariffs. Many products, including clothing, handbags, and accessories that are assumed to be European-made, come from factories in China. Shoppers can buy these products directly from Chinese suppliers via e-commerce platforms like DHgate. Cui Lili, a professor of digital economy at Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, said the popularity of Chinese e-commerce platforms in overseas markets indicates domestic brands have gained wide recognition abroad and will help the country move toward the high-end of the value chain. Globalization push China's cross-border e-commerce sector has seen robust growth in recent years. The sector's imports and exports reached 2.63 trillion yuan in 2024, an increase of 10.8 percent year-on-year, said the General Administration of Customs. Cross-border e-commerce has become an important driving force for China's exports amid downward economic pressures and external uncertainties. Meanwhile, Chinese cross-border online retailers are speeding up their push into overseas markets amid a broader drive to cultivate new users and diversify revenue sources. Temu, the cross-border e-commerce platform launched by Chinese online discounter PDD Holdings, is accelerating its expansion into new markets. Launched in the US in September 2022, it has entered more than 70 countries in North America, Europe, Asia and Oceania. Temu offers a wide selection of merchandise, including apparel, consumer electronics, jewellery, shoes, cosmetics, and baby products with deep discounts and coupons as part of its strategy to attract price-conscious consumers. Most of the products are shipped directly from factories or warehouses in China. Fast-fashion online retailer Shein is ratcheting up resources to help Chinese manufacturers and brands expand their presence abroad, and boost the transformation of traditional industries by making use of its digital and flexible supply chains. Shein said for sellers who are good at designing and producing products, but have no overseas sales and operations experience, it will provide one-stop services, including commodity operations, warehousing, logistics, customer service and after-sales service. "In recent years, Chinese e-commerce platforms have taken active steps to make forays into overseas markets by offering shopping subsidies, expanding free shipping services and launching promotional campaigns, thus increasing their influence abroad," said Zhang Zhouping, an independent analyst who has been tracking the cross-border e-commerce sector for more than a decade. As a new form of foreign trade, cross-border e-commerce has served as a vital channel for Chinese enterprises to expand overseas, Zhang said. "Price, quality and service are the most important factors consumers consider when buying products, and cost-effective goods have shown some obvious advantages amid global economic downward pressures." An increasing number of Chinese merchants are now making use of cross-border e-commerce platforms to sell products globally, which provide a new way for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises to boost their global reach and build up new brands, he added. "A core advantage of Temu and Shein lies in products with competitive prices and fast delivery, which is highly reliant on the establishment of supply chains," he said, adding platforms that provide good shopping experiences and after-sale services will gain an upper hand amid increasingly fierce international competition. Zhu Keli, founding director of the China Institute of New Economy, said in order to mitigate the impact of the tariff hikes, Chinese e-commerce platforms should invest more in establishing overseas warehouses, accelerate steps to expand their footprint in more diversified and emerging markets, and strengthen cooperation with international logistics companies to improve delivery efficiency and lower logistics costs. - China Daily/ANN
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
"Wine Olympics" Returns to China as International Expo Opens
YINCHUAN, CHINA / / June 11, 2025 / The Fifth China (Ningxia) International Wine Culture and Tourism Expo opened Monday in Yinchuan, capital of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, with the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles (CMB) -- dubbed the "Wine Olympics" -- returning to China after seven years. The opening ceremony of the Fifth China (Ningxia) International Wine Culture and Tourism Expo in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Wang Peng) The four-day event has attracted over 1,100 domestic and international guests, featuring 14 activities such as a winery and wine exhibition, an innovation competition, and an art biennial. Making its China debut in 2018 in Beijing, the CMB has this year brought together nearly 400 international judges and over 7,000 wine samples, including a record number of entries from China, according to CMB Chairman Baudouin Havaux. "This event opens a new era for the global visibility of the Chinese wine industry," Havaux said. He added that it is no coincidence the 32nd edition of the CMB is being held in Yinchuan, as it clearly reflects the growing strength of Chinese wine, especially that of Ningxia. A visitor (1st R) tastes wine at the Global Wineries Exhibition during the Fifth China (Ningxia) International Wine Culture and Tourism Expo in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, on June 9, 2025.(Xinhua/Yang Zhisen) The region boasts a unique terroir for making top-class wine, with its prolonged sunshine and a cool, dry climate aiding the cultivation of grapes. After four decades of development, Ningxia has become China's largest wine-producing region. The eastern foot of Helan Mountain is widely regarded as a "golden zone" for grape growing and high-end wine production. By the end of 2024, Ningxia had more than 600,000 mu (around 40,000 hectares) of wine grape plantations and an annual wine output of 140 million bottles. Its wines are exported to over 40 countries and regions. Contact:Qi ChunmeiEmail: nxzx2025@ Number: 86-0951-2967080 SOURCE: Administrative Committee of Wine Industry Zone of Ningxia Helan Mountain's East Foothill View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Arabian Post
11-06-2025
- Business
- Arabian Post
'Wine Olympics' returns to China as international expo opens
The opening ceremony of the Fifth China (Ningxia) International Wine Culture and Tourism Expo in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Wang Peng) YINCHUAN, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 11 June 2025 – The Fifth China (Ningxia) International Wine Culture and Tourism Expo opened Monday in Yinchuan, capital of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, with the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles (CMB) — dubbed the 'Wine Olympics' — returning to China after seven years. The four-day event has attracted over 1,100 domestic and international guests, featuring 14 activities such as a winery and wine exhibition, an innovation competition, and an art biennial. Making its China debut in 2018 in Beijing, the CMB has this year brought together nearly 400 international judges and over 7,000 wine samples, including a record number of entries from China, according to CMB Chairman Baudouin Havaux. ADVERTISEMENT 'This event opens a new era for the global visibility of the Chinese wine industry,' Havaux said. He added that it is no coincidence the 32nd edition of the CMB is being held in Yinchuan, as it clearly reflects the growing strength of Chinese wine, especially that of Ningxia. A visitor (1st R) tastes wine at the Global Wineries Exhibition during the Fifth China (Ningxia) International Wine Culture and Tourism Expo in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, on June 9, 2025.(Xinhua/Yang Zhisen) The region boasts a unique terroir for making top-class wine, with its prolonged sunshine and a cool, dry climate aiding the cultivation of grapes. After four decades of development, Ningxia has become China's largest wine-producing region. The eastern foot of Helan Mountain is widely regarded as a 'golden zone' for grape growing and high-end wine production. By the end of 2024, Ningxia had more than 600,000 mu (around 40,000 hectares) of wine grape plantations and an annual wine output of 140 million bottles. Its wines are exported to over 40 countries and regions. Hashtag: #AdministrativeCommitteeofWineIndustryZoneofNingxiaHelanMountainsEastFoothill The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
China unveils underwater computing center that matches 30,000 gaming computers' power
China has developed a new underwater, cutting-edge intelligent computing center in Hainan Province's Lingshui. The data capsule with more than 400 high-performance servers was placed on the sea floor. According to a report, the computing center has enough power to support 7,000 conversations per second with AI assistants powered by center's computing power is equivalent to 30,000 high-end gaming computers computing simultaneously, and one second can complete the computation volume of ordinary computers for one year. Measuring 18 meters long and 3.6 meters in diameter, the capsule connects to client data terminals via a nearby coastal station. It uses seawater as a natural coolant to optimize energy efficiency, saving land, fresh water, and also revealed that the stable environment in the deep sea provides enhanced security and stability to the facility. The center's computing power of one second can complete the computation volume of ordinary computers for one year. Intelligent computing centers are critical assets for AI research, training, and applications, offering powerful computational resources that are expected to accelerate AI innovation, Wang Peng, an associate research fellow at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Tuesday, adding that the new center in Hainan will significantly enhance China's competitive edge in the global AI landscape. On Tuesday (February 18), the data capsule was connected to an energy-efficient data processing cluster near China's southernmost Hainan island. China's new submarine data capsule can withstand pressure under the sea, and it connects to data terminals via a shore station on nearby land while keeping the hardware away from human activity and providing a stable working environment for electronic devices free of dust and oxygen, reported SCMP. The installation of the new unit comes as tech rivalry between China and the United States heats up, particularly with DeepSeek grabbing global attention last month with a powerful AI model it says was created at a significantly lower cost than other models, according to the Chinese publication. Reports have revealed that multiple Chinese cities are developing their intelligent computing centers to meet the increasing demand for industry automation amid ongoing digital transformations. International Data Corp revealed 219 projects for such centers between 2022 and 2024. By 2027, China's intelligent computing capacity will grow at a stunning annual compound rate of 33.9 percent, according to the organization's forecast. Such centers will likely support AI applications by providing computing, data, and algorithm services based on AI-driven architectures.
