During the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays, "Red Tourism" has seen a surge in popularity in northern China.

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

TAIYUAN, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) — This year's eight-day holiday to celebrate China's National Day and the Mid-Autumn Festival (Zhongqiujie or Moon Festival) saw a surge in domestic tourism, with history and "red tourism" becoming increasingly popular among families and young travelers.

As this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, many parents took their children to memorial sites of revolutionary glory and patriotic education bases to experience a deep sense of national pride and historical connection.

"This year, we planned to dedicate the National Day weekend to the theme of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. Over the past few days, my child and I have visited numerous sites as part of the Red Tourism program," said Sun Yan, a tourist from northern China's Hebei Province.

Her family's first stop was the Battle of the Hundred Regiments Memorial Museum in Yangquan, Shanxi Province, North China.

In 1940, to counter Japanese aggression, the 8th Army, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, launched the monumental “Battle of the Hundred Regiments”, the largest and longest strategic offensive carried out by the 8th Army in Northern China during the Anti-Japanese War.

According to Qin Zhu, deputy director of the memorial museum, the site saw a significant number of tourists over the weekend. During the first seven days, the facility averaged 10,000 visitors per day, more than triple last year's figures. To accommodate the increased visitor flow, the memorial museum added tour guides and recruited volunteers to explain the historical context to tourists.

"Not only we, but also many of our friends, took their children to popular destinations during the holidays as part of 'red tourism.' For children, history is the best textbook," Sun Yan added.

The former Huangyadong Arsenal in Licheng County, Shanxi Province, has also seen a surge in tourism. The arsenal was the earliest and largest weapons production base established by the 8th Army in the anti-Japanese strongholds, and was also the site of the historic Battle of Huangyadong.

According to Zhang Binquan, a representative of the Huangyadong Tourism Zone, the tourist flow to this place from October 1 to 7 amounted to 36,000 people, which is 11.8 percent more than a year ago.

According to experts, the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War sparked a boom in red tourism during the National Day weekend. The recent release of several films depicting wartime events has further piqued public interest in studying history and visiting sites associated with it.

Beyond traditional exhibitions, many innovative venues are innovating to attract more visitors.

"Our red tourism products are constantly evolving," noted Qin Zhu. "We've introduced VR equipment to improve the customer experience and prepared immersive micro-performances with live actors."

“Through aqua shows, folklore performances, and lectures, we have integrated immersive storytelling into our tourism programs, resulting in the daily number of visits to our tourist site exceeding 8,000,” added Zhang Binquan.

According to representatives of several Red Tourism destinations, this year's National Day travel was characterized by family trips, independent car tours, and an increase in young tourists. Families traveling by car made up the majority, while interest among young tourists continued to grow.

"For us, red tourism isn't just a travel choice. It's a bridge connecting the past with the present and a way to convey the spirit of resilience," Sun Yan concluded.

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China and Saudi Arabia to hold joint naval exercises

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

BEIJING, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) — China and Saudi Arabia will hold joint naval exercises dubbed "Blue Sword 2025" in Saudi Arabia in the second and third ten days of October, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Jiang Bin said on Friday.

The exercise will be the third between the navies of the two countries and is expected to promote the exchange of technical and tactical experience, as well as deepen friendly relations and practical cooperation between the two sides, Jiang Bin said at a press conference. -0-

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China reports significant improvement in the well-being of children and the elderly over the past 5 years

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BEIJING, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) — The well-being of children and the elderly in China has improved significantly during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), Civil Affairs Minister Lu Zhiyuan said Friday.

During this period, a comprehensive protection and care system for children in need was established, covering children who are effectively left without care, “left-behind” children whose parents are working away from home, and migrant children, all of whom are now covered by national protection and care services, Lu Zhiyuan said at a press conference.

The category of children who are effectively left without supervision mainly refers to children whose parents are listed as missing, or are people with severe disabilities, seriously ill, imprisoned, deported, or undergoing forced rehabilitation from drug addiction.

The minister said that compared to 2020, basic subsistence benefits for orphans in social welfare institutions, orphans living with relatives, and children de facto left without parental care increased by 26 percent, 32 percent, and 31 percent, respectively.

During the same period, China completed home renovations and redesigns of elderly-friendly spaces in 2.24 million households where elderly people faced particular difficulties, Lu Zhiyuan said.

He added that China has established 500 model community-based elderly care networks, 2,990 model communities focused on the elderly, and 86,000 community cafeterias for the elderly.

According to the minister, more than 49.4 million people have benefited from various subsidies and benefits, including for the very elderly, senior citizens experiencing financial difficulties, and elderly people with disabilities. -0-

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China's festive season: new impetus for economic growth

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During the 8-day holiday period, when China's National Day coincided with the Mid-Autumn Festival, many Chinese people went on tourist trips.

According to analysis and forecasts by the Ministry of Transport of the People's Republic of China, the volume of interregional passenger traffic during the holiday period will reach 2.36 billion people, an average of about 295 million people per day, which is approximately 3.2% more than in the same period last year.

On the eve of the holidays, the Xiangyang-Jinmen high-speed railway in Hubei Province was put into operation, Ruijin Airport in Ganzhou, Jiangxi Province, was officially opened, and construction of the Huajiang Canyon Bridge in Guizhou Province was completed. The launch of many major transportation projects has opened up new travel options during the holidays.

During the holidays, the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan Province opened for rocket launch viewing, and the China Science and Technology Museum in Beijing hosted a special holiday exhibition.

The active implementation of digital technologies and AI in tourism has made both tourism management and trip planning more convenient. Many locations employ navigation systems and congestion prediction technologies, providing tourists with up-to-date information in real time.

In the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, an AI-powered character was created to resemble "Liu Sanjie" (Liu Sanjie refers to a beautiful woman in Zhuang folklore around Guangxi, not a specific real-life character) and a series of related products were released; in Henan Province, digital products based on the show "The Feast at the Tang Palace" (Tang Dynasty, 618-907) were highly praised by consumers. The application of new technologies and the emergence of new business forms are promoting the flourishing of the "intellectual property economy" and expanding the value chain in the cultural and tourism industries.

Clear growth drivers included "green" consumption, smart devices, and Guo Chao-style goods (a national trend). According to the Ministry of Commerce of China's monitoring of major e-commerce platforms, sales of organic food products increased by 27.9% year-on-year during the holiday season, smart home devices by 14.3%, and Guo Chao-style clothing by 14.1%.

Consumer services continued to grow in popularity. A number of domestic films generated a surge in ticket demand: as of 3:00 PM on October 8, box office receipts during the holidays had exceeded 1.79 billion yuan. Numerous sporting events generated unprecedented excitement among audiences, and "second screening venues" were established in regions, combining gastronomy, creative goods, and themed merchandise.

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The US and mediators have guaranteed Hamas a complete end to the war in the Gaza Strip, a Hamas spokesman said.

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

Gaza, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) — Hamas said Thursday it had received guarantees from mediators and the US administration that the war in the Gaza Strip would end completely.

Hamas negotiating chief Khalil al-Haya said in a televised address that the guarantees pave the way for the implementation of the first phase of the US plan to establish a permanent ceasefire.

“We have received guarantees from the mediators and the US administration confirming that the war is completely over,” said H. al-Haya.

He added that Hamas will continue to cooperate with Palestinian national and Islamic groups to implement the remaining stages of the agreement, protect the interests of the Palestinian people, and ensure that their legitimate rights are respected until the establishment of an independent state with its capital in Jerusalem.

Hamas approves of the agreement reached during three days of talks held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, H. al-Haya emphasized.

According to him, the agreement provides for a permanent ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip, the delivery of humanitarian aid, the reopening of the Rafah crossing in both directions, and the exchange of detainees.

Israel agreed to release 250 prisoners serving life sentences, 1,700 people detained in the Gaza Strip after October 7, 2023, and all women and children, H. al-Haya said.

His words came after three days of indirect talks between Hamas and Israel in Sharm el-Sheikh with the participation of the United States, Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, aimed at reaching a comprehensive agreement to end the war in Gaza. –0–

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Zaporizhzhya NPP remains powered by backup generators, according to media reports.

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Moscow, October 10 /Xinhua/ — Power supply to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) continues thanks to backup power sources, and diesel generators are operating reliably. This was reported on Friday by RIA Novosti, citing a statement from the plant's communications director, Evgeniya Yashina.

According to her, the station's own power supply is still provided by backup diesel generators, and there is sufficient fuel. Station personnel continuously monitor all key parameters to ensure safe operation.

As Russian media reported earlier, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, announced on Thursday that the process of restoring power lines to the Zaporizhzhya NPP had begun.

On September 23, the Zaporizhzhya NPP experienced a power outage due to a fire that shut down the Dneprovskaya high-voltage power line. The plant switched to backup diesel generators.

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During the 8-day weekend, the film about the Japanese Unit 731 held the second place in the Chinese box office.

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BEIJING, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) — A film titled "Evil Without Borders," which depicts the atrocities committed by the infamous Unit 731 of the Imperial Japanese Army, topped the Chinese box office during the eight-day National Day holiday.

According to the State Film Administration of China, total box office revenue for Chinese films from October 1 to 8 totaled nearly 1.84 billion yuan (approximately $259 million), down from last year's 2.1 billion yuan for the shorter seven-day period. Beginning on October 2, "Evil Without Borders" held the number two spot on the daily chart for six consecutive days.

Chen Kaige's war epic "Volunteers: Peace" topped the holiday box office charts with 451 million yuan, followed by "Evil Without Borders" with approximately 345 million yuan. Notably, aside from "Evil Without Borders," all other films in the top five during the holiday weekend were released on or after September 30, including the fantasy sequel "A Writer's Odyssey 2," the comedy "Row to Victory," and the crime thriller "The Sound of Silence," which earned approximately 295 million yuan, 219 million yuan, and 175 million yuan, respectively.

"Evil Without Borders" is a film about Japan's Unit 731 and the top-secret biological and chemical weapons research base it built in the Chinese city of Harbin (Heilongjiang Province, Northeast China). During World War II, it served as the main center of militaristic Japan's biological warfare in China and Southeast Asia. Historical evidence indicates that between 1940 and 1945, Unit 731 used at least 3,000 people in its human experiments, and more than 300,000 people in China were killed by Japanese biological weapons.

The film's continued success reflects the popularity of the summer hit "Nanjing Photo Studio," which chronicles the 1937 Nanjing Massacre perpetrated by Japanese aggressors. Both films resonated deeply with Chinese audiences, touching on enduring themes of historical memory and the desire for peace.

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263,000 Chinese couples have taken advantage of the simplified marriage registration procedure.

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BEIJING, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) — More than 263,000 Chinese couples have benefited from simplified marriage registration provisions that took effect on May 10, 2025, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said Friday.

Under the new provisions, couples can register their marriage at any relevant authority throughout the country, regardless of their place of residence.

In addition, couples now only need to present their identity documents to register their marriage, eliminating the long-standing requirement to present proof of residence.

Chinese Minister of Civil Affairs Lu Zhiyuan said at a press conference that the reform of marriage customs in China continues to deepen, and civilized and healthy wedding traditions are rapidly emerging.

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China sets new domestic tourism record during National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

BEIJING/SHANGHAI, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) — China set a new domestic tourism record during the recent eight-day National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays, with nearly 888 million tourist trips, 123 million more than the seven-day National Day holiday in 2024.

Meanwhile, domestic tourism spending reached 809 billion yuan (about $113.8 billion), up 108 billion yuan year-on-year, according to the latest data from China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Extended holidays combined with flexible vacation plans allowed travelers to extend their itineraries. The average trip radius increased by 14.8 percent to approximately 213 km, while the average sightseeing radius in specific destinations expanded by 24.5 percent to 23 km, according to the China Tourism Academy.

Data from leading Chinese online travel platforms including Trip.com and Fliggy show that this year's holiday period, which ended on Wednesday, saw the share of domestic long-term tour bookings rise 3 percentage points year-on-year, with Chinese tourists traveling overseas visiting more than 180 countries and regions.

A total of 16.34 million cross-border trips were recorded in China during the holidays, the National Administration of Migration Affairs (SAM) reported on Thursday.

Both urban and rural residents enthusiastically embraced the festive atmosphere. Around 22 percent of rural residents nationwide traveled, making 102 million trips—11.5 percent of all domestic holiday travel. More than 40 percent of travelers abandoned popular cities and chose quieter, more peaceful destinations, the academy reported.

Another leading Chinese travel agent, Tongcheng Travel, reported that the number of hotel bookings in more than 30 cities and counties in China on their platform has doubled compared to last year.

Holiday travel has become a common leisure option for rural residents, and young people from small towns have become a new driving force in the tourism market, noted Dai Bing, head of the China Tourism Academy.

According to him, destinations and the market continue to decentralize, and previously unknown places, especially cities with local flavor, cultural charm, and technological appeal, are gaining popularity among tourists.

During the holidays, cultural and tourism consumption is increasingly focused on cultural experiences and emotional value. In addition to visiting famous landmarks, Chinese and foreign tourists actively participated in cultural events featuring intangible cultural heritage, hanfu (traditional Chinese costume), and tea ceremonies.

The trend of combining local tourism with cultural heritage has become a hot topic online. More and more tourists are now opting for themed tours; Meituan Travel data shows that searches for "night tours" during the holiday season increased by 386.5% year-on-year.

Several museums in Shanghai have extended their opening hours at night, digital tour guides have been launched at the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, Gansu Province, Northwest China, and popular sites like West Lake in Hangzhou, East China, have implemented attendance prediction and smart booking systems to improve visitor flow.

According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China, more than 29,000 cultural and tourism events were organized across the country during the holiday period, and vouchers worth a total of 480 million yuan were issued.

“Tourists’ choice of destinations reflects their interests and how they identify with the local lifestyle,” said Hu Yan, vice president of Chinese vacation rental booking platform Tujia.

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The Chinese Foreign Minister called for strengthening Chinese-Italian cooperation for the sake of global peace and development.

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ROME, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) — Visiting Italian Foreign Minister Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, called on the European country to cooperate with China to make new contributions to world peace and the progress of human civilization.

Wang Yi made the statement during a meeting with Italian President Sergio Mattarella, to whom he conveyed warm greetings from Chinese President Xi Jinping.

China values Italy's influence in Europe and the world, Wang Yi said. China is ready to cooperate with Italy to implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, accelerate the implementation of the action plan to strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership, and ensure more stable, sustainable, and fruitful bilateral relations, he emphasized.

Wang Yi expressed hope for the emergence of many modern-day "Marco Polos" who will serve as connecting links between different civilizations. He stated that the time-honored culture and deep history of China and Italy allow the two countries to approach their differences with an inclusive approach, wisely address contemporary challenges, and look farsightedly to the future of humanity.

According to Xi Jinping, all countries live in one global village and must overcome differences, adhere to the principle of broad consultation, shared contributions, and common benefits, and work together to build a community with a shared future for humanity, Wang Yi stated. To this end, the Chinese president put forward four global initiatives, he added.

Wang Yi emphasized that the Global Governance Initiative, recently proposed by the Chinese President, aims to consolidate and strengthen the UN's leadership, improve global governance through reform, and build a more equitable global governance system. The minister expressed hope that Italy will actively participate in implementing the principles of genuine multilateralism and cooperate with China in this area, making new contributions to global peace and the progress of human civilization.

In turn, S. Mattarella asked Wang Yi to convey his sincere greetings to the President of the People's Republic of China, Xi Jinping.

The President praised the positive results of the 12th joint meeting of the Italian-Chinese Intergovernmental Commission. He said China enjoys great prestige in the international community and is playing an increasingly important role, adding that Italy expects China to make a greater contribution to global peace and stability.

S. Mattarella agreed with the concept of a shared future for humanity and welcomed the Chinese President's important initiatives. They fully meet the needs of the international community and the aspirations of people in all countries, the President noted.

In addition, the parties exchanged views on issues such as the situation in the Middle East and the Ukrainian crisis.

During his visit, Wang Yi also held talks with Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani. Together, they attended the 12th joint meeting of the China-Italy Intergovernmental Commission and met with journalists.

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